Original Intentions
There are those. Then there is humanity. Then there is the grace of God.
Sometimes Jesus doesn’t answer a question asked of him. Other times he answers a question with a question. Sometimes he’s pretty direct with an answer to a question.
Then there’s today’s passage. Jesus initially answers a question about divorce with a reminder concerning the original initiation of marital relations. Then he explains that divorce exists because of humanity. Divorce was clearly not in the original intentions for human relationship. But it exists, and God’s grace is sufficient. (Like for all sorts of things not originally intended.)
Then Jesus answered a question it doesn’t appear anyone asked him about concerning eunuchs.1 Eunuchs were clearly forbidden by the Law (Deut. 23:1). Yet here goes Jesus widening the circle again. Not only that, he says that some eunuchs are as such because of the kingdom of heaven.
Put that in your theological pipe and smoke it.
More kindly said, Those who can accept it should accept it.
Matthew 19:1-12
When Jesus finished saying these things, he left Galilee and came to the area of Judea on the east side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them. Some Pharisees came to him. In order to test him, they said, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the creator made them male and female? And God said, ‘Because of this a man should leave his father and mother and be joined together with his wife, and the two will be one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, humans must not pull apart what God has put together.”
The Pharisees said to him, “Then why did Moses command us to give a divorce certificate and divorce her?”
Jesus replied, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because your hearts are unyielding. But it wasn’t that way from the beginning. I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
His disciples said to him, “If that’s the way things are between a man and his wife, then it’s better not to marry.”
He replied, “Not everybody can accept this teaching, but only those who have received the ability to accept it. For there are eunuchs who have been eunuchs from birth. And there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by other people. And there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs because of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can accept it should accept it.”
Prayer
God,
Thanks for working with us. Help us to do better working with one another.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Eunuchs were men who were castrated, often to be a non-threat in the service of a royal female.