Mark 10.1-12

Introduction

• Did you have any experiences this week addressing pride, power, and exclusivity?

The Text: Mark 10.1-12 Page 23.6-22

• Read the text aloud to each other.

Discussion Questions:

• Spend a few minutes reviewing the context of this discussion: Jesus’ comments to the disciples about their argument about who is the greatest, and Jesus’ comments about the first/last/first (Mark 9.30-35).
• Why do you think the Pharisee’s asked this question of Jesus? Who do you think the Pharisees’ consider to be first in the marriage relationship? Last? Do you see clues in this question about how the Pharisees understand pride, power, and exclusivity?
• Discuss Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees. Why does Jesus say Moses wrote this ‘command’? How does Jesus contrast Moses’ command with God’s intention for marriage?
• Discuss vs. 11 & 12. Why do you think Jesus mentions not only men divorcing their wives but also women divorcing their husbands?

Application reflections

• How does Jesus’ teaching about divorce address the pride and power issues of marriage?
• How does God’s intention for marriage line up with, or contrast with our cultural ideas of marriage?
• Jesus bases his understanding of gender and marriage on the Genesis 1 and 2 creation accounts. We often build our understanding of gender and marriage on the Genesis 3 account of sin and the fall from grace. How might our understanding of gender and marriage be changed if we, like Jesus, focused on the creation account, and not the account of the fall and God’s judgement?

Pray