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God's Plan, Your Part
Discover God's plan for your life with this daily Bible reading podcast.
Ryan and Jenny Zook lead a valuable daily devotional bible study with historical background, theology, and practical applications. This year we will be covering the whole New Testament, one chapter at a time.
This podcast brings the word of God to life. Whether starting from the first episode or just jumping in, this is an inspiring and enlightening way to deepen your understanding of scripture. We delve into a different passage daily and share how its teachings can impact your daily life. Start listening right now.
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God's Plan, Your Part
Matthew 19 | Divorce, Marriage, and the Weight of Wealth
Is your understanding of marriage and wealth grounded in modern culture or in the enduring wisdom of scripture? Step into a profound exploration of these critical issues as we unpack the teachings of Jesus from Matthew 19. Our journey begins with the sensitive topic of divorce, where we delve into Jesus' poignant words on the sanctity of marriage. I grapple with the complexities that come with the dissolution of what is meant to be a lifelong covenant, and together we tackle the challenging questions posed by the Pharisees. Reflecting on the hard truths about the permanence of marriage and the concept of forgiveness, this episode is a heartfelt call to consider the deep spiritual implications of breaking marital bonds.
As we pivot to the subject of wealth, I share the story of the rich young man's encounter with Christ and the daunting choice between material riches and spiritual wealth. This narrative prompts us to examine our own attachments and to measure the real value of what we possess. The episode doesn't just challenge us to give more, but to reassess the hold that our belongings have on our hearts. Join me in a candid reflection on balancing earthly treasures with the pursuit of eternal life, urging a life marked by generosity in the true spirit of Christ's teachings. This conversation isn't just about giving up possessions; it's about gaining perspective on what it means to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
In Matthew 19, Jesus engages in profound teachings and discussions, addressing crucial aspects of human life. The chapter begins with Pharisees testing Jesus on divorce, seeking to trap him in a legal debate. In response, Jesus emphasizes the sacredness of marriage, affirming that what God has joined together, man should not separate. This teaching underscores the sanctity of marital commitments and the importance of unity in God's plan.
The narrative takes an unexpected turn as Jesus welcomes children, highlighting the significance of childlike faith. He emphasizes that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who approach it with the innocence and trust of a child. This message challenges societal norms and encourages a humble and receptive heart, emphasizing the qualities that lead to spiritual growth and a deeper connection with God.
The chapter concludes with a rich encounter between Jesus and a rich young man. The young man seeks eternal life but struggles with letting go of his material wealth. Jesus challenges him to sell his possessions and follow Him, illustrating the difficulty some may face in prioritizing spiritual treasures over earthly possessions. Matthe
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Thanks so much for listening to the show. We'll See you tomorrow.
-Ryan and Jenny
Hey everyone, welcome to God's Plan, your part, year two, where this year we're reading through and studying the entire New Testament one chapter at a time. Thanks again for joining us in discovering God's plan and your part in it.
Speaker 2:What would Jesus have to say about divorce? Are you allowed to get divorced? Should you get divorced? This is going to be an interesting passage to talk about. Today. We are in Matthew, chapter 19. Jesus from the top is talking about how we handle divorce. We already know that the Pharisees are constantly trying to catch Jesus in some kind of fault where they can embarrass him or accuse him and eventually charge him. And so they come to Jesus and they say hey, jesus, what do you think about divorce? Do you think this is okay or not?
Speaker 1:Well, I guess my mind instantly goes because I start thinking of like some divorced people I know and I think about their situations, I think about like all of the pieces that go into it. And what is super sad, I think a lot of times, is this thing that Jesus says about well, like Moses made this, he kind of made this little clause for it because you were not willing to unhearten your hearts. Like your unwillingness is going to cause more sin. So I think this it ties into what we talked about yesterday with forgiveness and it also like I don't know it just it changes your perspective when you think all the way back, like someone had to make some kind of choice to fall into some kind of sin and then post that there was like no forgiveness, there was no common ground that was sought. So, like I just it's just such a tricky thing.
Speaker 1:Like reading over this day I was like, oh boy, here we go talking about divorce, because I feel like in today's world is like no, you are justified in how you feel and you are empowered to do what you want and you need to follow out what you need to do.
