16 “The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a letter in the law to become void.

18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Mei Chan

I’ve heard the different books of the Bible described as different kinds of food. Some books are like a decadent chocolate brownie – rich, delicious, something you want to savour and come back to again and again. Other books seem more like asparagus (my son’s least favourite vegetable). You know it’s probably good for you, but it’s not as easy to stomach and it takes a lot more persuasion to get you to take a bite.

Sometimes, I find the Old Testament a bit like asparagus :) it’s much easier to get stuck into the glorious first chapter of Ephesians than it is to read all 48 chapters of Ezekiel! But Jesus’ words in today’s passage remind me of the goodness of God’s Old Testament Law, proclaimed from the beginning until John. Yes, the good news in the gospel of Jesus is being preached, and many are turning to him in repentance. But not a single pen stroke will disappear from the Law, because it is still God’s good word to his people, and Jesus gives the example about divorce and remarriage to show this. 

The Old Testament is not out of date or irrelevant, but it reveals to us God’s character and his story for human history. And when we read it through the lens of Christ Jesus, it deepens our wonder that the love God showed the family of Abraham has been extended to all people everywhere. Even the confusing parts are still God’s revelation of himself and his plans! My prayer for us all is that we will grow to treasure all of God’s word, not just the bits that we find chocolatey, and that as we chew and mull over the parts of the Bible that we find more difficult, God would grow us to know him better and love him more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mei is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.