Sunday 24 April, 2016

14 The Pharisees loved money. They heard all that Jesus said and made fun of him. 15 Jesus said to them, “You try to make yourselves look good in the eyes of other people. But God knows your hearts. What people think is worth a lot is hated by God. 16 “The teachings of the Law and the Prophets were preached until John the Baptist came. Since then, the good news of God’s kingdom is being preached. And everyone is trying very hard to enter it. 17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest part of a letter to drop out of the Law. 18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery. Also, the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

I’ve heard it said that the best commentary to the Bible is the Bible. When a passage is hard to understand it needs to be read hand-in-hand with similar passages (like Matthew 19:9) and in context with what was happening at the time. Sometimes reading the same passage in a different translation helps too. (Eg The Message Bible)

This passage in Luke is a good example. On the surface, what Jesus is saying here about divorce is pretty hash. But reading it in the light of other scriptures and different translations gives a more accurate view of what Jesus was really saying.

It appears wives of the day were getting treated badly by their husbands – discarded like garbage when no longer wanted and the law was used as an excuse to do it. I love that there is no way in the world that Jesus was going to stand for this! He was in an argument with the Pharisees about money and turned it around to protect women. He is truly awesome!

Defender of widows and orphans – Jesus, You are awesome and worthy of praise!

Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen