Thru the Bible

Host: If you want to understand God's heart for the home, start with his design for marriage. And that's where we're headed this time on Thru the Bible. So, if you have a copy of God's Word, turn to Matthew chapter 19. The classic passage where Jesus answers questions about divorce.

Host: Our teacher is Dr. J. Vernon McGee, of course, and he's going to walk us through his response to questions that are as old as, well, you'll see. They're as old as Moses. I'm Steve Schwets, welcoming you aboard the Bible bus and as you get settled, let's listen to a couple of conversations from fellow passengers traveling with us. First, here's a long-time listener from Georgia. Her name is Dale.

Guest (Female): I love to tell the story because it's transformed my life and generations thereafter. My name is Dale from Decoy, Georgia. When I was 16, I was a brand new Christian and knew nothing and one of the pastors who discipled me early on handed me a booklet by Dr. J. Vernon McGee on the tabernacle and what it meant in terms of demonstrating Christ in the midst of his people.

Guest (Female): I was so fascinated by that study that I began to be a devoted listener on the radio, uh, to Dr. Vernon McGee and then digitally, my children listened as I raised them, my husband also. And through all the years of him going through seminary, us going to a mission field, me going to law school. Dr. J. Vernon McGee and and you too were with us always. I just wanted to say that we've come full circle now and I just bought a set of Lego blocks for my grandson to turn into a facsimile of the early Tabernacle.

Guest (Female): And I'm getting the booklet from Dr. Vernon McGee to explain how you see Christ in the Tabernacle. So you guys have just been very useful for our family and helping us to know and deeply understand what God has spoken to us through the Bible. I appreciate you very much.

Host: What a fun way to learn about the Tabernacle. We love it when God's Word is a family affair. And then here's a short note from a listener in Argentina who joins us in Spanish. Hello, I'm Marcelo. I listen to your daily program and learn so much. Going through all the books brings back so many heartwarming stories that reflect the greatness of our Lord. God bless you for your beautiful work.

Host: Well, if hearing these stories makes you pause and consider how God's word is shaping your life, you know that we'd love to hear your story too. You can send us a note through the feedback section of the app or email us if you prefer that at biblebus@tbb.org. And if you love letters, we do too, and you can write it to box 7100, Pasadena, California, 91109. In Canada, box 25325, London, Ontario, N6C 6B1. Or, if you prefer the phone, just leave us a voicemail anytime at 1-800-65 Bible. Let's pray.

