Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 23 April 2023
God's View of Marriage and Singleness
Scripture References: Matthew 19:1-12, Psalms 16:1-11, Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:15-25
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CloseOne of the statements I keep returning to in my mind and heart in Matthew is the statement of God as Jesus is revealed as truly divine: ‘This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!’ (Matthew 17:5). The realization of who Jesus truly is should drive His disciples’ to ‘listen to Him’ – to hear and obey. Too often we hear Jesus – then we argue with Jesus. We debate His words. We look for loopholes. We lament their ‘rigidity’ or their ‘uncompromising’ and ‘high’ nature. We listen – and then we argue, wriggle, lament, or moan. Yet, this is God-in-the-flesh. His words are true and good and wise and gentle and for the benefit of broken image-bearers-of-God. So, when the Pharisees come to trap Jesus in questions about marriage (and divorce), Jesus’ words are not to be debated, but first listened to, understood, then applied. This is the same man who knows sinners and the broken, sups with them, and offers them rest. His words are for their good!
Scripture References: Matthew 19:1-12, Psalms 16:1-11, Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:15-25
Related Topics: Matthew | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like? This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.
The book of Esther recounts a period where God's people are in exile, aliens in a foreign land. Sounds like our time doesn't it? Even when God seems absent, He is at work. The great reversal of power at the heart of the universe has already taken place. Jesus won victory over death on the cross and in His resurrection. Satan the great enemy of God and His people, has been defeated. We wait in the now but not yet. Waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and give His people relief and rest. But as we wait, we share the good news of the gospel, call people to faith in Jesus, faithfully endure persecution, knowing that our deliverance is assured.
We love a turning point. Whether it is a story or a football game. Hope dawning at the darkest time. Where is the great turning point in Esther? It could be our memory verse, when Esther is persuaded by Mordecai to act to save her people. It could be when the king looks with favour upon Esther and holds out the golden scepter to her. It could be when Haman is forced to lead Mordecai through the city mounted on the king’s horse and proclaims that he is the man the king delights to honour. They are major events in the story of Esther. They are turning points of a sort. But the writer of Esther points us to another event. That looks so trivial.
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