Matthew 19:1–30 The Rich Young Man

[Study Aired September 1, 2025]

Today’s study is focused on the Lord’s teaching about divorce. The study also takes a look at Jesus blessing the little children. Finally, the study involves the rich young man who came to Jesus to find out about how he could obtain eternal life.

Teaching About Divorce

Mat 19:1  And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; 
Mat 19:2  And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. 

It was when Jesus came into the coasts of Judea that he encountered the multitudes. As shown in previous studies, the great multitudes represent our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world or Babylon. We were part of this multitude at a certain stage of our walk with Christ until He came to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to drag us out. Since the sea represents the flesh of humanity, the fact that Jesus met the multitude at the coast means that the church system of this world or Babylon, is under the influence of the flesh. As we are aware, the works of the flesh include jealousy, divisions, strife, etc.

1Co 3:3  for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 
1Co 3:4  For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? (ESV)

Mat 19:3  The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 

The Pharisees signify the church system of this world. The Pharisees coming to Jesus, was to tempt Him with the view of exposing Him as a false prophet or messenger.  As Jesus is, so are we in this life. On most occasions, our brothers and sisters who come to us are not seeking the truth, but trying to expose us as false messengers. 

To answer the question posed by the Pharisees, we need to look at the issue of divorce from the Old Testament.

Deu 24:1  When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 
Deu 24:2  And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 
Deu 24:3  And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; 
Deu 24:4  Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 

We can see from these verses that divorce was permitted in the Old Covenant when the husband finds uncleanness in her wife. According to Strong’s Dictionary, the word “uncleanness” means nudity, nakedness or shame. The uncleanness therefore has nothing to do with sexual sins since from the law of Moses, such sins shall result in death by stoning.

Deu 22:22  If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. 

Jesus’ response to this question of divorce posed by the Pharisees is as follows:

Mat 19:4  And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 
Mat 19:6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

These verses give us insight into knowing the mind of Christ regarding the institution of marriage. The two must be of one flesh. Being of one flesh means being of one body and being of one body, spiritually means having the same mind and the same judgment. This implies that in a marriage union, we are required to have one mind. This does not mean that we may not differ in opinions. We may hold different opinions about an issue but in the final analysis, we must come to a consensus. When we are of one mind, it’s almost impossible for the marriage union to be put asunder by the enemy. 

1Co 6:16  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 

1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one. 

In another perspective, the man who left His father and mother in verse 5 represents our Lord Jesus Christ, who left the Father, who’s also a mother to the whole of creation, and came to the earth to find His wife, who is the church of His elect, and cleave to her. This union with Christ is characterized by us having the same mind of Christ, that is, one body. 

Mat 19:7  They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 
Mat 19:8  He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 
Mat 19:9  And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

As we are aware, nakedness denotes sin, and it does not refer to any particular sin. That is why in the Book of Revelation, the church in Laodicea was reprimanded to cover her nakedness so that her shame does not appear.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

What this means is that when a man finds a fault (sin) with a woman, he can go for divorce, but it must be accompanied by a bill of divorcement. That was what the law of Moses required. However, most men were not compliant with the Law as they just put away (apaluo – put away) the woman without the necessary letter of divorce, and therefore the woman is technically still married to the man, and if the woman or the man marries, he or she has committed adultery. If the woman has the letter of divorce, then she is free to marry and does not commit adultery in her remarriage.

From this, we can see the error created by the translators of the Bible in Matthew 5:32 and also here in Matthew 19:9, where the Greek word “apostasion” (G645), which means divorce (with a letter of divorce), is absent. The “put away” here in verse 32 is the Greek word “apaluo” (G630) which means getting rid of a wife without the necessary documentation. Verse 32 therefore seems to suggest that even if a proper letter of divorce is issued to the woman, the remarrying of the man or woman is adultery. That is not the case here since the word “apoluo” was used. What Jesus is trying to say is that if we put away a woman without the necessary divorce letter, we commit adultery when the man or the woman remarries. However, the Lord again, raised the bar to a spiritual law (the law of the spirit of life) by saying that except fornication, all other reasons for divorce are not valid for divorce. We therefore need to understand what “fornication” means spiritually, in order to understand what the Lord is saying. 

Before we come to understand what “fornication” means spiritually, we need to understand that physical adultery or fornication does not negate the fact that they can serve as basis for divorce. However, looking at the Lord Jesus Christ, we can see how He has forgiven us several times during a time of our walk when we were serving another Jesus even though we claimed to be the bride of Christ.

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

Spiritually, fornication represents our unfaithfulness to the Lord and to our spouse. Based on this, several sins can be classified as “fornication” spiritually. These include abusing our spouse, children, bankrupting the family, etc. Persistent physical, emotional and mental abuse all serve as grounds for fornication, and therefore, occasion for divorce.  The article which has helped in our understanding of these is in the essential reading of the www.iswasandwillbe website. It was written by Mike Vinson with the title “The Law of Moses Versus the Law of the Spirit.”    

