Mark 10:5 - But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.
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What does "Mark 10:5" mean?
This verse, Mark 10:5, is part of a conversation Jesus is having with the Pharisees about divorce. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Context: The Pharisees ask Jesus if it's lawful for a man to divorce his wife. They're trying to trap him, likely because divorce was a contentious issue. They cite Moses' Law (Deuteronomy 24:1-4) which allowed for divorce under certain circumstances (typically interpreted as "uncleanness" or some "indecency").
"But Jesus said to them..." This sets up Jesus' counter-argument. He's not agreeing with their implied premise that divorce is acceptable in God's eyes.
"...For your hardness of heart..." This is the key phrase. "Hardness of heart" refers to a stubborn, resistant, and unyielding attitude. It signifies a lack of openness to God's will, a resistance to love and compassion, and a tendency towards self-centeredness. Jesus is saying that the allowance for divorce in the Law was not ideal or part of God's original plan.
"...he wrote you this commandment." "He" refers to Moses. The "commandment" refers to the law allowing divorce. Jesus isn't saying Moses invented the idea, but that he codified it into law because of the people's hardened hearts. God, through Moses, made a concession to their imperfect nature, recognizing they were unwilling or unable to live up to the higher ideal of lifelong, committed marriage.
In essence, Jesus is arguing that:
Divorce was never God's ideal. God's original intention in creation, as described in Genesis, was for a man and woman to become "one flesh" in a permanent union.
The law allowing divorce was a compromise. It was a response to the people's inability or unwillingness to live according to God's original design for marriage due to their stubbornness and lack of compassion.
Jesus is raising the standard. He is calling people to a higher understanding of marriage, one that reflects God's original intention of faithfulness and commitment. He is implying that his followers should strive for a standard of marriage that overcomes the "hardness of heart" that necessitates divorce.
Think of it this way: Imagine a parent who allows their child to have a sugary snack because they throw a massive tantrum if they don't. The parent isn't condoning the sugary snack, nor the tantrum. They are just dealing with the reality of the situation, knowing the child isn't yet mature enough to handle the denial of the snack. Similarly, God, through Moses, allowed divorce as a concession to a people who weren't ready to live up to the ideal of lifelong commitment.
Therefore, Mark 10:5 is not an endorsement of divorce. It's an explanation of why divorce was allowed in the Old Testament, while simultaneously highlighting the ideal of marriage that Jesus emphasizes: a permanent and unbreakable union reflecting God's original design for humanity. It calls us to examine our own hearts and strive for a level of love and commitment that transcends the "hardness of heart" that leads to broken relationships.
Mark 10:5 - But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.
What does "Mark 10:5" mean?
This verse, Mark 10:5, is part of a conversation Jesus is having with the Pharisees about divorce. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Context: The Pharisees ask Jesus if it's lawful for a man to divorce his wife. They're trying to trap him, likely because divorce was a contentious issue. They cite Moses' Law (Deuteronomy 24:1-4) which allowed for divorce under certain circumstances (typically interpreted as "uncleanness" or some "indecency").
"But Jesus said to them..." This sets up Jesus' counter-argument. He's not agreeing with their implied premise that divorce is acceptable in God's eyes.
"...For your hardness of heart..." This is the key phrase. "Hardness of heart" refers to a stubborn, resistant, and unyielding attitude. It signifies a lack of openness to God's will, a resistance to love and compassion, and a tendency towards self-centeredness. Jesus is saying that the allowance for divorce in the Law was not ideal or part of God's original plan.
"...he wrote you this commandment." "He" refers to Moses. The "commandment" refers to the law allowing divorce. Jesus isn't saying Moses invented the idea, but that he codified it into law because of the people's hardened hearts. God, through Moses, made a concession to their imperfect nature, recognizing they were unwilling or unable to live up to the higher ideal of lifelong, committed marriage.
In essence, Jesus is arguing that:
Divorce was never God's ideal. God's original intention in creation, as described in Genesis, was for a man and woman to become "one flesh" in a permanent union.
The law allowing divorce was a compromise. It was a response to the people's inability or unwillingness to live according to God's original design for marriage due to their stubbornness and lack of compassion.
Jesus is raising the standard. He is calling people to a higher understanding of marriage, one that reflects God's original intention of faithfulness and commitment. He is implying that his followers should strive for a standard of marriage that overcomes the "hardness of heart" that necessitates divorce.
Think of it this way: Imagine a parent who allows their child to have a sugary snack because they throw a massive tantrum if they don't. The parent isn't condoning the sugary snack, nor the tantrum. They are just dealing with the reality of the situation, knowing the child isn't yet mature enough to handle the denial of the snack. Similarly, God, through Moses, allowed divorce as a concession to a people who weren't ready to live up to the ideal of lifelong commitment.
Therefore, Mark 10:5 is not an endorsement of divorce. It's an explanation of why divorce was allowed in the Old Testament, while simultaneously highlighting the ideal of marriage that Jesus emphasizes: a permanent and unbreakable union reflecting God's original design for humanity. It calls us to examine our own hearts and strive for a level of love and commitment that transcends the "hardness of heart" that leads to broken relationships.