Host: Heavenly Father, we're so grateful for your word as it reaches into the lives of those who listen around the world. May your spirit be the joy and courage of us and everyone listening. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Host: Here's Dr. J. Vernon McGee with our study of Matthew 19 on Thru the Bible.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now today, friends, our study brings us here to the 19th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. And this, by the way, is a very, very important chapter. And these chapters, as you well know, are just chuck full of very wonderful things that we're in right now. It's very difficult actually for me to finish a chapter in each broadcast because they are actually so rich and so meaningful.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now, here in chapter 19, very briefly, we're going to see the Lord Jesus entering Judea. We'll see him proclaiming God's standard for marriage and the only grounds for divorce given. Now it may be right now you'd like to go to the telephone, call up some friend that you and this party have had maybe some discussion about divorce and listen to the broadcast today.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Then we'll see the Lord Jesus blessing little children, he meets a rich young ruler, and he points the apostles to their position in the coming kingdom. We're going to do our best to cover the chapter, but the chances are that we just might not do that today. Now, in this movement that we have here in Matthew, our attention now is directed to the geography of the gospel.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Do you notice how the chapter opens? It came to pass that when Jesus had finished these sayings, what sayings? Well, the ones that we've been considering back here in chapter 17, in fact, beginning of 16, 17 and 18. And now he's finished those, and he departed from Galilee and came into the coast of Judea beyond Jordan.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now, have you noted the movement that we have actually in a physical and geographical sense now? He began up yonder in Caesarea Philippi, announced that he was going to Jerusalem to die. He moved down into Galilee, and he was in that area around Capernaum in the Sea of Galilee. In fact, all around it, he crossed over to Gadara.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now, we find he leaves Galilee and he came into the coast of Judea beyond Jordan. That means on the East Bank of the Jordan, and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. Now, I'd like to put together two words again to emphasize what we've emphasized again and again. One is multitudes, and the other is healed.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Multitudes healed. Not just a few, but multitudes were healed. I'm more and more impressed by this. And I would say that if you're going to be a faith healer, brother, you ought to go to the hospitals and empty them. That's the thing that should be done. That's what our Lord did when he went by, I tell you, anyone wanted to be healed, could be healed.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Multitudes were healed. Now we come here in verse three, these religious rulers come to him and he re-states God's ideal for marriage and grounds for divorce. Let me read. The Pharisees also came unto him tempting him. They were after him, you can see. And they're bringing now a problem that is just as difficult today as it was in that day.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And saying unto him, is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? They come to him with this question that concerns divorce. And that's a real live question among Christians today. And let me background this just a little to say that God has given to all of mankind certain things for the welfare of mankind.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: For instance, he's given here marriage and marriage is for the sake of the home. That was his protection for the home. And marriage is something that he's given to be a blessing to mankind whether they're saved or unsaved. Then he gave capital punishment actually for the protection of a nation to protect the lives of people in a nation, and that was given.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And then he gave the Sabbath law for the protection of the individual, that he might have one day a rest. So you have the individual, the family and the nation. And these are just general laws that he gave. Later on, they were made specific for his people. The Sabbath was given to the nation Israel, for instance. And far as capital punishment, I think it's for all nations under the sun, where you have a government, this should be in effect.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And then you have for the home marriage. Now, we have here this question that concerns marriage. It's in the smaller context of the nation Israel, of course. Then we see it as he gives it here in the light of the Christian today. Now, let's look at it that way. The Pharisees came with the question, is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: This is the question they come, and it was discussed in that day. And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning, made them male and female. Now what he actually did here, he took them right back to the very beginning. He took them back to God's ideal of marriage. Now, the Mosaic law had permitted divorce on a very broad basis.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: For instance, over in Deuteronomy 24:1, and let me read this, it's rather important, when a man hath taken a wife and married her, and it came to pass that she find no favor in his eyes because he'd found some uncleanness in her. Then let him write her a bill of divorcement, give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: You see, divorce was not as bad before the Mosaic law as a marriage to a stranger. For instance, the priest's daughter, if she married a stranger, she was shut out from the nation Israel. But in the time the Mosaic law had actually been made meaningless because of the granting of the divorce on the flimsiest pretext, the burning of bread, for instance.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And as a result, there was a great deal of discussion in our Lord's day. Verse 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, and said, for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, shall cleave to his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now, this was God's ideal. He took them back to God's original intention before sin entered the human family. Now divorce was not in God's original plan. And why? Because sin was not in God's original plan. Divorce is always the result of sin, and I don't care what you say, there's sin there somewhere that causes divorce.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And our Lord now deals with this, and he took them back to that original plan of God. They say unto him, why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement and to put her away? And we've read that, that is part of it anyway. You ought to read Deuteronomy 24:1 through 4, which deals with this entire question according to the Mosaic law.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now, why did Moses permit it? And this is something that's quite interesting. 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. Moses permitted it for a purpose. Why? Because of the hardness of their hearts. You see, marriage was given to mankind, and it's the tenderest and the sweetest of human relationships.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: There's nothing like it. The marriage was to represent the relationship between Christ and the church. Only believers, therefore, can set forth this high and holy relationship. Now when they failed, and bitterness and hardness of heart enter in, then that marriage becomes a hollow sham, and it's just a mockery of marriage.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: You see, marriage, friends, is either made in heaven or hell. There's no third place to make them. And when it's made in the wrong place, you're going to have trouble to begin with. And many Christians find that marriage becomes a very shaky proposition even for Christians today. And now our Lord is going to deal with this question.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee McGee: Moses because of the hardness of your heart, he permitted it. You see, God is merciful to us. And how merciful he is to us. But his ideal is never divorce. Now, I recognize today we're living in a culture that has been very lax here, and there are multitudes of people I'm talking to that have been divorced.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now, may I say to you that the background is always sin. But after all, we're all sinners, and God forgives murderers, he forgives people that have been divorced. I mean, it's actually in that sense no worse than any other sin. But I think we need to recognize what causes it. In verse 9 here, he's going to give something new.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Will you listen to him now? And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, excepted be for fornication and shall marry another, committeth adultery, and whoso marrieth her which is put away, doth commit adultery. Now, adultery breaks the marriage relationship and provides, will you notice this, the one ground for divorce?

