By the time we reach Matthew 19, we see a continual pattern of Jesus healing and delivering the multitudes who throng Him, the disciples being amazed at His miracles and teachings, and then the Pharisees trying to trick Him with the Law. I'm sure Jesus experienced frustration in having to deal with these stubborn, nonbelieving, religious zealots who refused to open their spiritual eyes. I know I suffer from this frustration today from the modern-day Pharisees who cross my path!
In this chapter, we see the Pharisees come to quiz Jesus on the issue of marriage and divorce. Moses allowed the Jews to divorce, but Jesus explained that God's best from the beginning of time was for marriage to be forever -- male and female would leave the families of their youth and be joined together as one unit to procreate and fill up the earth with God's holy people. Paul explains to us in his many letters that this institution of marriage is a picture of the wedding between the bridegroom, Jesus, and His bride, the church. As a wife becomes one with her husband, the church becomes one with Jesus Christ, with all the rights, privileges, power and authority of her husband. That is very good news!
Those who desire to redefine marriage are in direct contradiction to God's Word and the Gospel message. Yes, people may feel love with the opposite (or same) sex and/or experience fleshly desires that mimic love, but the divine, marital love between husband and wife is very different. It is a union that is firstly spiritual, being God ordained, and then manifested in the physical through intimate consummation and procreation.
We need to look at the Word and the Gospel message with spiritual eyes and put away the thinking of the flesh. After all, we are born again, spirit-filled children of the Most High!
