Hardness of Heart (I)Hardness of Heart (I)

Matthew 19:3-Matthew 19:3-1212

IntroductionIntroduction

God’s ideal arrangementGod’s ideal arrangement– Man’s difference from animalsMan’s difference from animals– Created woman (Genesis 2:18-25)Created woman (Genesis 2:18-25)

Man’s departureMan’s departure– Early on (Genesis 4:19; 6:2; 11:1-Early on (Genesis 4:19; 6:2; 11:1-

9)9)– Both Jews and Gentiles departed Both Jews and Gentiles departed

(Romans 1:18-32; 2:1-3; 3:23)(Romans 1:18-32; 2:1-3; 3:23)

IntroductionIntroduction

Hardness of heart continuesHardness of heart continues– The Jews (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)The Jews (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)– Jesus’ day (Matthew 19:8)Jesus’ day (Matthew 19:8)– Today’s high divorce rateToday’s high divorce rate

Our approachOur approach– Look at eight false positionsLook at eight false positions– Determine what is rightDetermine what is right

Death is Only CauseDeath is Only Cause

Position statedPosition stated– Jesus only explaining the Old LawJesus only explaining the Old Law– The only “safe” position since The only “safe” position since

there is really no “innocent” there is really no “innocent” party (Romans 7:1-3)party (Romans 7:1-3)

– Exception not found in other Exception not found in other Gospels (Mark 10:11, 12; Luke Gospels (Mark 10:11, 12; Luke 16:18)16:18)

Death is Only CauseDeath is Only Cause

ResponseResponse– What Jesus said didn’t agree with What Jesus said didn’t agree with

the Law of Moses the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 24:1-4; (Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Matthew 5:32)Matthew 5:32)

– He appealed to the beginning He appealed to the beginning (Matthew 19:4)(Matthew 19:4)

– Permits divorce for fornicationPermits divorce for fornication

Divorce and Remarry- Any Divorce and Remarry- Any CauseCause

Position statedPosition stated– God wants man to be happyGod wants man to be happy– This encourages individual This encourages individual

growthgrowth– Question to Ann LandersQuestion to Ann Landers

QuestionQuestion

When a marriage has gone sour and When a marriage has gone sour and the only thing that keeps you from the only thing that keeps you from filing for divorce is the promise, “till filing for divorce is the promise, “till death do us part,” how can a person go death do us part,” how can a person go ahead and split with a clear ahead and split with a clear conscience? I have been miserable in conscience? I have been miserable in this marriage for several years and my this marriage for several years and my mate feels the same emptiness, but I mate feels the same emptiness, but I am haunted by the feeling that it would am haunted by the feeling that it would be a sin to break that promise. Please be a sin to break that promise. Please give me some guidancegive me some guidance

AnswerAnswer

You have already been parted by You have already been parted by death- the death of your love, your death- the death of your love, your respect, your devotion, the joy of respect, your devotion, the joy of being together and the warm being together and the warm feelings that made you want a feelings that made you want a lifetime partnership. If something is lifetime partnership. If something is dead, it should be buried. I believe dead, it should be buried. I believe God understands everything.God understands everything.

Divorce and Remarry- Any Divorce and Remarry- Any CauseCause

ResponseResponse– Assumes man knows more than Assumes man knows more than

God (Proverbs 14:12)God (Proverbs 14:12)– Ignores God’s will (Ecclesiastes Ignores God’s will (Ecclesiastes

12:13)12:13)– God’s commands are universal in God’s commands are universal in

scope (Romans 1:16)scope (Romans 1:16)

Divorce and Remarry- Any Legal Divorce and Remarry- Any Legal CauseCause

Position statedPosition stated– Any other conclusion forces a Any other conclusion forces a

person to stay in a bad situationperson to stay in a bad situation– God is a loving Father who wants God is a loving Father who wants

people to be happypeople to be happy– Think of the harm done to Think of the harm done to

childrenchildren

Divorce and Remarry- Any Legal Divorce and Remarry- Any Legal CauseCause

ResponseResponse– Assumes man’s right to legislate Assumes man’s right to legislate

(Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Acts 5:29)(Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Acts 5:29)– Man’s path to happiness often Man’s path to happiness often

marked by lust (Matthew 5:3-12)marked by lust (Matthew 5:3-12)– Studies show that divorce is Studies show that divorce is

more harmful than a bad home more harmful than a bad home situationsituation

Guilty Party Can RemarryGuilty Party Can Remarry

Position statedPosition stated– Both parties to a broken contract Both parties to a broken contract

are freeare free– Exception of first half applies to Exception of first half applies to

the second half as wellthe second half as well– Can’t bind celibacy on the guilty Can’t bind celibacy on the guilty

oneone– One is to marry “in order to avoid One is to marry “in order to avoid

fornication (1 Corinthians 7:2)fornication (1 Corinthians 7:2)

Guilty Party Can RemarryGuilty Party Can Remarry

ResponseResponse– Leaves out God’s role in the Leaves out God’s role in the

contract (Malachi 2:15, 16; contract (Malachi 2:15, 16; Matthew 19:6, 9; Romans 7:1-3)Matthew 19:6, 9; Romans 7:1-3)

– Confuses being married with Confuses being married with being bound and being divorce being bound and being divorce from being loosed (John 4:16-18; from being loosed (John 4:16-18; Mark 6:17, 18)Mark 6:17, 18)

Guilty Party Can RemarryGuilty Party Can Remarry

Response (continued)Response (continued)– Jesus released only one party Jesus released only one party

(Matthew 19:9)(Matthew 19:9)– Celibacy results from a bad choice Celibacy results from a bad choice

(Proverbs 13:15)(Proverbs 13:15)– Leads to the absurdity that it is Leads to the absurdity that it is

better to be put away as a fornicatorbetter to be put away as a fornicator– Must have one’s “own” Must have one’s “own”

wife/husbandwife/husband

ConclusionConclusion

Start off right by marrying Start off right by marrying rightright

Teach our children who can Teach our children who can marrymarry