Evening journal., 1905-11-20
THE GOSPEL
OF THE KINGDOM
N neteenth Study in Exposi-
ton Of Book Of Matthew
by Pastor Pettingill
JESUS TEACHING
CONCERNING MARRIAGE

Following is the exposition OF the
nineteenth chapter OF Matthews Cos
pei, given on Sunday morning by Pas
tor William l.. Pettlngill of North Bap-
tist Church:
The teaching of our Lord Jesus con-
cepning the marriage relation occupies
the greater part of the nineteenth chap
ter of our book. In the first two verses
the journey from Galllee into Judea is
passed over with brief mention. Great
mulutudes were following the Messiah
wherever He went, and He healed
them there Cv. p His enemies were
awaiting Him in Judea, and there came
unto Him Pharisees. tempting Him.
and saying Is it lawful for a man to
put away his wife for every cause|
.W. 81 This had ever been a burning
Question among the Jews and just at
that particular time their leaders were
SHARPLY divided into two groups, one
school insisting upon the husbands
right to divorce his wife whenever he
might be pleased to do so; and the
other adhering to a stricter interpre-
.tation Of the Law of Moses on the sub
ject. 1t goes without saying that these
Pharisees did not question Jesus in
order to obtain authoritative informa-
'tion on the issue under discussion, but
they were, as ever, seeking to lead Him
into a trap-they were tempting Him.
"'And He answered and said. Have
I've not read that He which made them
from the beginning made them male
and female, and said, For this cause
shall a man leave his father and moth
er and shall cleave to his wife. and
the twin shall become one flesh?' SO
that they are no more twain. but one
flesh. What therefore God hath join
ed together, let not man put asunder.' "
(vs. 4-6)
This does not satisfy these inquisi-
tors, and they appeal to Moses. They
say unto Him. why then did Moses
command to give a bill of enforcement,
and to put her away?'" (v. - Now,
as a matter Of fact. Moses did not
command such a thing. He permitted
it in order to regulate a fragrant evil.
Compare Deuteronomy pa LAD This
is pointed out in the Lord Jesus reply.
He saith unto them. Moses for your
hardness OF heart suffered you to put
away your wives but from the begin
ming it hath not been so. And 1 say
unto you, Whosoever shall put away
his wife. except for fornication, and
shall marry another. committeth adul-
terry: and he that marrieth her when
she is put away cOmmitteth adultery"
(vs s. 80
This is very strong teaching in view
Of the prevalent laxness regarding the
marriage tie and the disciples say
unto Him. IF the case of the man is
so with his wife. it is not expedient to
lmarry" But He said unto them. "All
men cannot receive this saying. but
they to whom IL is given. For there
are eunuchs, which were so born from
their mothers womb: and there are
eunuchs which were made eunuchs by
men: and there are eunuchs, which
made themselves eunuchs for the King
dom OF Heavens sake. He that is able
to receive 1t, let him receive it," Tvs
l10-12) This passage has given rise tC
much controversy, and it is not free
from difficulty. II is plain, however
that under its provisions everyone is
to be left entirely Free as to whether
to enter into the marriage relation ol
mitted; but there is to be no enforced
not. Celibacy. IL it be voluntary. is per.
lcelibacy The question must be de.
herself. Next to salvation or damna-
tion, marriage is either the greatest
blessing or the greatest curse that car
come into human life. To say. as the
disciples did in our chapter that it il:
better not to marry. is to contradict
1.-The principle laid down at the begin
ming, when God said. 1T is not good thai
the man should be aline.' But it is fai
a manner contrary to the will and wore
of God. In such a case indeed, he tha
is married. instead of caring for the
things that belong to the Lord, how
he may please the Lord, may be caring
more for the things of the world how
he may please his wife. And in sucl
a case there is a difference also be
tween the wife and the virgin. Sh'
that is Unmarried is careful for thu
things Of the Lord, that she may b'
holy both in body and in spirit bu
she that is married is careful for tn,
things of the world. how she may pleas
lher husband O. Cor. z: S2-34) Blu
when marriage is according to the vii
land word OF God. when it is entereI
Into in the full realization of the sane
ition and blessing of the Lord, then 4
lGOd pleased TO make OF IL mlgnJ
blessing TO all concerned.
'Intermarriage with the heather wa
lIsraers curse. and intermarriage witt
1.-THE heather is the church's curse.
lChristian who marries an unbelievei
Thereby disobeys God either deliberatel
or ignorantly. The Scriptures are per
lfectly explicit-'Be ye not unequall
lyoked together with unbelievers.' C
lCor. 6: 14) There is no choice abOu
lit-the only question is whether tn
lchnd Of God shall obey God or folloV
his or her own selfish impulse. In othe
words. whether to walk according I
1.-THE Spirit or according to the flesh.
1T is true that very often the un
eoual yoke has been put on i'm ignor
lance of Gods command against 1t. An
lin some cases the yoke has become un
leoual because of the conversion Of tn
husband or wife after the marriage
Such instances would seem to be GOV
lered by the apostles directions i'm
lCor. T. 1917. II any brother hath a
lunbelieving wife. and she is conten
Ito dwell with him, let him not leav
lher And the woman which hath al
lunbelleving husband, and he is conten
Ito dwell with her. let her not leave he
husband For the unbelieving husban
lis sanctifed i'm the wife, and the unbe
ltie,.f,e. wife Is caurffdad in fha brofbor