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would you turn to begin with to the book of exodus and i'd be glad if we could read round starting there working around the back starting there working around the back row and coming back to the front if we row and coming back to the front if we get as far as that get as far as that the first 17 verses one at a time the first 17 verses one at a time exodus chapter 20 the first 17 verses read loud we just thought the microphone can hear and godspeed all these words um [Music] foreign [Music] things shout out to him things shout out to him and then he already worked and then he already worked for the seventh city is the sadness of for the seventh city is the sadness of the lord that he the lord that he does shall not give a new word thou shalt not feel that shall not bear falsehood falsehood i shall not settle at the neighbor's i shall not settle at the neighbor's house thou shalt not tell us then he was house thou shalt not tell us then he was white white man said the thought is man said the thought is [Music] thank you well as you know the general topic is well as you know the general topic is man woman and family in christ and you man woman and family in christ and you could reasonably ask what has a chapter could reasonably ask what has a chapter from the old testament from the old testament before christ came before christ came dealing with the ten commandments got to dealing with the ten commandments got to do with man woman and family in christ do with man woman and family in christ but also you could answer it in part but also you could answer it in part couldn't you because the verse that says couldn't you because the verse that says honor thy father and thy mother deals honor thy father and thy mother deals with children in relation to their with children in relation to their parents and that's a family parents and that's a family and thou shalt not commit adultery deals and thou shalt not commit adultery deals with one's behavior towards other with one's behavior towards other people's wives people's wives and i shall not commit thy neighbor's and i shall not commit thy neighbor's wife just the same thing so there are at wife just the same thing so there are at least three places in those ten least three places in those ten commandments where the topic we're commandments where the topic we're considering is touched upon considering is touched upon but the reason i had the chapter read but the reason i had the chapter read was quite different was quite different and it was this and it was this just imagine yourself any one of you just imagine yourself any one of you standing one by one standing one by one in front of any teachers then says to in front of any teachers then says to you now these are the things you've got you now these are the things you've got to do these are the things you've not to do these are the things you've not got to do got to do you've got to have no other god beside you've got to have no other god beside me me you're not to make any graven image you're not to make any graven image you will not seek the name of the lord you will not seek the name of the lord your god in vain your god in vain yet one of the sabbath day and keep it yet one of the sabbath day and keep it holy holy you also honor your father and your you also honor your father and your mother mother you are not tough you are not tough kill kill commit adultery commit adultery steal steal or bear false witness or bear false witness and you are not to covet a variety of and you are not to covet a variety of things set out in the 17th verse things set out in the 17th verse now i rather feel that in this 20th now i rather feel that in this 20th century and in this year 1981 most century and in this year 1981 most people put in that position would say people put in that position would say who are you to talk to me like that who are you to talk to me like that because there's no doubt is there that because there's no doubt is there that these verses are laying down the law these verses are laying down the law absolutely plainly and clearly and absolutely plainly and clearly and simply you are to do as you are told say simply you are to do as you are told say the verses the verses now you live in a country where you have now you live in a country where you have freedom of worship and freedom to do freedom of worship and freedom to do this and freedom to do that and this and freedom to do that and freedom to make them annoys in freedom to make them annoys in classrooms at school and freedom to make classrooms at school and freedom to make the teacher's life misery for them and the teacher's life misery for them and all kinds of things that don't really all kinds of things that don't really harmonize with doing as one is tilled harmonize with doing as one is tilled and we don't live in a kind of and we don't live in a kind of atmosphere where people like doing as atmosphere where people like doing as they're told they like doing as they they're told they like doing as they like we do our own things we do it our like we do our own things we do it our way way now that's not the way the bible ever now that's not the way the bible ever talks to us and i think one of the talks to us and i think one of the hardest lessons that those who want to hardest lessons that those who want to be true disciples of the lord jesus be true disciples of the lord jesus christ have to learn is the lesson of christ have to learn is the lesson of doing as we're told doing as we're told of being obedient about accepting that of being obedient about accepting that somebody has the right to tell us what somebody has the right to tell us what to do to do the bible takes it for granted all the the bible takes it for granted all the way through way through there's no suggestion in this book for there's no suggestion in this book for example that the children of israel had example that the children of israel had any right to decide which gods they any right to decide which gods they would worship they were very severely would worship they were very severely punished when they worshiped the wrong punished when they worshiped the wrong ones ones or which way they would behave or or which way they would behave or whether they would have a rest day or whether they would have a rest day or not one of the reasons why they were not one of the reasons why they were turned out of their land was because turned out of their land was because they didn't keep their saturday sabbaths they didn't keep their saturday sabbaths as they should have done as they should have done all the way through the instruction was all the way through the instruction was do as god tells you to do and then it do as god tells you to do and then it will be right with you will be right with you let's give you another example in the let's give you another example in the same book same book in the previous chapter in the previous chapter exodus chapter 19 i'll read verse 5 now therefore if you will obey my voice now therefore if you will obey my voice indeed says god and keep my covenant indeed says god and keep my covenant then he shall be a peculiar treasure then he shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people for all the unto me above all people for all the earth is mine earth is mine and you shall be unto me a kingdom of and you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and the holy nation priests and the holy nation these are the words which thou shalt these are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of israel speak unto the children of israel if you will obey my voice indeed if you