Mark’s version of Jesus being questioned about divorce leaves out the “for any and every reason” phrase. Perhaps since that was Jewish teaching it was not as pertinent to the gentile audience for which Mark seems to be intended.
One thing Jesus does make clear here is that there is really only one reason for divorce - because our hearts are hard. If our hearts were soft, truly soft, we would not abandon our first love. We could resolve our differences. We could live as God intended.
Some have gone so far as to suggest, no, insist that divorce and remarriage is an unforgivable sin. They would say that the remarried person is living in perpetual adultery and therefore is beyond the pale of grace much less being of any use in the kingdom of God. This twisted logic would even go so far as to say that if one murdered their spouse they could be forgiven for that. Then they could remarry and not be committing adultery.
How could such logic enter into a Christian’s theology? That’s easy; our hearts are hard. We can even be of such disposition as to try and prevent little children from coming to Jesus because... well, because they are just little children.
I suggest that even the best of us struggle with a hard heart in some areas. But I also contend that none of us are beyond the reach of God’s grace. If we will but soften our hearts He will receive us, take us in His arms, and bless us.
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