In verse 8, the Lord is giving us a reason why we were not able to keep our union with Christ – it is because of the hardness of our hearts. The hardness of our hearts means that we did not believe His words propagated by His messengers. 

Mar 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Unbelief therefore robs us of our union with Christ. That is why the Lord had to come to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to judge us in this age so that our hearts will be softened to receive His words.  

Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Mat 19:10  His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 

What the disciples were saying spiritually is that if our marriage union with Jesus requires us to have the mind of Christ, then from our end, it is impossible to establish this union with Christ. It is right for us to know that of ourselves we can do nothing when it comes to our relationship with Christ. However, we know that with God, all things are possible. 

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Mat 19:11  But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 
Mat 19:12  For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. 

In verse 11, we are told that all men cannot receive the fact that it is not good to marry. That is to say that the flesh is not given to know that on its own, it cannot enter into this marriage union with Christ, and therefore marriage is not good for the flesh. It is only the Lord’s elect who are given to know that of ourselves, we cannot enter into this marriage union with Christ. 

To understand what is said in verse 12, we need to establish what a eunuch signifies spiritually. Eunuchs from the Bible are men in some sort of service to a ruler or a king. These are either castrated or chosen to voluntarily abstain from marriage. Based on this, we can say that spiritually, eunuchs represent our lives in Babylon where we were in the king’s service but we could not be part of the marriage union with Christ. 

2Ki 20:18  And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Jer 38:7  Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

The various categories of eunuchs mentioned in verse 12 is to let us know what the Lord is doing in this age. There are some who are born eunuchs. They represent those who are blinded by the Lord and therefore are not given to know Him in this age and therefore will not partake of this marriage union with Christ. The eunuchs which are made by men signify those who desire this marriage union with Christ. However, they are not able to enter into this marriage union because of the doctrines of men. 

Col 2:20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 
Col 2:21  (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 
Col 2:22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 
Col 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Those who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake represent those who think that it is by their own strength that they can know the Lord or enter into this marriage union with Christ.   

1Sa 2:9  He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 

The statement “He that is able to receive it, let Him receive it” is to let us know that it is we, His elect, who are given to understand this mystery about eunuchs which relates to Christ’s marriage to us. 

Let the Children Come to Me

Mat 19:13  Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 
Mat 19:14  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:15  And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

The little children brought to Jesus represent the Lord’s elect. A key characteristic of children is their humility.

Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

If we are to enter the kingdom of heaven, then we must be converted and humble ourselves as little children in our walk with Christ. When we come to appreciate how the Lord has taken us out of the miry clay as the greatest sinners and has established us on the rock, which is Christ, our response is to humble ourselves before Him as He drags us to Himself.

Job 22:29  When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

Psa 10:17  LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

In verse 13, the disciples rebuking those who brought the children to Jesus implies that the disciples were not converted and therefore were not able to identify who is the Lord’s elect. Jesus laying His hands on the children signifies empowering us, His elect to become His children.

Act 8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

The Rich Young Man

Mat 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 
Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 
Mat 19:18  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 

Jesus telling the rich man that He is not good when the rich young ruler called Jesus good is to let us know that as long as He was weighed down by His flesh while He was here on earth, He was not yet perfected, hence His insistence that it was only God who is good. It is in resurrection that Jesus was perfected. As He is, so are we. We shall also be perfected on the third day when the dead in Christ shall arise after we have gone through the process of spiritual maturity through the Lord’s judgment of our old man or flesh. 

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  

This rich young ruler thought that it is the good things that we do that earn us eternal life. Because he came from a wrong basis, Jesus wanted to help him realize that it is not about what we can do, but it is about what He makes of us that counts. That is to say that our goodness is the work of Christ and not by ourselves. The process of salvation starts with us knowing our sins. Jesus therefore started from the law of Moses which makes us aware of sin. Verses 18 and 19 are all part of the ten commandments of the law of Moses that Jesus quoted.

Rom 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 

The man’s response to Jesus that He had kept the law from his youth implies that this rich young man was establishing his own righteousness of the law. A key problem with the righteousness of the law is that we become self-righteous, which is iniquity before the Lord. 

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. 

As a result, this rich young man had not submitted to the righteousness of God which comes through faith.  

Rom 10:2  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. 

A key characteristic of our walk in the churches of this world was our self-righteousness which was iniquity before the Lord. Most of our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world believe in their self-righteousness which is a hindrance to Christ’s coming into their lives. In trying to expose this self-righteousness of the rich young man, the Lord asked him to go sell all that he had and give it to the poor and come and follow Him. 

Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 

What Jesus was telling this rich young man is that we must let go our perceived spiritual riches or self-righteousness, before we can enter the kingdom of Heaven. In other words, we must come to the place where we realize our spiritual poverty, before the Lord comes in to make us spiritually rich. The young man going away sorrowful was because he had great possessions, which means that this man considered himself spiritually rich, and until he comes to realize his spiritual poverty, he could not inherit the kingdom of Heaven. 

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The next two verses affirm the point being made that it is impossible for those who think they are spiritually rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.   

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 
Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 

The rich man here in verse 23 is not referring to those who are physically rich. It is talking about those who think that they are spiritually all right as we just saw in the example of the rich young man. Jesus saying that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God is showing us that it is impossible for those who think they are rich spiritually, to enter the kingdom of God. 

The disciples’ reaction to what Jesus said in verse 24 shows us that if the Lord does not intervene in our circumstance, we cannot be saved. Jesus’ response to the disciples shows us that salvation is the work of the Lord from the beginning to the very end. It is the Lord who makes salvation possible. 

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Here in verse 27, Peter was asking the Lord the reward awaiting them for forsaking all to follow Him. In verses 28 and 29, Jesus told the disciples the reward awaiting them. As the commander in chief, Jesus wanted us to know the prize ahead of us so that we might fight the good fight. Just as Jesus was motivated by the reward set before Him, we are also stimulated by the reward ahead of us. 

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  

We are informed by the Lord in verse 28 that we shall sit on thrones in the fullness of time. Sitting on thrones means we shall be kings to rule the earth when the kingdoms of this world becomes the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. 

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

In verse 28, we are also told that we shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve tribes of Israel here represent our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world, and therefore we shall be given the privilege to judge them. The sum of the Lord’s words show us that we shall judge all humanity from Adam to date. 

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

Apart from being judges and given the rulership of this world, we are told in verse 29 that we shall inherit everlasting life. Having everlasting life means that we shall not be condemned with the rest of the world and that we have passed from death to life.

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

In verse 29, we are also told that whatever we lose here on earth, for the Lord’s sake, we shall gain it. What we are to lose for Christ’s sake has been itemized in verse 29. Let’s go through what we are to forsake and what our gains will be. 

The first item we are to forsake is houses. In the Bible, houses represent family. Therefore we are talking here about our brothers and sisters that we fellowship with when we were in the churches of this world or Babylon. Here the Lord is saying that He will give us the family of His elect as we leave our family in Babylon.

Gen 42:19  If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

Exo 6:14 These be the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.

The next two items we are to forsake are brethren and sisters. Both brethren and sisters signify the same thing, that is, our brothers and sisters in Babylon. We are to forsake the assembly of our brothers and sisters in Babylon, and the Lord will surely reward us with the assembly of His elect. 

Job 42:11  Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and everyone an earring of gold.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.   

The next item is father. We must forsake our father, the devil, so that Christ becomes our father. 

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

We are also to forsake our mother or wife. Our mother or wife here symbolizes the church system of this world or Babylon who is a harlot and we must forsake in favor of the church of the firstborn. 

Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

Amo 7:17  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land. 

Children are the works of our hands. We have to forsake the works of our hands when we were in the churches of this world in favor of what the Lord will do with us in the fullness of time, when we shall have more children than they who think they have a husband. 

Isa 29:23  But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. 

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 

The last item to be forsaken is land. This refers to our body or our flesh with all of its desires. As we die daily, we are forsaking our land or flesh in favor of being clothed with immortality. 

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

Mat 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. 

Many who are first signify our brothers and sisters who think they have the prerogative to be the Lord’s sons since they think they were first to be “born again.” They forget that being born again is a process. The many also include all the Lord’s messengers in the Old Testament.  However, we, His elect, are the last to become first. This means that it is we, His elect, who are going to be in the first resurrection. Verse 30 is illustrated by the parable of the laborers in the Lord’s vineyard. That will be our next study when we take a look at Matthew chapter 20.

May the Lord help us to forsake all for His name sake. Amen!!

Gospels in Harmony – Mat 19:1-12 and Mar 10:1-12, Part 1

Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

[Study Aired October 13, 2020]

Mat 19:1-15 [Scriptures from Mark are in brackets] And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there [Mark 10:1 and taught them]. The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, [Mark 10:3 What did Moses Command you?] Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses [Mark 10:5 wrote this precept] because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. [Mar 10:10-11 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he saith unto them,] And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given . For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

“He that is able to receive it, let him receive it” is another way to say, “he that has ears to hear and eyes to see, let them hear and see”. As with all of Christ’s words “they are spirit and they are life”.

In this study we will explore the meaning of Christ’s answer to the Pharisees and his disciples. Christ came to change the law. Moses said any reason was acceptable for putting away your wife. Christ says there is only one reason you can put away your wife and that is “except it be for fornication”.

Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

The law of Moses is for the unrighteous and we must be changed in order to become righteous.

