Advent Midweek 2 (Book of Concord: LC - 6th Commandment) December 7, 2016
Matthew 19:3-9
v.6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.
Dear friends in Christ, our Lutheran Service Book Agenda states in the opening paragraphs for the Rite of Holy Matrimony (p.65), "Marriage is not to be entered into inadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God." There is a lot to be said about marriage. What a great blessing it is to the man and woman, to their children, and to society as a whole. Marriage is so important that Luther noted in his Large Catechism on the 6th commandment (that deals explicitly with adultery), God wishes by this commandment (LC, I, 205) "to build a hedge round about and protect every spouse so that no one trespasses against him or her."
Marriage, according to the Scriptures, is God's gift to His people. Recall how He joined Adam and Eve together as husband and wife in the Garden of Eden. This is the first institution of God for His people and, as such, should be honoured and respected above all others as the lifelong union between one man and one woman.
However, due to human sinfulness and pride, marriage is not always honoured, nor is that one-flesh union always kept sacred and holy. Indeed, in our text for this evening the Pharisees come to Jesus with a question (to test Him) about divorce. However, they begin by asking the wrong question. The very same question we, too, are at times tempted to ask when we grow weary and frustrated and angry and hurt by our spouses. "Jesus, how/when can I get a divorce that is pleasing in God's eyes?"
Jesus' response is simple and straightforward. He changes the nature of the conversation by redirecting them to the foundational text for marriage in Genesis 2, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let not man separate." In effect, Jesus' answer to the Pharsiees' question regarding a God-pleasing divorce is "NEVER!" There is no such thing as a divorce that is acceptable in the sight of God. For what He has joined together in marriage is never to be separated.
Ok. So then…no divorce? Ever? No. Sadly, because marriage involves two sinful human beings - a man and a woman - because of the hardness of the human heart in relation to God and His Word (especially regarding marriage) - God permitted divorce through Moses. Sometimes, sometimes divorce is the lesser of two evils - but make no mistake - divorce is always an evil - for it is a separation of what God has joined together by His Word.
To help prevent this from happening the 6th commandment is given to protect and defend marriage. As Luther notes in the LC (202-203, 205), "Therefore, this commandment is directed against all kinds of unchastity, whatever it may be called. Not only is the outward act of adultery forbidden, but also every kind of cause, motive, and means of adultery [this would include in our time particularly things like "hooking up" or fornication, adultery, pornography, homosexuality, etc.]…To speak in the briefest way, this much is required of you: everyone must live chastely himself and help his neighbour do the same." Furthermore, (LC, I, 218), "it is the duty of parents and the government to see to it that our youth are brought up with discipline and respectability. When they have become mature, parents and government should provide for them to marry in the fear of God and honourably. God would not fail to add His blessing and grace, so that people would have joy and happiness from marriage."
However, you and I know how very broken this is today. From our government redefining marriage to include all sorts of unnatural unions that destroy the one-flesh union of man and woman (even going so far as to redefine the binary reality of sex as male and female alone); to families that dishonour marriage and spouses to the detriment of themselves and their children; to our own sinful and depraved hearts that seek our own fulfillment and pleasure above any other - even our spouse. The estate of marriage is broken all around us.
These sinful attitudes and behaviours lead to ever increasing tragic circumstances where marriage is disposable, dishonoured, and redefined, leading to broken families, shattered children, and a fractured society and church. People selfishly live only for the moment and fail to recognize the great blessings and joys that God has given them in and through marriage--not only for their own personal benefit, but for that of others, such as children and neighbour.
What are we to do, dear friends? What is the answer? As always, the answer is for each of us, individually, and all of us, corporately, in the church and society--to repent of these sinful attitudes and behaviours. We confess our sin before God of thought, word, and deed. And then we flee to Christ Jesus and His life-giving cross for mercy and forgiveness.
Beloved, you can take comfort in the mystical union between Christ and His holy bride, the church, which you are a part of through faith in Jesus. St. Paul writes in Ephesians 5 that this union between Christ and His church is reflected in every godly earthly marriage between a man and a woman. Jesus is the bridegroom. You, the church, are His bride.
Jesus has loved you so fully and so self-sacrificially that He gave Himself up into death on the cross to cleanse His bride the church from sin--to cleanse you! Baptized into Christ your sins are completely washed away and you are given the Spirit of joy and peace so that you may honour and love your spouse (if you have been blessed by God with one) or the estate of marriage in general. Yet, you can also recognize that if God has called you to an estate of singlehood that you can also fully love and serve God in this way by living a chaste life in accord with His Word.
Beloved, you have been brought into the mystical union of Christ and His church through your Baptism. The Spirit has given you faith in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of all of your sins--even the grievous sins that are of a sexual nature. Jesus' blood washes away all guilt--all stain--every spot and wrinkle--and makes you pure and holy in the Father's sight. God has joined you together to Himself through faith in the Son. This faith was worked by the Holy Spirit through the Word and the Sacraments.
United to Christ you now flee from every sin and cling only to Him and His Word of truth for your every good. What God has joined together let not man separate. For you have been joined together with Christ's body and blood for the forgiveness of all your sins. In this union with Christ, you are now blessed to be united with others: be they spouse, family, or church--all through the love of God given in Jesus who shed His blood for you to unite you with Himself forever. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 19:3-9
v.6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.
