Matthew 5:31-32
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Today’s passage is the continuation of Jesus’ instructions on how humans, created in God’s image, are to live in shalom with each other. Read Matthew 5:31-32 noticing any questions that arise as you read.
To understand this portion of Jesus’ teaching it’s important to examine the cultural context of first century Israel. In this society women were considered as less valuable than men and were often treated as little more than the property of their husbands. If a man chose to divorce his wife, she would not be able to support herself and would have to turn to family members or resort to extreme measures to survive. She would also be shamed and shunned by others.
The degradation of women in this society led to the dehumanization of women and resulted in men divorcing their wives at will without any real cause. In this portion of Jesus’ teaching, he is addressing the cruelty of men who cast their wives aside for reasons not specified in the law.
Stop to consider groups of people in our current cultural context who are regarded as less important or less valuable than others. How would it change the way you saw these people if you were keenly aware of them as humans who bear the image of God? Spend a moment or two talking to Jesus about this.
Before you read the passage again, read these words from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Ephesus:
“As the Scriptures say, ’A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ [Genesis 2:24] This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one…“ - Ephesians 5:32
Now read Matthew 5:31-32 again.
Human relationships are symbolic in that they are designed to point us to deeper truths about God. In Ephesians, Paul explains that marriage symbolizes the relationship between Jesus and his Church. When a marriage functions as a loving, mutually edifying relationship, God’s shalom is displayed to the world.
Jesus drills down beyond the first century idea that a man can dispose of his marriage on a whim by giving his wife a “certificate of divorce.” Instead, Jesus points to God’s original design for marriage and explains that if a man divorces his wife for a reason not specified in the law of Moses, the divorce is not recognized in the eyes of God.
As you end this time of meditation, get still and recognize the presence of Jesus with you. Sit with the thought that human relationships are symbolic of deeper truths about God for a moment or two and then simply listen.
What might Jesus be saying to you?
How will you respond?
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