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: That is the one ground for divorce. Now, I know that in this age of divorce, it is permitted actually on one basis scripturally, and that's adultery. Now, somebody says, yes, but here's this poor Christian woman married to this drunkard, or here's this man, and I knew a case like this, wonderful Christian man, married to a godless woman.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now, what about it? Believers may separate on other grounds, and I think that's the whole point of First Corinthians 7. But divorce is permitted on one basis only and that's adultery. Again, I had a woman that came to me. She said, now my husband is spending money, he's drinking and gambling and my two boys. And the only way I can protect them is to get a divorce to ensure their future.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And she said, should I do it? If I don't, why they'll have no opportunity in the future to all. Well, I said, on that ground and you understand that you're doing it for this reason. And that as a Christian, you're separated from him already because he left you, but that's the stay that way. And somebody says, that's harsh, isn't it?

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Well, friends, I didn't make it. I'm telling you what's in the scripture here. This is the thing that I'm sure is well pleasing to God. Now, let me make this statement. Divorce was granted for the purpose of permitting the innocent party to remarry, you see. And this rule is applicable only to believers. God's not regulating the lives of unbelievers here.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: He's holding them to the message of the cross first. God wants the unbeliever to come to Christ and not to discuss the question of divorce, whether it's scriptural or not. That fellow's lost whether he's married, divorced, or single. Makes no difference until he accepts Christ. The thing that is important to note that for believers, he puts down one ground for divorce.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now, suppose here is a believer today that her husband got a divorce or the wife got a divorce, and on other grounds. What about this party? Well, if there's been adultery there, and most of these cases I find there is, then the innocent party is permitted to remarry. I believe that that's the whole thought that he has in this particular case.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now, let me move on because there's something else here that's important. His disciples say unto him, if the case of the man be so with his wife, it's not good to marry. In other words, these disciples say, well, it'd be better if you stayed single. Well, you would avoid a lot of trouble, there's no question about that. Now, will you notice he said unto them, all men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it's given.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Now, will you notice and this is so important, especially in this day. And I think that he puts down a great principle here in verse 12, that actually the Roman Catholic Church is right now wrestling with this problem. And I tell you, it's tearing it asunder because I think that if they'd turn right here, they'd find a great principle that God's put down.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Listen to this. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb. There's some men, some women, they don't need to marry. They get along very well by themselves. What was it that that maiden lady said years ago, they asked her why she hadn't got married, and she says, I don't need to get married, says, I've got a stove that smokes, and I got a dog that barks, and I've got a parrot that cusses.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And she says, I just don't need a man around the place at all. Well, may I say to you, that's all right. There are many people like that today, but that's not for everybody. He says, and there are some eunuchs which were made eunuchs of men. That is, they make a rule, regulation, say that you can't get married.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And may I say you have no right to do that, but if you do it, then they're eunuchs. And there be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. Frankly, I know a person went to the mission field. And when she went to the mission field, I talked to her. I said, look, your chances are nil of getting married out there.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: She's been out there for years. She didn't get married. She said, I've thought that through. I'm willing to make that sacrifice. She made it. May I say to you, there's no rules about this today. Somebody says, you think that the preacher ought to get married or the priest should be married? May I say to you, this is a place where God puts down a principle.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: He says, that's up to the individual. You have to make that decision yourself. And some should marry, some should not marry. And my, there are so many facets to this that I wish we had time to go into. Now, I'm anxious to just get to this. Here's something wonderful. Then were there brought unto him little children that he should put his hands on them and pray, and the disciples rebuke them.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And Jesus said, suffer the little children, forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Now we've had this matter about the salvation of the children before us just a few days ago. But now, this is a very wonderful passage again about children that die in infancy. They're saved. He says, you let them come unto me.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And it's a very interesting thing that no child will reject Jesus if he's presented to the child on a Bible basis. Did you know that that's true? That's one reason we ought to get them in the message to them. Now somebody says, wait a minute. Then all could be saved if we get them to them as children. Oh, no.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Because they reach the age of accountability later, and that's my reason for trying to get the gospel into the hearts of children. So that when they reach the age of accountability, they'll make a decision for Christ. And that's important that that be followed through. Don't rest on the statement that your child made a decision when he was three, four, five, six or seven years old.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: My daughter made a decision when she was seven, almost on her own, came in and told her mother one day when she's seven years old, she wanted to accept Jesus. Ever since then, I'll bet I've asked her a dozen times, Have you really trusted the Lord Jesus? One time she said to me, she says, well, daddy, why do you keep asking me that?

