Last time we were together in Matthew chapter 19, Jesus revealed for us through His Word what He designed marriage for: to proclaim God's faithful, to image-forth His gracious, never-changing, unbreakable, covenant love for His people.

But if that's the case, if that's what His design and intention for marriage is, then why did Moses permit certificates of divorce? That was the questions the Pharisees had for the Son of Man.

The answer He provides in our passage today will most likely surprise you.

If you're able, please open your copy of God's Word to Matthew 19.7-12, and following along with us in today's sermon entitled, "Because of Your Hardness of Heart".

Today's passage:

7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.” -Matthew 19.7-12 (esv)

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. -Ephesians 2.11-22 (esv)

No matter how common divorce may become, the fact remains: it hurts... a lot. When two people enter a marriage, promising and trusting themselves to one another until death do they part, only then to suffer the heartache of unfaithfulness, it's absolutely heart-wrenching. Children can't possibly understand. Despite efforts from mom or dad to assure them otherwise, they often blame themselves for whatever is going wrong. Legal matters only make things worse, dividing property and time with family. Tearing apart "one flesh" is one of the most painful experiences people can go through. The agony of divorce is usually more difficult than losing a spouse, as the pain, blame and regret last the rest of our lives.

Is it any wonder why God would say, through the prophet Malachi, "I hate divorce"?

If you are able, please join us in your copy of God's Word, turning to Matthew 19, verses 3-6.

Today's passage:

3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” -Matthew 19.3-6 (esv)

Has anyone ever wronged you, felt bad about it after a while, sought your forgiveness, reconciled the friendship, only to turn right around and wrong you again? Well, you're not alone. Truth be told, how else should we really expect things to operate in this very broken world of ours? It's amazing we haven't destroyed each other entirely.

Such is life in the worldly kingdom, but how ought life to be lived in Christ's coming Kingdom? Does Christ want doormats for followers, folks who just get walked all over by the world, by one another? How are you at forgiving the sins of others against you? Are you as you'd like them to be at seeking forgiveness when you need to?

This is a deeply important subject. So much is at stake here. As often as it is sure to happen, how important it is to know how to live when we are ill-treated by others.

Join us in Matthew 18.21-35.

Today's passage:

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” -Matthew 18.21-35 (esv)

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. -1 John 2.19 (esv)

Today we will wrap up our mini-series on this short section of Matthew 18, beginning with verse 18, which is one of the most misunderstood passages in all of Scripture. Many who barely know God are yet very familiar with these words from Jesus. And, if we're not careful, we'll find ourselves among those who think they can bend the will of God to their own... after all, it only takes two or three in agreement, right? Isn't that what Jesus said?

If you're able, please turn in a copy of God's Word to God's Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 18. We'll begin with verse 15.

Today's passage:

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” -Matthew 18.15-20 (esv)

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. -James 5.13-18 (esv)

Today we continue our mini-series on the fourth lesson in humility wherein our Good Shepherd instructs us on how--practically speaking--He leaves the 99 to seek the one wandering lost sheep in His fold.

Have you ever been in sin and sought by the Savior?

Have you ever been one whom the Lord used to pursue the lost sheep in His family?

How does our Good Shepherd guard His people from the destructive power of sin? In such a situation, what does His love look like?

If you're able, please turn with us in your copy of God's Word to Matthew's account of God's Gospel, chapter 18, verses 15-20.

Today's passage:

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” -Matthew 18.15-20 (esv)

When was the last time someone corrected you? How'd you feel about it? Were their efforts received with gratitude, thankful you'd been made to see a better way? Or did you find yourself more like "How dare he correct me!" Or "Who does she think she is?"

What about the other side of the deal? When was the last time you tried helping someone see some fault of sin of their own? How'd it go?

Culturally speaking, we're leaving in a day when the only heresy is saying that there's heresy. Anything's allowed. Live and let live. Don't judge me, and I won't judge you. And so forth, and so on. Is there really any wonder why society is a mess?

But what about the Church? What about those, not just in the world, but those guided by God's Spirit and led by His Word? Does Jesus expect anything more from His Church, His called out ones, than He does from the world around us?

If you're able, join us in Matthew 18.15-20

Today's passage:

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” -Matthew 18.15-20 (esv)

In this third lesson on humility, Jesus instructs His little ones about His little ones: prefer one another rather than self-seek. By the parable of the lost sheep, He goes on to show the humility of His Father: His character of long suffering and patience toward those He loves.

Take heart believer, King Jesus is resolved to save those whom the Father has given Him!

Today's passage:

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. -Matthew 18.10-14 (esv)