1Ti 1:3-11 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

The law was changed so that we can move on to “perfection”.

Heb 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

The Pharisees tempt Christ by questioning His understanding of the law of Moses.

Mat 19:3  The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Christ answers them by questioning their understanding.

Mar 10:3 What did Moses command you? 

Deu 24:1-4  When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Mat 19:4-6 Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Here is what the fathers of old and the Pharisees’ understanding of the law of Moses got them. This is also speaking to the elect of God telling us what we must guard against lest our understanding be corrupted.

Mal 2:1-16 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

The ‘wife of our youth’ is Christ, our “first love”, yet we ‘put Him away’. This is the process we must experience in order to eat of the “tree of life”. First the “tree of life” is placed in the midst of the garden, the Kingdom of God is within us, and we are caused to eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” therefore “putting away” our “first love”.

Gen 2:9  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

This is what we are caused to do.

Mal 2:11 an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

The “daughter of a strange god” are the doctrines of men given to us by our father the devil. This is an evil experience we must all endure, which God is working in us for good.

Gen 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Gen 3:22-24  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.

Rev 2:1-7 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Who is our wife we cannot put away?

Mat 19:4-6 Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

In the beginning God created man to become like him. God is One.

Gen 1:27 So God created [Qal Tense, is creating] man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

Gen 2:21-24 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Gen 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Why did create them to be one?

Mal 2:15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

(ERV) Mal 2:15 God wants husbands and wives to become one body and one spirit. Why? So that they would have holy children and protect that spiritual unity. Don’t cheat on your wife. She has been your wife from the time you were young.

What is the spiritual significance of this mystery?

Eph 5:30-32 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Christ’s answer to the Pharisees is not speaking of the first Adam as they think. He is talking to us, the elect of God, about the second Adam. We must cleave to Christ, as the shadow of Adam and Eve demonstrates, so that we can live.

Deu 4:1-4 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.

How do we cleave to our husband the Lord?

Deu 4:5-10 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart [lose our first love] from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, [our time in the wilderness] when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

This whole experience is so we can become teachers, in other words become the kings and priests unto God and his Father.

Rev 1:4-6 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And <hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Deu 10:12-22 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.

Deu 11:22-23 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.

The wife that will not be put away is the elect of God, the true church.

Next study will answer the question, who is the wife that can be put away?

Marriage and divorce

April 26, 2019

Marriage is a very important topic with the Lord. This study will only touch on the concepts found within the context of Deuteronomy 24, but there have been other writings on this topic placed on IWWB which I encourage anyone who is so inclined to search out. Namely, the marriage series by Mike and also the law of Moses versus the law of the Spirit article.

The Lord takes marriage seriously. It is the institution of marriage that allows us to come into the household, and therefore the family, of God.

The price that had to be paid for this marriage was paid for in blood, the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore, it is important for us to examine the reasons why marriage is important to the Lord when we happen upon scripture discussing this topic.

For this examination today, we are going to cover Deuteronomy 24:1 and the context of this verse.

Deu 24:1  When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Deu 24:2  And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
Deu 24:3  And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
Deu 24:4  Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

At first glance, it seems like a cruel act for a husband to look upon his wife and decide he is unhappy with her because “she finds no favor in his eyes”. However, we all know that this happens from time to time, but the Lord institutes a way for the woman to find another husband.

This is important because we need to be able to know how to handle these types of situations, but we also know that the Lord is fair and just in giving an order to the process of things, especially to the woman who hasn’t found favor in her husband’s eyes.

Additionally, we are told with these sets of verses that a husband, even with a bill of divorcement freeing the woman, could not take her back as a wife, because the Lord sees this has an abomination.

One of the main reasons this is the case is that when a man and woman leave their father and mother, they will become one flesh with their wives. Once this union happens, it is considered to be permanent.

Therefore, if I “cut off” my hand, how can it be reattached? If I divorce my wife, how then can I take her back as a wife after she has been divorced again from her second husband?

Jesus speaks to this when He is asked about it by the pharisees.

Mat 19:1  And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
Mat 19:2  And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
Mat 19:3  The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Mat 19:4  And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mat 19:7  They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
Mat 19:8  He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Mat 19:9  And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Mat 19:10  His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
Mat 19:11  But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
Mat 19:12  For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

I know that is a lot to take in at once but let us break this down a bit.

First, notice when we come together as man and woman we become one flesh. When we understand the full sovereignty of God, and these Jews did not whom Jesus was speaking to, then we understand that it is the Lord who has brought them together.

This is not something that man can separate, even in a court of law. For God, your union as husband and wife was considered permanent. However, knowing the hardness of our hearts, we were given a way for a man to divorce his wife and for the woman to marry again.

These mandates were a way to make it known how to act in this situation, but it wasn’t a get out of marriage free card.

