October 1, 2024

In one of the Gospels this month, the Pharisees test Jesus about Jewish law, asking Him, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” Jesus chose not to answer them immediately. Instead, He asked them what they thought. 

The Pharisees responded that Moses’s law, the law given to the people by God, allowed for divorce. Jesus had an interesting reply. He told them that this law was given “because of the hardness of your hearts.” 

From the beginning, He said, when God made man and woman—Adam and Eve—they were meant to be joined together as inseparable, as “one flesh.” God always intended for marriage to be a lifelong covenant. The only reason Moses allowed divorce was because of human sinfulness, not because it was part of God’s original plan.  

Jesus was not afraid to challenge the wisdom of the Pharisees, the members of the Jewish synagogue. They tried to undermine His authority by testing His knowledge of the law and what the Lord intended when Moses received it. But Jesus understood something they didn’t—God’s original plan has often been interrupted by human sinfulness. 

What is particularly interesting is that in this same passage of the Gospel, people were bringing their children to Jesus, and the disciples were turning them away. But Jesus insisted that the children be allowed to come to Him. Jesus, like many of us, clearly loves children, but to Him, these young ones represented something more—the quality of being open to the good news of Jesus. 

These children have not yet learned the harsh realities of the world. They only know love. They are innocent and kind and bring that worldview with them.  

In taking these children into His arms, Jesus shows the importance of faithfulness to His teaching. He says, “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” He knows that children are human, and therefore will be tempted to sin, but by embracing them, He shows his unwavering and unconditional love for those who choose to follow him. 

I pray that each of us become like one of these precious children: willing and open to the Lord’s unconditional love for us. Let us be mindful that the Lord intended for all of us to be united as one church, filled with both the love and compassion that Jesus bestowed on each one of us.