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At Christ Community Church (C3 Memphis) we are seeking to form followers in the way of Jesus so the fame and deeds of God are repeated in our time. We meet on Sunday mornings at 10:15AM. For more information you can go to c3memphis.org
Episodes
2 days ago
2 days ago
This week Coleton guided the congregation through Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce, helping listeners understand not just the law, but God’s heart.
1. The Context Behind the Question (vv. 1–4)
The Pharisees weren’t genuinely interested in truth—they were trying to trap Jesus, either in conflict with Moses' law or in political danger (like John the Baptist, who spoke against Herod’s divorce).
Their question: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus’ counter: “What did Moses command you?”
They referenced Deuteronomy 24, where Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce due to “uncleanness.” But that term was debated.
Rabbi Shammai: interpreted it as sexual immorality.
Rabbi Hillel: made it overly broad—even burning dinner qualified.
Rabbi Akiba: said divorce was valid if a man simply found someone more attractive.
The takeaway: People were more focused on when they could exit a marriage than how they could honor it.
2. Jesus’ First Hard Truth: There Is No Godly Reason for Divorce (vv. 5–9)
Jesus said divorce was never God’s idea—it was permitted due to the hardness of people’s hearts.
God doesn’t celebrate divorce; He allows it in certain circumstances (sexual immorality – Matt. 19; abandonment – 1 Cor. 7).
But no one is being godly by divorcing.
God remains faithful even when we are faithless (2 Tim. 2:13).
Jesus is calling us to a higher view of marriage:
“What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
3. Jesus’ Second Hard Truth: Marriage Was Designed to Be Permanent (vv. 6–9)
Jesus brings it back to Genesis: marriage is one man and one woman, united by God to become one flesh.
Not just a legal contract or emotional connection—it’s a covenant.
Jesus says: If you’re not ready for that kind of permanence, don’t get married.
Coleton used a powerful analogy:
If you could only live in one house forever, you’d be incredibly picky. You’d inspect it. You’d ask questions. You’d think about the future. That’s how we should approach marriage—slowly, wisely, and with deep respect for the lifelong nature of the covenant.
Key Insight for Singles: Go slow. Be picky. Don’t marry because of pressure, fear, or impatience. Culture says marriage is everything—Jesus says it’s weighty and sacred.
4. How the Disciples Responded (Matthew 19 parallel)
The disciples said, “If this is how serious marriage is, maybe it’s better not to marry.” Jesus agreed: singleness can be a gift.
Some are called to it.
Others choose it for the sake of the Kingdom.
Either way: marriage isn’t the only path to purpose and joy.
5. What This Means for Married People (vv. 10–12)
Jesus challenges the popular belief that divorce was fine as long as you remarried “legally.” But He says plainly:
Divorcing and remarrying without biblical cause is adultery.
Jesus was confronting a culture of easy outs.
Instead of working on marriages, people were walking away.
Instead of staying faithful, they found loopholes.
Coleton gave a stinging but important critique:
People say they don’t have money or time for counseling—but they find the money and time for lawyers and mediation in their divorce. If the same effort and energy put into divorce was invested in the marriage, many could thrive.
Just like we care for our own permanent bodies—seeking healing, not amputation—we should treat marriage the same. You don’t discard your body when it’s weak. You work on it. That’s how we treat our “one flesh” partner.
Final Word: Hope for the Broken (Romans 3:22–25)
Coleton closed by acknowledging the reality: many in the room have been through divorce, some in ways Scripture would call sin. But he declared the good news of the gospel:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.” Jesus calls sin what it is, but He also took our punishment on the cross for our sin. For those who believe, we are judged not by our brokenness, but by Christ’s faithfulness. He will never divorce His bride. He is always faithful.
Discussion Questions for Personal or Group Reflection
Understanding the Message
Why do you think Jesus pointed the Pharisees back to the creation account rather than simply debating Mosaic law?
What are some common ways our culture treats marriage more like a contract than a covenant?
Reflecting Personally
If you are single, how does Jesus’ teaching on the permanence of marriage shape the way you view dating or engagement?
If you’re married, what is one way you can invest in your marriage this week—time, money, energy, or attention?
Living It Out
Are you currently placing more effort into avoiding marital difficulty or addressing it?
What step can you take—counseling, prayer, a conversation—to move toward healing and strength in your marriage?
Quoted Authors and Sources
Søren Kierkegaard: “Everything essentially Christian needs to be presented in a way similar to the way a physician speaks to someone on their sickbed.”
David Guzik on Deuteronomy 24:1: “Rabbi Shammai said that uncleanness meant sexual immorality… Rabbi Hillel understood uncleanness to mean any sort of discretion, even burning breakfast.”
William Barclay: “Rabbi Akiba said uncleanness meant ‘if a man found a woman who was fairer in his eyes than his wife was.’”
