The words of Christ in the tenth chapter of the Gospel According to St. Mark is a strong affirmation of the sacredness and permanence of marriage. In a world where human weakness seeks to redefine or diminish the divine order, Jesus Christ speaks with absolute clarity, reaffirming that marriage is not a trivial human contract subject to revision, but a holy and indissoluble covenant established by Almighty God Himself. His response to the Pharisees, who sought to test Him regarding divorce, is not only a rejection of their legalistic mindset but a call to return to the original divine plan for marriage—a plan that transcends human laws, societal customs, and personal desires.
The Pharisees approach Jesus with a question designed to ensnare Him: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (Mark 10:2) Their intent is not genuine inquiry, but entrapment. If Jesus were to outright deny the legitimacy of divorce, He would appear to contradict Mosaic law, which permitted it under certain conditions. If He were to affirm it, He would undermine His own teaching on the divine nature of marriage. But Christ, with divine wisdom, does not engage in their legalistic debate. Instead, He redirects the discussion to a higher truth—the will of God as revealed from the beginning. Moses allowed divorce “because of your hardness of heart” (Mark 10:5), but this was never God’s original intention. It was a concession, not a commandment; a response to human frailty, not a reflection of divine will. Christ makes this abundantly clear when He recalls the words of Genesis: “From the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:6-9, OSB)
Here, Christ proclaims that marriage is not a human arrangement that can be dissolved at will. It is a sacred union, established by God Himself, and no human authority has the power to sever it. He restores marriage to its original dignity, stripping away the legalistic allowances that had crept in through human weakness and reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong, unbreakable bond.
Christ’s teaching might seem radical to the world. The idea that marriage is irrevocable, that it is not subject to human whim or changing societal norms, directly opposes the worldly attitude that views marriage as conditional, based on convenience or emotional satisfaction. Marriage is not a temporary contract—it is a covenant, a sacred commitment that mirrors God’s unwavering fidelity to His people.
Christ’s words regarding remarriage after divorce are equally uncompromising: “So He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.'” (Mark 10:11-12) These words strike at the very heart of human self-justification. In declaring that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery, Christ makes it clear that the original marriage bond remains in place in the eyes of God, regardless of civil recognition of a second union. No human court, no social consensus, no legal decree can undo what God has joined.
Christ’s words uphold the equality of men and women in moral responsibility. Unlike the prevailing cultural attitudes of His time, which often allowed men more leniency in matters of divorce and remarriage, Christ applies the same standard to both genders. The moral law is not different for man and woman; both are accountable before God for their fidelity to the covenant of marriage.
Marriage is not only a sacred institution—it is a symbol of something far greater. St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reveals the deeper mystery behind the marital bond: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27) Marriage is presented as an icon of Christ’s love for His Church. Just as Christ’s love is faithful, sacrificial, and enduring, so too must the love between husband and wife reflect this divine fidelity. The unbreakable nature of marriage is not an arbitrary rule—it is a reflection of God’s own unchanging love for His people. The covenant of marriage, when lived faithfully, becomes a living testimony of the covenant between Christ and His Church.
In this light, divorce is not solely a failure in human relationships; it is a distortion of the divine image that marriage is meant to reflect. When a husband and wife are joined together in holy matrimony, they are not only pledging their love to one another—they are also entering into a sacred participation in God’s eternal plan. To break that bond is to undermine the very image of God’s unwavering love.
Christ’s words are difficult for many. They demand sacrifice. They require perseverance. In a fallen world, where sin, suffering, and human frailty are ever-present, the call to lifelong fidelity can seem overwhelming. Many seek ways to justify divorce, to make exceptions, to soften the teaching. But Christ does not waver. His words are not simply ideals to be admired and tossed aside—they are commands to be obeyed. Yet, He does not leave us without grace. The same Christ who calls us to faithfulness also provides the strength to live it. The Sacrament of Matrimony is not a burden—it is a means of sanctification. When lived in faith, marriage is a path to holiness, a means through which God’s grace is poured out.
For those who struggle, for those who suffer in difficult marriages, the Church does not turn a blind eye. She calls her children to perseverance, to prayer, to seeking the grace of God in the midst of trial. The path is not easy, but it is blessed. Those who remain faithful in marriage, even through hardship, bear witness to the enduring love of Christ.
The words of Christ in Mark 10 are not open to reinterpretation or dilution. They are a declaration of the divine order, a call to faithfulness, a summons to live in accordance with the will of God. In an age where marriage is treated as disposable, where fidelity is undervalued, and where personal satisfaction is placed above covenantal commitment, the teaching of Christ remains a challenge. However, it is a challenge we must accept. To uphold the sanctity of marriage is to uphold the image of God’s love in the world. To remain faithful in marriage is to bear witness to the fidelity of Christ. To reject the permissiveness of the world is to stand as a beacon of truth in an age of compromise.
May we, as followers of Christ, embrace this high calling. May we honour the sacred bond of marriage as God intended from the beginning. And may our lives be a reflection of the divine love and fidelity that Christ has shown to His Church.
May God bless you +
Fr. Charles
6 October 2024
