Let Man Not Separate

Mark 10:7-9 (NIV)
⁷ 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
⁸ and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one.
⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Some Pharisees posed a question concerning divorce. They were trying to discredit Jesus. His answer speaks of the intention of God and the waywardness of man. Moses allowed divorce not because this was God’s design, but because man’s heart had strayed from the heart of God.

These verses speak to us on several levels about relationships. In one sense all of life is a parable which teaches about God. The union of a man and women was to be a holy transformation of two individuals into one flesh, a new creature. Man is not complete without woman. Scripture repeatedly uses the language of marriage to speak of God’s relationship with Israel. Jesus is described as the bridegroom to the bride, which is the church. Through the grace of the sacrifice of Jesus and the giving of the Holy Spirit, we are joined together in the body of Christ. We are a new creature of flesh and spirit. Man is not complete without God.

We are prone to separate and be separate, from God and each other. We do this in our misguided seeking to fill the resulting emptiness. Only God will satisfy that hunger. We were made for Him and each other.

“…Let man not separate”