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Just want to make sure. That's all. Just want to make sure, friends. The decision will be made actually at the age of accountability. You say to me, when is that age? I don't know. I don't know. And when they've heard the gospel, is that the age of accountability for them? I have no answer for that. I just know that it's important instead of standing on the street corner and arguing about getting gospel to our children, let's get it to them.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: And then try to follow through when they reach the age of accountability that they turn to Christ. But wait just a minute, there's something else here. Isn't it interesting that our Lord, having given the word concerning divorce, immediately begins to talk about the children. Do you want to know the very thing that's all important in any divorce?

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Are the children? What about the children? There's a woman came to me and she said, I don't love my husband anymore, what he's doing and all that sort of thing. I don't love him, and I've heard you say, Dr. McGee, when there's no love there, then there's no relationship, and I want to get a divorce. Well, may I say, there's no relationship, they'll hold to that, and it's tragic when there's no love there.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: But that's not the basis for divorce, my friend. Will you listen to me carefully? I said to this woman, she said, I don't love my husband anymore. I said, but do you love your children? Well, she says, of course I do. What's that got to do with it? I said, that has everything to do with it. You're to stay with him as long as you can if you love those children.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: But I don't love him. That's not the point. Do you love them? Our Lord put this matter about suffer the little children to come unto me. And friends, that's the thing that ought to make any couple, especially a Christian couple, to think not twice, but a dozen times before they go to the divorce court. Until next time, may God richly bless you, my beloved.

Host: Well, this is an issue that touches almost every home in some way. If this study has stirred maybe a tender place in your heart, take God's Word to heart and ask him to guide your thoughts and then show you how to respond in difficult circumstances. And if you're not in a crisis at home right now, but you understand that kind of pain, will you pray for others on the Bible bus right now?

Host: You know, the Lord knows every name and every situation, doesn't he? All we need to do is intercede and trust the spirit to carry those needs before the Father. There's so much more ahead as our journey through Matthew continues, and we've got some wonderful resources to support you along the way. Here are a few that we think are especially helpful.

Host: First, our July and August newsletter includes rich insights into the book of Matthew. You can access it anytime at ttb.org or call 1-800-65 Bible to join the mailing list and receive the newsletter every single month. And second, our free downloadable Bible companion for Matthew is a terrific tool. I love it. Whether you're studying on your own or gathering with a small group, it's really designed to spark meaningful reflection and discussion.

Host: And printed copies are also available for a small charge. And of course, we've got the original Dr. McGee's notes and outlines. If you haven't yet explored those, well, now's a great time. You can download them all together in our digital book. It's called briefing the Bible or you can access each book individually. Find them right in our app or at ttb.org.

Host: And finally, if we can help you find anything that you need, just call us at 1-800-65 Bible or email Bible bus at ttb.org. And when you do, you know we'd love to hear how you listen to Thru the Bible. Is it through the app, a podcast, online, your favorite Christian radio station or maybe somewhere else? However, you board the Bible bus with us, we'd love to know.

Host: And it does help us to be good stewards of the resources that God has entrusted to us. So thanks for that. I'm Steve Schwetz and as always, I'm going to meet you back here next time as the Bible bus rolls along.

Host: Through the Bible is a five-year study of God's entire word, and together we discover God's purposes in history and our lives, found only when we believe in Jesus Christ. Do you know him yet?