In fact, in order to get a bill of divorcement you had to have witnesses and it was made public. Therefore, it was something that was not taken lightly. You couldn’t just rashly get rid of your wife.

Rather than have a man beat his wife, murder her or otherwise harm her in some way, there was a method given to divorce his wife, but the union was made by God. Therefore, it was always intact.

The answers of the disciples proves the very thing Jesus mentions as the reason why a bill of divorcement was given to them as a method to use, “His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.”

The reason for a bill of divorcement is due to hardened hearts which don’t understand the real meaning of marriage “from the beginning”.

In fact, the very first act of polygamy in the bible was done by man, and specifically from a very familiar line of mankind.

Gen 4:16 (ESV)  Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Gen 4:17  Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
Gen 4:18  To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
Gen 4:19  And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

The first sign of not being “one man and one wife”, came from the line of Cain which is instructive to us or should be anyways. The Lord is Faithful to one bride, and He expects His bride to be faithful to Him.

Jesus’ answer to, “If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry”, is to tell His disciples what types of eunuchs there are. Most might find this strange to mention in regards to marriage, but what was Jesus getting at?

The first types of eunuchs did not do so of their own volition. They were made eunuchs either by God in from birth or from men.

The last group is a group which has chosen to become eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. This group has chosen to fight the natural tendencies of the flesh and is a form of the spirit conquering the flesh by bringing it into subjection.

This was a way to not be distracted by the things marriage distracts us by, and to serve the Lord wholly.

Also, of great note are those who have a wife but act as if they have none.

You haven’t heard of such a thing? Well, it is scriptural, and it has meaning.

1Co 7:25  Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
1Co 7:26  I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
1Co 7:27  Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Whatever set of circumstances that Lord has dragged you unto Himself in, married or unmarried, does not disannul you of that life in order to serve Him in a capacity you think you should serve Him.

Serve Him in the same position of life that He has called you in because that is where He has placed you to serve Him.

1Co 7:28  But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
1Co 7:29  But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

When serving the Lord, we need to be doing all that we do to His glory. So, even when I am married, my service to the Lord is first and within the context of my marriage. My marriage compliments and reflects my service to the Lord but it does not diminish it.

1Co 7:30  And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
1Co 7:31  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
1Co 7:32  But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
1Co 7:33  But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
1Co 7:34  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
1Co 7:35  And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
1Co 7:36  But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
1Co 7:37  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
1Co 7:38  So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
1Co 7:39  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
1Co 7:40  But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

When bringing this all back into focus for what marriage is to the Lord, and why a bill of divorcement was needed, we need to also balance that with situations where divorce was not permitted.

Deu 22:13  If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,
Deu 22:14  And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:
Deu 22:15  Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:
Deu 22:16  And the damsel’s father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;
Deu 22:17  And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
Deu 22:18  And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;
Deu 22:19  And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.

And

Deu 22:28  If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;
Deu 22:29  Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

Simply put, the Lord has given us actions we can take to deal with divorcement, but if we are honest as Christians then we realize that the Lord sees marriage as very important.

To continue this thought of the importance of marriage to the Lord, we must be reminded that Jesus changed things when He told the Pharisees what the rules for divorcement were.

Comparing the laws and liberties of Christ with the law of Moses will show how Jesus changed these things.

The law was for Israel “according to the flesh,” not the Israel who are “the children of promise,” also known as the Israel of God.

Jesus Christ is pointing out to His disciples that God is all powerful and in complete control. If God has joined us in marriage, then no man can put asunder that work, and we should see things this way.

This is what brings us to the ultimate meaning of what it is to be a child of God or the bride of Christ depending on how we are being described by the Lord at that time.

Rom 2:2  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Rom 2:3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

The law of Moses was and is opposed to the inward spiritual new man:

Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

What this all means in the context of this study is that our commitment to our physical spouses is a reflection to our commitment to the Lord, but that is not all.

Everything we are and do is a reflection of what the Lord has done, and we need to always strive to see the importance to the actions of the Lord.

Mike wrote a series on marriage which I encourage everyone to listen to or read if you haven’t done so already. He also wrote the law of Moses versus the law of the Spirit which goes over a lot of the concepts behind divorcing according to the law of Moses.

For this study, we briefly covered some of the key points in Deuteronomy 20 concerning divorce and also how that applies (or doesn’t) to us today as Christians.

Mike,

Is Babylon Christ’s body?

Thanks,

J____

Hi J____,

Thank you for your question. The answer is absolutely not! Babylon is God’s divorced wife, she is “the bondwoman… and her son”, she is the seven churches of Rev 2-3, she is Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children” and she is “those Jews which believed on [ Christ, but who] want[ ed] to kill [ Him]”. In short, Babylon is that great city wherein our Lord was crucified”, meaning she is “the body of… another Jesus” who would have the true Jesus of Nazareth put to death.