Verses:
The Apostle Paul (Romans 3:22–25): “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.”
The Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 2:13): “If we are faithless, He remains faithful.”
1. The Context Behind the Question (vv. 1–4)
The Pharisees weren’t genuinely interested in truth—they were trying to trap Jesus, either in conflict with Moses' law or in political danger (like John the Baptist, who spoke against Herod’s divorce).
Their question: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus’ counter: “What did Moses command you?”
They referenced Deuteronomy 24, where Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce due to “uncleanness.” But that term was debated.
Rabbi Shammai: interpreted it as sexual immorality.
Rabbi Hillel: made it overly broad—even burning dinner qualified.
Rabbi Akiba: said divorce was valid if a man simply found someone more attractive.
The takeaway: People were more focused on when they could exit a marriage than how they could honor it.
2. Jesus’ First Hard Truth: There Is No Godly Reason for Divorce (vv. 5–9)
Jesus said divorce was never God’s idea—it was permitted due to the hardness of people’s hearts.
God doesn’t celebrate divorce; He allows it in certain circumstances (sexual immorality – Matt. 19; abandonment – 1 Cor. 7).
But no one is being godly by divorcing.
God remains faithful even when we are faithless (2 Tim. 2:13).
Jesus is calling us to a higher view of marriage:
“What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
3. Jesus’ Second Hard Truth: Marriage Was Designed to Be Permanent (vv. 6–9)
Jesus brings it back to Genesis: marriage is one man and one woman, united by God to become one flesh.
Not just a legal contract or emotional connection—it’s a covenant.
Jesus says: If you’re not ready for that kind of permanence, don’t get married.
Coleton used a powerful analogy:
If you could only live in one house forever, you’d be incredibly picky. You’d inspect it. You’d ask questions. You’d think about the future. That’s how we should approach marriage—slowly, wisely, and with deep respect for the lifelong nature of the covenant.
Key Insight for Singles: Go slow. Be picky. Don’t marry because of pressure, fear, or impatience. Culture says marriage is everything—Jesus says it’s weighty and sacred.
4. How the Disciples Responded (Matthew 19 parallel)
The disciples said, “If this is how serious marriage is, maybe it’s better not to marry.” Jesus agreed: singleness can be a gift.
Some are called to it.
Others choose it for the sake of the Kingdom.
Either way: marriage isn’t the only path to purpose and joy.
5. What This Means for Married People (vv. 10–12)
Jesus challenges the popular belief that divorce was fine as long as you remarried “legally.” But He says plainly:
Divorcing and remarrying without biblical cause is adultery.
Jesus was confronting a culture of easy outs.
Instead of working on marriages, people were walking away.
Instead of staying faithful, they found loopholes.
Coleton gave a stinging but important critique:
People say they don’t have money or time for counseling—but they find the money and time for lawyers and mediation in their divorce. If the same effort and energy put into divorce was invested in the marriage, many could thrive.
Just like we care for our own permanent bodies—seeking healing, not amputation—we should treat marriage the same. You don’t discard your body when it’s weak. You work on it. That’s how we treat our “one flesh” partner.
Final Word: Hope for the Broken (Romans 3:22–25)
Coleton closed by acknowledging the reality: many in the room have been through divorce, some in ways Scripture would call sin. But he declared the good news of the gospel:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.” Jesus calls sin what it is, but He also took our punishment on the cross for our sin. For those who believe, we are judged not by our brokenness, but by Christ’s faithfulness. He will never divorce His bride. He is always faithful.
Discussion Questions for Personal or Group Reflection
Understanding the Message
Why do you think Jesus pointed the Pharisees back to the creation account rather than simply debating Mosaic law?
What are some common ways our culture treats marriage more like a contract than a covenant?
Reflecting Personally
If you are single, how does Jesus’ teaching on the permanence of marriage shape the way you view dating or engagement?
If you’re married, what is one way you can invest in your marriage this week—time, money, energy, or attention?
Living It Out
Are you currently placing more effort into avoiding marital difficulty or addressing it?
What step can you take—counseling, prayer, a conversation—to move toward healing and strength in your marriage?
Quoted Authors and Sources
Søren Kierkegaard: “Everything essentially Christian needs to be presented in a way similar to the way a physician speaks to someone on their sickbed.”
David Guzik on Deuteronomy 24:1: “Rabbi Shammai said that uncleanness meant sexual immorality… Rabbi Hillel understood uncleanness to mean any sort of discretion, even burning breakfast.”
William Barclay: “Rabbi Akiba said uncleanness meant ‘if a man found a woman who was fairer in his eyes than his wife was.’”
Verses:
The Apostle Paul (Romans 3:22–25): “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.”
The Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 2:13): “If we are faithless, He remains faithful.”
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