Dear friends in Christ, our Lutheran Service Book Agenda states in the opening paragraphs for the Rite of Holy Matrimony (p.65), "Marriage is not to be entered into inadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God." There is a lot to be said about marriage. What a great blessing it is to the man and woman, to their children, and to society as a whole. Marriage is so important that Luther noted in his Large Catechism on the 6th commandment (that deals explicitly with adultery), God wishes by this commandment (LC, I, 205) "to build a hedge round about and protect every spouse so that no one trespasses against him or her."
Marriage, according to the Scriptures, is God's gift to His people. Recall how He joined Adam and Eve together as husband and wife in the Garden of Eden. This is the first institution of God for His people and, as such, should be honoured and respected above all others as the lifelong union between one man and one woman.
However, due to human sinfulness and pride, marriage is not always honoured, nor is that one-flesh union always kept sacred and holy. Indeed, in our text for this evening the Pharisees come to Jesus with a question (to test Him) about divorce. However, they begin by asking the wrong question. The very same question we, too, are at times tempted to ask when we grow weary and frustrated and angry and hurt by our spouses. "Jesus, how/when can I get a divorce that is pleasing in God's eyes?"
Jesus' response is simple and straightforward. He changes the nature of the conversation by redirecting them to the foundational text for marriage in Genesis 2, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let not man separate." In effect, Jesus' answer to the Pharsiees' question regarding a God-pleasing divorce is "NEVER!" There is no such thing as a divorce that is acceptable in the sight of God. For what He has joined together in marriage is never to be separated.
Ok. So then…no divorce? Ever? No. Sadly, because marriage involves two sinful human beings - a man and a woman - because of the hardness of the human heart in relation to God and His Word (especially regarding marriage) - God permitted divorce through Moses. Sometimes, sometimes divorce is the lesser of two evils - but make no mistake - divorce is always an evil - for it is a separation of what God has joined together by His Word.
To help prevent this from happening the 6th commandment is given to protect and defend marriage. As Luther notes in the LC (202-203, 205), "Therefore, this commandment is directed against all kinds of unchastity, whatever it may be called. Not only is the outward act of adultery forbidden, but also every kind of cause, motive, and means of adultery [this would include in our time particularly things like "hooking up" or fornication, adultery, pornography, homosexuality, etc.]…To speak in the briefest way, this much is required of you: everyone must live chastely himself and help his neighbour do the same." Furthermore, (LC, I, 218), "it is the duty of parents and the government to see to it that our youth are brought up with discipline and respectability. When they have become mature, parents and government should provide for them to marry in the fear of God and honourably. God would not fail to add His blessing and grace, so that people would have joy and happiness from marriage."
However, you and I know how very broken this is today. From our government redefining marriage to include all sorts of unnatural unions that destroy the one-flesh union of man and woman (even going so far as to redefine the binary reality of sex as male and female alone); to families that dishonour marriage and spouses to the detriment of themselves and their children; to our own sinful and depraved hearts that seek our own fulfillment and pleasure above any other - even our spouse. The estate of marriage is broken all around us.
These sinful attitudes and behaviours lead to ever increasing tragic circumstances where marriage is disposable, dishonoured, and redefined, leading to broken families, shattered children, and a fractured society and church. People selfishly live only for the moment and fail to recognize the great blessings and joys that God has given them in and through marriage--not only for their own personal benefit, but for that of others, such as children and neighbour.
What are we to do, dear friends? What is the answer? As always, the answer is for each of us, individually, and all of us, corporately, in the church and society--to repent of these sinful attitudes and behaviours. We confess our sin before God of thought, word, and deed. And then we flee to Christ Jesus and His life-giving cross for mercy and forgiveness.
Beloved, you can take comfort in the mystical union between Christ and His holy bride, the church, which you are a part of through faith in Jesus. St. Paul writes in Ephesians 5 that this union between Christ and His church is reflected in every godly earthly marriage between a man and a woman. Jesus is the bridegroom. You, the church, are His bride.
Jesus has loved you so fully and so self-sacrificially that He gave Himself up into death on the cross to cleanse His bride the church from sin--to cleanse you! Baptized into Christ your sins are completely washed away and you are given the Spirit of joy and peace so that you may honour and love your spouse (if you have been blessed by God with one) or the estate of marriage in general. Yet, you can also recognize that if God has called you to an estate of singlehood that you can also fully love and serve God in this way by living a chaste life in accord with His Word.
Beloved, you have been brought into the mystical union of Christ and His church through your Baptism. The Spirit has given you faith in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of all of your sins--even the grievous sins that are of a sexual nature. Jesus' blood washes away all guilt--all stain--every spot and wrinkle--and makes you pure and holy in the Father's sight. God has joined you together to Himself through faith in the Son. This faith was worked by the Holy Spirit through the Word and the Sacraments.
United to Christ you now flee from every sin and cling only to Him and His Word of truth for your every good. What God has joined together let not man separate. For you have been joined together with Christ's body and blood for the forgiveness of all your sins. In this union with Christ, you are now blessed to be united with others: be they spouse, family, or church--all through the love of God given in Jesus who shed His blood for you to unite you with Himself forever. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