Isa 50:1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

She is the fallen from grace, “seed of Abraham”, and she is the first, natural “mother of us all”, but we must “come out of her My people” (Rev 18:4). I hope this answers your question. If not please let me know.

Your brother and fellow servant,

Mike>

Mike,

I sent this friend of mine your paper on divorce and remarriage from: THE LAW OF MOSES VERSUS THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT: How the New Covenant Differs from the Old……. Change #3 on the paper.
He writes back this question: (which I thought you answered in the paper) …”this is how marriage was to be applied under the law (i. e. the context). How do you interpret the strong, absolute statement of Christ in Luk 16:18? This verse seems to state boldly that to remarry is to commit adultery (apparently a one time act?).”
Would you have anything to add?

Thanks, Mike!
M____

Hi M___,
Thanks for sending me your friends question. He refers to this verse:

Luk 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

And based on this verse alone he draws this conclusion:

“This verse seems to state boldly that to remarry is to commit adultery (apparently a one time act?).”

That is a true statement. “This verse seems to state boldly that to remarry is to commit adultery…”, and it all graphically demonstrates the Biblical truth that “no prophecy of scripture is of its own interpretation… [ and that only] the sum of Thy Word is truth”.

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth and every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation. (CLV)

Now if we ignore the principle that is revealed to us in those two verses of scripture, then we can conclude that Luk 16:18 “boldly” contradicts this verse of scripture, which provides us with an exception to what sounds so “bold” and exclusive in Luk 16:18:

Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.

There is also the exception of the unbelieving spouse leaving the believer, which is also “boldly stated” in 1Co 7:

1Co 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

As a dear brother pointed out to me, Psa 119:160 does not say ‘ Some of Thy word is Truth’. What it says is “the sum of thy word is truth”. Mat 19 and 1Co 7 do not contradict Luk 16; they complement it and are part of “the sum of Thy Word”.
Every word of every verse in Matthew, in Luke and in 1Co 7 are “boldly stated” and they are all in direct opposition to Deu 24, which says this:

Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give [ it] in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Deu 24:2  And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.

Contrary to what we were taught, “some uncleanness” does not mean adultery. The penalty for adultery was the death of the man and the woman.

Deu 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

This “some uncleanness” could be nothing more than being a wife who was a bad housekeeper or maybe she simply no longer appealed to her husband. Under the law of Moses, all a woman needed to do is to “no longer delight” her husband.

Deu 21:14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.
Deu 21:15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, [ both] the beloved and the hated; and [ if] the firstborn son be hers that was hated:…

Christ’s new law was so radical that even with the fornication exception, the apostles themselves declared:

Mat 19:10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

The common way of thinking among the apostles was apparently in complete accord with that of the Pharisees who, in this same chapter, asked Christ:

Mat 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? [“You have no delight in her”]

As the book of Hebrews makes clear, the law Moses was a “carnal commandment” for a carnal nation. It was a ‘law for the lawless and disobedient, and it is not for a righteous man’.

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
Heb 7:16 Who [ Christ and “the law of Christ”] is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

The law of Moses was a shadow of the “good things to come [ in the ] law of Christ”. Christ came as a reformer, and His reformed law, when compared to the law He gave to Moses contains in it a whole lot of “But I say unto you”.

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

I hope this all is of some help.
Your very grateful brother in Christ,
Mike

Sir,

I am a fairly new believer in salvation for everyone. I have a very important question that has been bothering me. I am currently married to a “Christian.” When I told him of my new beliefs, he basically told me that it was all false and I should be careful not to be led astray. He also told me to not share or teach anyone about my beliefs in universal salvation because I would be leading people to hell. He prays for me each day that I would be wise which basically he is saying to think like he does. My question is this: is it okay to remain married to someone who does not believe in the same Christ that I believe in? In someone who says he loves me and will tolerate our differences on universal salvation? The differences in our beliefs is causing me to draw away from my husband in that I know he will not see the truth unless God reveals it to him. Is staying married to him part of the fiery trials that I must endure in this lifetime? Or can I in good conscience divorce and remarry someone who also believes in universal salvation?
I really need your advice. I have not felt close to my husband for over 10 years and now with the difference in our beliefs, I cannot see continuing on in a relationship with someone who does not believe the same as me. However, I want to do what my Lord sees as right. Please help!!!

D___

Hi D__,

Thank you for your question. The short answer is that being married to an unbeliever is no reason to seek a divorce. Scripture seems to be especially clear on this subject. As long as your husband is not forcing you to disobey God or to deny the Christ you have come to know, then these words are the answer to your question.