Speaker 1:That makes everything better for you, and what is crazy is like that is like a complete way to look at things from the eyes and perspective of the world, and like what is so crazy is like when you take a commitment of marriage this is a covenant that you are making with God and, so to say, I feel empowered and then break this commitment that is made between you, your spouse and God, that is no little thing. And the ramifications of divorce. It's not like this clear cut. There's always something that holds you or keeps you to that person, no matter what, whether you get remarried or you go off and live your best life, there is always something holding you to that person. And it is never just this clear cut and I think throughout this chapter Jesus is. His main point is like the permanence of marriage is centre of the human zone. He twists the seasons of marriage, the always. What he is alluding to, always.
Speaker 2:If you look at Matthew, chapter 19, verse 5, and he said Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. That is Jesus referring to Genesis 2, chapter 24. So he's referring all the way back to the very beginning of creation. The Pharisees are bringing like modern day issues, basically saying like how do we handle this modern day thing? And Jesus has any number of places that he can go to deal with that issue.
Speaker 2:He refers back to the very beginning at creation, the way it is meant to be. And so he says the two become one flesh. Like how can, basically, how can you split out one flesh Like? That doesn't even make sense. How can you split yourself in half? So Jesus is establishing that marriage is meant to be an irrevocable covenant that actually combines two people into one thing. So if you are currently married, God sees you as one flesh with your spouse and it is sinful to divide that one flesh.
Speaker 2:Now what the Pharisees will do then is say Well, why did Moses say that you can give your wife a certificate of divorce? If this seems confusing to you because there is like the Pharisees are aware that Moses made room for divorce what you need to understand is the Pharisees are, like appealing to Deuteronomy 24, where Moses lays out in like legal expectations for the community that divorce is a possible thing and this is how you handle divorce when it happens. So the Pharisees are saying, hey, Moses made room for divorce. What do you say? So when Jesus appeals, not to Moses, but to God at creation, he's one saying, hey, God's ideal is that marriage is not dissolved ever. Like you are one flesh, you can't be split apart.
Speaker 2:But because human beings are sinful and constantly falling short of God's ideals. There were laws revealed in the law in Deuteronomy to figure out how to live in a community and function in a community where people are sinful. So that's why you know there are laws in Deuteronomy and Leviticus that just teach you how to handle when somebody does something wrong. That doesn't mean you should do that wrong thing. So Jesus here is saying like marriage is not meant to be dissolved, it is meant to be a forever covenant. And when you just dissolve that covenant out of whatever like your reconcilable differences, that is not great and that is not honoring to God.
Speaker 2:Now, I know that there are many times where it's like, oh, but I know this person and I know that person and maybe you are that person, Like I don't mean to be confrontational towards you, I don't mean to dishonor you, I want to uphold what Jesus is teaching. And I think what Jesus is teaching here is pretty clear and unfortunately, in our culture and context, in our Western Christian world, we've become pretty cool with this stuff and I think it actually has caused like a very slippery slope in the church that has led to more and more and more nonsense and false teaching, because we're constantly taking hard passages where the passage actually seems pretty clear and being like, Well, I don't know, and I just don't think that's helpful, I just don't think that's a positive thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think I've also I've thought back to to like couples that, as they grow together or grow apart from one another, realize that they are on very different pages on certain things.
Speaker 1:And I think that is where like that equally yoked is so valuable and so important, because I know several people, one who has grown up in the faith and one who completely despises God, and that, like it might seem like Well, we love each other and that's like bottom line, the most important thing. And I mean, if you truly believe that our lives are meant to glorify God and, like I guess, expand his kingdom, how is there room for that if you are unequally yoked? And I think a lot of those things that we're willing to kind of like sacrifice or just push off to the side, they always come back around, unfortunately, and really just like bite us in the butt, and so I really feel like this passage, although very difficult to go through, you have to go back to the very beginning, like what are the things that you're willing to sacrifice that are eventually going to come around to get at you, or what are the things that you're not being honest about?
Speaker 2:in your marriage.
Speaker 1:Like there's, I feel like there's always something that we can like discredit or whatever that eventually become a big thing, and then we find ourselves in these situations.
Speaker 2:There's so much that goes into this discussion, because some of the things too that culturally we've missed is that we completely misrepresent what love is. We constantly elevate love above commitment, like it's like-.
