38 Jesus, Pharisees & Divorce

Mark does not specify what the nature of Jesus’ teaching was on this occasion but it likely touched on some aspect of marriage and or divorce. The Pharisees who were continually trying to discredit Him asked Him a difficult question. This question if answered directly would offend some one or other. This was a very controversial issue in Jesus’ time as it is in ours. If He supported divorce He would be sanctioning the Pharisee’s position on this topic. If He chose sides in this issue some members of the crowd would be offended because they had used the Law to divorce their wives. If He spoke against divorce altogether this would be a violation of the Mosaic Law because Moses seemingly permitted it (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). The Pharisees thought they had Him between the proverbial rock and a hard place. The question had no easy answer because it was controversial and sure of offend. Rabbinic Judaism had nearly replaced the Tenach (Old Testament) teaching and this is where the controversy originated.