1Co 7:13  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

Those words were written just for you at this time in your life. The way you have worded this letter makes it appear that you have been dissatisfied with your husband for some time, and you now want to use your doctrinal differences for an excuse to leave him. I do not mean to impute any motives to you. I don’t know you from Adam, but I do know Adam, and Adam did what he wanted to do instead of what God said. You have taken a vow to God that you would love your husband for better or worse, till death. So do all that is in your power to regain the love you once knew with him.
Having said what I feel needs to be said to you at this point, I want to point you to the very next verse:

1Co 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
1Co 7:16  For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Being a married man, I can testify to my wife’s persuasive powers. A wife is in a position to exert incredible influence upon her husband for both good and evil. I thank God that He has given me a wife who fears Him and wants only to see my own growth in Christ. Seek that for your husband first. No God- fearing person is seeking an excuse to dissolve their marriage. It is the unbeliever who leaves. The spirit doesn’t even contemplate the reverse. It is not the believer who leaves. Then, when the unbeliever does leave, “a brother or a sister is not bound in such cases.”
I hope you are aware that God already knows what is in your future and has already written it all down in His book:

Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

What you do tomorrow with what you have been given to know and understand, was all decided before the world began. It was all given to you in Christ, at that time.

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

I have written much more on this subject in the paper entitled The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit. It is under the section dealing with the 7th command against adultery. It is a major part of that paper, and I would suggest that you read what I have written there. It is in the Essential Reading section on iswasandwillbe. com in the upper left corner of the home page. Read that paper and then if you still have questions, please get back to me.
God loves you, and He seeks only what is best for you. Do all you do to serve and please Him, and this whole situation will work itself out for your good. That is a promise from God Himself.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [ his] purpose.

This trial is custom designed for your good, and it will, in the end do just that.
My prayers are with you. I hope the scriptures I have shown you in God’s Word will in some way help to give you the comfort and the peace of mind all prophecy is intended to produce within us all.

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Dear Mike,

Thank you very much for your well presented and uplifting message. The word of God flows and harmonizes when seen in the light of God’s purpose and will. God is indeed sovereign in all things.

It took me many days to go through your message, and I took many notes for myself. I was blessed by it, and it opened my eyes to many things. I have been looking through the website, and my whole view of God’s will and the bible has expanded.

I have some questions that I hope you don’t mind answering.

1. Do you know of any other bible references of God allowing divorce for abusive reasons besides 1Co 7:15? You had another one from the old testament, but I couldn’t quite see it.
2. I still don’t see the difference between fornication and adultery. Wouldn’t a woman (a wife) be stoned if she played the harlot according to the old testament law?
3. Are you talking about two different things when you talk about the law and when you talk about the old covenant. I understand it as the old covenant is the 10 commandments and the law is the 10 commandments plus all the other ordinances. Is this correct?
4. How do you know that “he [ Adam] would have died if he had never eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” I thought it was eating from that fruit that produced death.
5. What does Heb 5:7 mean when it is translated as “through death?” It would say “to him [ God] who was able to save him [ Jesus] through death…” Why would Jesus need to be saved through death?
6. How does one know he/ she has God’s new spiritual law written on their heart and mind? There are so many things in this world that go against us. I feel that I am carnal in my reactions and feelings toward those that do nasty things to me. I don’t feel very loving to the guy who cuts me off on the highway, believe me. There are circumstances in my life I hate, people I would gladly do without. I get angry with my husband when I don’t get my way or if others do things against me. So is it a progressive thing? Do we just get better and better? More and more loving? How do you love people you don’t even like? I know you’re supposed to but it doesn’t come easily.

Anyway, thank you again. I would mention that I really liked the way you equated the tree of the knowledge of good and evil with the law, and the tree of life with Christ. It’s like a puzzle that fits together. You obviously did a lot of research and spent a lot of time on this message, and I for one appreciate it.

Yours truly in Christ,

U_____

Hi U_____,

Thank you for your kind words and your questions. I truly believe that a proper understanding of the law of God is the single most difficult thing for Christians to grasp. Mat 5:17 is one of the most misunderstood scriptures in all of the Bible.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Every one seems to understand that Christ fulfilled the prophecies about Himself, but no one seems to be able to get a handle on the fact that He is also our sabbath, and through the death in His flesh he has also fulfilled the ‘law which is made for an unrighteous man.’

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Christ was a ‘righteous man of course.’ And yet He came in human flesh which ‘cannot inherit the kingdom of God.’

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Knowing and understanding this should answer both your questions #4 and #5: first #4:

4. How do you know that “he [ Adam] would have died if he had never eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” I thought it was eating from that fruit that produced death.”

