There’s an old adage that states “Hard cases make bad laws.” The phrase means that an extreme case is a poor basis for a general law.
I almost feel like Jesus could have echoed this sentiment when it came to divorce. The Pharisees were wanting carte blanche to divorce their wives and pursue any sexual interests that caught their fancy, all with divine approval. Moses had required them to give certificates of divorce to their wives so that they couldn’t reclaim her after having run off and satisfied their most recent whims – a particularly detestable practice they had adopted to skirt the charge of adultery. But Jesus points them back to God’s original design and intent: that they would become one flesh, never to be divided. And he doesn’t pull any punches that it would be easy to accept – which is certainly the case today.
This passage is ultimately redeemed by the story of Jesus welcoming little children. The contrast is striking. The Pharisees were looking for any cockamamie loophole to reject the wives they no longer desired, while Jesus was rebuking his disciples for preventing children from coming to him, and even holding them up as exemplary citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
How much better to be the accepted and radiant bride of Christ than the rejected bride of a discontent Pharisee.
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’