Speaker 2:Feeling above commitment. To be in a marriage because you're committed is like not honorable. But to be in a marriage because you're so loving, which is definitely like a fleeting feeling. It is really difficult and, like I said, I want to recognize that. I know this hits different people different ways. I know that it may seem very offensive to some people. That is not my intent. I want to be honorable in how we're teaching God's word as we go through it. I don't want to just misrepresent Jesus. But Jesus is saying like, hey, you should not get divorced If there is marital unfaithfulness. There's like a little bit of a window there, but even there I think it's interesting that he elevates the covenant and the two becoming one flesh before he even talks about like if there's adultery, then there's some permissibility there. We just should not dissolve the importance of marriage and we should not make it easy and simple to get divorced. It has wrecked our culture, it has wrecked our people and I think it is wreaking havoc in our churches. So I think we should take this seriously.
Speaker 1:So overall, I just feel like this part of the chapter it's very pointed, and I think Jesus also has like a little bit of grace here at the very end, because the disciples are just like well, then I guess it's just better that, if this is the case, that it's just better not to be married at all. But Jesus replies to them and says well, not everybody can receive this saying, but only to those to whom it is given. And then he talks a little bit about eunuchs, people who have like separated themselves from sex altogether, like they are living a life of complete celibacy.
Speaker 2:I mean, eunuchs are actually people who have been there, they're men who have been castrated and so they like, they have no like the.
Speaker 2:The sexual aspect of their lives is just not present and there would have been eunuchs who were eunuchs because they were serving in royal context. There would have been eunuchs who had chosen to be eunuchs. This, this particular passage, one I think it's like a little bit of a tricky one to understand. Well, because there's so much cultural context that's important, but it has been used to say like well, see, you know eunuchs. That's just like what's going on in our culture today. There's people that can choose to be a man, there's people that can choose to be a woman. That's not what Jesus is teaching. Like it like again, if somebody tells you that that is total nonsense. Like what Jesus is talking about here is people who have chosen to opt out of sexual relationships, to opt out of, ultimately, marriage to the honor of God, and like that is not. I just hate it when people use this passage as like it supports some kind of LGBTQ kind of situation, because that is not what's going on.
Speaker 2:So we move into what is probably, I think, like a more popular story, certainly a more commonly read piece than the part about eunuchs, about the the rich young ruler and the like. I think Luke calls him a rich young ruler, matthew calls him a rich young man. It's just a sad story to me.
Speaker 2:Like this guy comes up to Jesus is like what do I have to do to inherit eternal life? Jesus gives him, like, basically, the law. And he's like, oh yeah, I've done all that. And then like the whole climax is that Jesus says, okay, sell all that you have, give it to the poor and come follow me. And the dude is like, nah, no, thanks. And it's just like, ah, man, really Like you got a personal invitation from Jesus to follow Jesus and you just decided that it was too much, and that makes me very sad.
Speaker 1:This kind of reminds me of something we've read a couple of chapters ago about the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. In verse five it says other seeds fell on the rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and immediately sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but then they were scorched by the sun. This reminds me so much of this type of seed where they're like ready to go. They're like Jesus, what do I have to do to like give my life to you? They're so excited.
Speaker 1:How many times do we see this in, like present day? Like yeah, I'm on fire for God, I can't wait. And then, as soon as a request comes for you to give something up in your life for the sake of Christ, it seems nearly impossible, like I could never do that. What are you talking about? And he just falls away. And I think it's so sad, because there are so many things that we can also put in this same spot, whether it be possessions, relationships whatever that would do the exact same thing, but that seed visual came to me immediately.
Speaker 2:It is interesting, like essentially the way the story plays out, is that he says hey, jesus, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And then they have like quite a bit of interaction and then Jesus essentially says Follow me. So there's like this long form answer that ends in follow me. So that remains true, like what should we do to eternal life, to inherit internal life? We follow Jesus, we have faith in him, we trust him for forgiveness of our sins, we live a life obedient to his commandments and we find eternal life. Unfortunately, this man like that just seemed like too much to ask. Now there's there's some pretty compelling cases that I've heard about this guy.
Speaker 2:One is that he actually is just trying to have Jesus like honor him in front of this giant crowd because obviously has some level of affluence already, because he is very rich, he's able to get to Jesus with like not much effort, and so it's possible that he was asking these questions to have Jesus affirm who he was in front of this crowd. And then it really throws him for a loop when Jesus is like, well, just sell all your stuff. And he's like that's too much but.
Speaker 2:I think you're right in that this, this poor guy, like it does the story, makes me so sad. Like this poor guy had an incredible opportunity and it turns out that his possessions were in the place of his God, where he was, like, more concerned about what he had than what he could have in Christ.