Adam was from the creator’s hand made flesh. Now what is it that we are told about flesh?:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

According to this and all of scripture, flesh and blood are corruptible. That is why Eve lusted after the fruit on that tree before she ever touched the tree. Eating of the fruit was not the first sin committed by Eve. Eating of that fruit was the result of the sin that Eve committed because she was mere corruptible flesh and blood. Eve committed the sin of covetousness and lust before she ever touched the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve had no real hope of doing otherwise under the circumstances. She was operating under an unrelenting “law” as we all are.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

That is why David could say of his mother, of whom we have no record of immorality:

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Adam could say this same thing of his shaping and conception. What we fail to understand is that flesh, being corruptible, in scriptural terms IS sin. That is what is meant by…:

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Being “made of a woman” is what made Christ to be “made to be sin for us.”

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him [ to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The words “to be” are not in the original Greek. Christ was simply “made sin” by virtue of being “born of a woman.” That part was accomplished at His conception, long before He was put on the cross.

Be sure to read The Law of The Offerings, by Andrew Jukes if you can find it for a much deeper understanding of the difference between a ‘sin offering,’ and a ‘transgression offering.’ The sin offering was for what we ARE – sinful flesh. The transgression offering was for what we DO. I personally consider these offerings to be the view of Christ as God wants us to view Him. It is therefore one of the best books I have ever read. Again, be sure to read this book.

What does Heb 5:7 mean when it is translated as “through death?” It would say “to him [ God] who was able to save him [ Jesus] through death…” Why would Jesus need to be saved through death?”

Christ’s “flesh and blood can no more inherit the kingdom of God than our flesh and blood” can. That is one reason why we are told:

2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more [ after the flesh].
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The flesh was created, like the ugly scaffolding of a beautiful building, to be taken down and never seen again.

Your first question is:

1. Do you know of any other bible references of God allowing divorce for abusive reasons besides 1Co 7:15? You had another one from the old testament, but I couldn’t quite see it.

The old covenant is full of instruction to put away your wife” if you find some uncleanness in her” (Deu 24:1).

Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give [ it] in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Deu 24:2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s [ wife].

This “some uncleanness” was neither fornication nor adultery. The penalty for either of those offenses was death. This is simply more of the ‘you find no delight in her’ of Deu 21:14:

Deu 21:14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.

That same thought is contained in the words “she find no favor in his eyes.” The “some uncleanness” could have been as simple as not keeping a clean house, being a poor cook or being a slovenly person.

While I for one do not believe that a woman is expected to remain in an abusive relationship, I still believe that far too many couples are too quick to “break asunder that which God hath joined together.” Parents need to be far more aware of what their pride and self- centeredness does to their children. What needs to be emphasized first and foremost is:

Mal 2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

But while the first part of this verse is true, and it is first and foremost, the last part is also true:

Mal 2:15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

The law of Moses was only “for the lawless” (1Ti 1:9). The Lord Himself was not bound to that law because He was not ‘lawless’ and He certainly had no “hardness of heart”

Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives [“because you have no delight in her”]: but from the beginning it was not so.

Here is your 2nd question:

2. I still don’t see the difference between fornication and adultery. Wouldn’t a woman (a wife) be stoned if she played the harlot according to the old testament law?

That is right, the law of Moses REQUIRED stoning for these offenses. That is just one more example of how Christ broke and taught against the law of Moses. Why didn’t Christ say “where is the man? Bring him here, too, and let’s get this stoning under way.” That is exactly what the law of Moses called for:

Deu 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

I challenge any ‘minister of God’ to show me the words “neither do I condemn thee,” anywhere in the law of Moses! I have made this challenge many times, and it is still unanswered and always will be.

Your third question was:

3. Are you talking about two different things when you talk about the law and when you talk about the old covenant. I understand it as the old covenant is the 10 commandments and the law is the 10 commandments plus all the other ordinances. Is this correct?

In the interest of time I am going to ask you to read Christ and Torah. After reading this letter, if you still have a question please let me know. I would encourage you to also read The Heir and The Servant, and Christ and The Law.

Now for your last question:

6. How do you know you have God’s new spiritual law written on your heart and mind? There are so many things in this world that go against us. I feel that I am carnal in my reactions and feelings toward those that do nasty things to me. I don’t feel very loving to the guy who cuts me off on the highway, believe me. There are circumstances in my life I hate, people I would gladly do without. I get angry with my husband when I don’t get my way or if others do things against me. So is it a progressive thing? Do we just get better and better? More and more loving? How do you love people you don’t even like? I know you’re supposed to but it doesn’t come easily.

In answer to this question I will refer you to The Seven Steps To Salvation. Yes, U_____, salvation is not something anyone presently possesses. The scriptural truth from all the writers of the new testament is “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

On this same subject I would encourage you to read Is It Possible To Lead A Sinless Life and Who Is The Beast?

The single most comprehensive thing I have written on spiritual maturity is Strong Delusion. The desire to stay spiritually immature is the very essence of ‘strong delusion.’

Do not become discouraged if you are still struggling. This is our calling until the day we die.

Remember the very definition of ‘eternal life’ involves a process:

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

In His service,

Mike