1. Marriage Matters Mark 10:1-12

2. The Trap 1 Getting up, He went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them. 2 Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife. (Mark 10:1-2) 1 Getting up, He went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them. 2 Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife. (Mark 10:1-2)

3. The Trap Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” (Matthew 19:3)Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” (Matthew 19:3)

4. The Blueprint 3 And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND HER AWAY.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 3 And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND HER AWAY.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,

5. The Blueprint 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. (Mark 10:3-8) 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. (Mark 10:3-8)

6. The Blueprint God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27; Mark 10:6)God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27; Mark 10:6) FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH (Mark 10:7)FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH (Mark 10:7)

7. The Blueprint Principle #1: God created marriage to be a heterosexual, exclusive, monogamous relationship.Principle #1: God created marriage to be a heterosexual, exclusive, monogamous relationship.

8. The Blueprint 6 But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mark 10:6-9) 6 But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mark 10:6-9) Principle #2: Marriage is the permanent union of a man and a womanPrinciple #2: Marriage is the permanent union of a man and a woman

9. Don’t Give Up “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.” (Nehemiah 4:14)“Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.” (Nehemiah 4:14)

10. A Sacred Covenant 6 But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH [Genesis 2:24]; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mark 10:6-9) 6 But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH [Genesis 2:24]; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mark 10:6-9)

11. A Sacred Covenant “Marriage is an exclusive, heterosexual covenant between one man and one woman, ordained and sealed by God, preceded by a public leaving of one’s parents, consummated in a true male/female sexual union, issuing into a permanent mutually supportive partnership that’s normally crowned by the gift of children.” - John Stott“Marriage is an exclusive, heterosexual covenant between one man and one woman, ordained and sealed by God, preceded by a public leaving of one’s parents, consummated in a true male/female sexual union, issuing into a permanent mutually supportive partnership that’s normally crowned by the gift of children.” - John Stott

12. A Sacred Covenant “God devised marriage to reflect His saving love for us in Christ, to refine our character, to create stable human community for the birth and nurture of children, and to accomplish all this by bringing the complementary sexes into an enduring whole-life union.” – Tim Keller“God devised marriage to reflect His saving love for us in Christ, to refine our character, to create stable human community for the birth and nurture of children, and to accomplish all this by bringing the complementary sexes into an enduring whole-life union.” – Tim Keller

13. Glued Together “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mark 10:9)“What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mark 10:9) 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32) 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32)

14. Let No Man Separate 6 But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mark 10:6-9) 6 But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mark 10:6-9) Principle #3: Only God can dissolve a marriage.Principle #3: Only God can dissolve a marriage.

15. Let No Man Separate 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mark 10:8-9) 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mark 10:8-9)

16. Warning! 10 In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again. 11 And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; 12 and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.” (Mark 10:10-12) 10 In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again. 11 And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; 12 and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.” (Mark 10:10-12) “And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9)“And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9)

17. Summary Marriage according to God’s blueprint: Principle #1: Marriage is a heterosexual, exclusive, monogamous relationship.Principle #1: Marriage is a heterosexual, exclusive, monogamous relationship. Principle #2: Marriage is the permanent union of a man and a woman.Principle #2: Marriage is the permanent union of a man and a woman. Principle #3: Only God can dissolve a marriage.Principle #3: Only God can dissolve a marriage.

18. Action Steps 1.To the single: Be Content 2.To the married: Be Committed 3.To those considering divorce: Be Careful 4.To the adulterer/adulteress: Be Cleansed If we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)If we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

19. Marriage Matters Mark 10:1-12