Speaker 1:And then we come into this little section right after where Jesus is kind of like I imagine it being like like, almost like this mentorship, this discipleship mentorship, where he, like they experienced something. And then he like, okay, it's time to huddle, and they talk a little bit about it, like, well, just like this was so hard for that man. It's the same thing like a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven is just as hard as a camel trying to go through an eye of a needle. And I think that I think you have to be really careful with that, because I know plenty of very well off people that are more than willing to just give and give and give and give for the sake of the kingdom.
Speaker 1:So that is something to keep in check too. But I think the heart, if the heart of a person is that I refuse to separate myself from my riches for the sake of God's kingdom, that is where we're at in this passage. That's why Jesus like it's. It's so hard, it's next to impossible.
Speaker 2:The disciples actually say like, oh, this is impossible, how could that even happen? And Jesus says with God all things are possible.
Speaker 2:So I think what's interesting when it comes to money and finances like what a what an odd episode that we're talking about divorce first and then UNIX and then finances but I think it is important to recognize when we talk about finances, you are going to be in the best possible scenario when you are asking how much can I give away to God instead of how much can I keep for myself. So this and that is an oversimplification, but if that is your guiding light, you are going to be much more likely to be obedient. Obviously there's a way more to it. But if you are asking yourself every time you get a paycheck, man, what's the most I could give away from this check and what's the least I could keep for myself, you are going to be in a place where you're better suited to serve the Lord. That is not what saves you. Only Jesus saves you.
Speaker 2:But this man, jesus, says like hey, give away your stuff and follow me. And he's like I can't do that. And I think many of us today feel in a feel a very similar way Like hey, that's just too much, like I just can't, like is 10% okay or is 12% okay? And Jesus is like no, I would like everything. It's all mine anyway, like we already believe that everything we have is because God has given it to us. So let's honor God with the gifts he has given us by using them to support what he's doing in his kingdom.
Speaker 1:So I guess your part for today. Where are we going to land with this? Because it seems like there's a couple of things I would say maybe. Perhaps we can land on like a super practical one with generosity.
Speaker 1:I think I automatically start thinking about. In my own life and we have four kids I don't work. Ryan is the only person who brings anything in, so sometimes it is daunting to think about, but at the same time, there's always someone who has less than I do always. And so just think tangibly today, like what are some things that you can do in order to show the generosity or, I guess, even be an example or model of what Jesus is requiring of us in chapter 19 in Matthew. So look for those ways.
Speaker 1:It can be as simple as paying for someone's gas today. It could be as simple as paying for somebody's groceries behind you, or just giving to someone that you know is doing a really good thing for the kingdom of God, because that $50,000, although seems critical, could be a super powerful blessing to someone else. So just think about those ways that you can be generous today and apply as much of chapter 19 as you possibly can to your life and your walk with Jesus today. We'll see you guys back tomorrow. Thanks for joining today's episode of God's Plan your Part. As always. Please consider partnering with us, as we are a listener-supported podcast that we hope to continue to grow with support from listeners just like you.
Speaker 2:We've made it super easy to partner with us, and you can support us by following the link in our show notes or our description. You can support us with as little as $3 a month.
Speaker 1:Every little bit of this helps so much, and we're so thankful for your support. With that in mind, here's today's reading.
Speaker 2:Matthew, chapter 19. Now, when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan, and large crowds followed him and he healed them there. When Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause, he answered have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female and said Therefore, a man will leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh, so they are no longer two but one flesh. What, therefore? God has joined together, let not man separate, they said to him. Why then, did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and send her away? He said to them Because of your hardness of heart, moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. The disciples said to him If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry. But he said to them, not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given, for there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.
Speaker 2:Then children were brought to him that he might lay hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them and went away. And behold, a man came up to him saying Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? And he said to him why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments, he said to him which ones? And Jesus said you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him All these I have kept. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him If you would be perfect, go sell what you possess and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me. When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Speaker 2:When Jesus said to his disciples Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter into the kingdom of heaven, again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Then Peter said in reply See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have? Jesus said to them Truly, I say to you, in the New World, when the Son of man will sit on the glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands for my namesake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last will be first.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of God's Plan, your Part, don't forget. You can find us on just about every social media platform and YouTube. Let us know what you thought of today's episode and if you have any questions, go ahead and post them there. You can also reach out to us directly at godsplanyourpart at gmailcom, as always. If you don't have a Bible or if you'd like to use the one that we use, reach out to us via email and we'll be happy to send one to you. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you again tomorrow.