will obey my voice indeed if you will do as you're told if you will do as you're told then i will be well pleased with you you then i will be well pleased with you you will occupy a high position in the earth will occupy a high position in the earth and you will enjoy pleasure and and you will enjoy pleasure and prosperity that's what god said to prosperity that's what god said to israel what he keeps on saying let's look at it from the standpoint of the the wealthiest works of creation that god wealthiest works of creation that god made made just turn to genesis chapter one in the beginning god created the heaven and the earth and the earth and the earth was without form and void and the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the and darkness was upon the face of the deep deep and the spirits of god moved upon the and the spirits of god moved upon the face of the waters and god said let face of the waters and god said let there be light and there was light and there be light and there was light and god saw the light that it was good god saw the light that it was good and just go through just briefly the and just go through just briefly the various things that god did on the six various things that god did on the six days described before us here days described before us here on the first day let there be light and on the first day let there be light and there was light there was light on the second day verse six let there be on the second day verse six let there be a permanent in the midst of the waters a permanent in the midst of the waters and let it divide the waters from the and let it divide the waters from the waters and god made the firmament waters and god made the firmament on the third day verse nine let the on the third day verse nine let the waters under the heavenly gathered waters under the heavenly gathered together into one place and let the dry together into one place and let the dry land appear land appear and it was so and it was so on the fourth day verse 14 let there be on the fourth day verse 14 let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night and let divide the day from the night and let them be for signs and seasons and days them be for signs and seasons and days and years and let them be polite in the and years and let them be polite in the firmament of the heaven to give light firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth and it was so and god upon the earth and it was so and god made the appropriate lights made the appropriate lights on the fifth day on the fifth day verse 20 verse 20 and god said let the waters bring forth and god said let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creatures that abundantly the moving creatures that hath life and let powell fly above the hath life and let powell fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven earth in the open firmament of heaven and god created the great sea monsters and god created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moveth and every living creature that moveth which the waters brought forth which the waters brought forth abundantly and he created the wicked abundantly and he created the wicked fowl fowl on the sixth day on the sixth day verse 24 verse 24 and god said let the earth bring forth and god said let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind the living creature after its kind cattle creeping thing beasts of the cattle creeping thing beasts of the earth after its kind and it was so and earth after its kind and it was so and god made the beast and the creeping god made the beast and the creeping things and then in the part of the sixth things and then in the part of the sixth day verse 26 god said let us make man in day verse 26 god said let us make man in our image after our likeness and let our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the power of the air and sea and over the power of the air and over the cattlemen over all the earth over the cattlemen over all the earth and over every creeping thing that and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth so god created creepeth upon the earth so god created man in his own image man in his own image now just summarize in detail what god now just summarize in detail what god did on those various days he made the did on those various days he made the light light he made a permanent to divide waters he made a permanent to divide waters below from waters above below from waters above he caused the earth to be drained so he caused the earth to be drained so there might be dry land and rivers and there might be dry land and rivers and seas seas he caused vegetation to grow and he made he caused vegetation to grow and he made the sun moon in the stars he made the the sun moon in the stars he made the beasts beasts and he made man and he made man and the further you go in the direction and the further you go in the direction of that list of things the more as it of that list of things the more as it were the more uncertain does god's were the more uncertain does god's absolute rulership becomes absolute rulership becomes light is just light it comes from light is just light it comes from objects that shine objects that shine and they shine when they're hot enough and they shine when they're hot enough or when they've got the appropriate or when they've got the appropriate conditions and they've got no say in the conditions and they've got no say in the matter at all they're just hot objects matter at all they're just hot objects or illuminated or illuminated ones when the waters are separated above ones when the waters are separated above and below there they are god separates and below there they are god separates them and water can't think and decide them and water can't think and decide how it will move it flows downhill if he how it will move it flows downhill if he gets the chance and it drains when the gets the chance and it drains when the opportunity comes it's just water it opportunity comes it's just water it does as the conditions dictate does as the conditions dictate when god drained the earth you have dry when god drained the earth you have dry land that stays where it is and waters land that stays where it is and waters that flow and again they obey the laws that flow and again they obey the laws of nature of nature when god made the heavenly objects their when god made the heavenly objects their heavenly objects and you take for heavenly objects and you take for example the sun in relation to the earth example the sun in relation to the earth and once you ground the earth is 93 and once you ground the earth is 93 million miles away from the sun and once million miles away from the sun and once you have seen what its orbit will be you you have seen what its orbit will be you know that in about know that in about 365.23 days per year it will get back to 365.23 days per year it will get back to the place where it was in relation to the place where it was in relation to the sun then you'll do it again and the sun then you'll do it again and again and the moon in relation to the again and the moon in relation to the earth goes round the earth at its earth goes round the earth at its distance of about 225 000 miles uh once distance of about 225 000 miles uh once every 28 and a half days or whatever it every 28 and a half days or whatever it might be and it's just the way they are might be and it's just the way they are built and granted the laws of nature built and granted the laws of nature that's the way they will keep on going that's the way they will keep on going though they're god's laws it never though they're god's laws it never occurs to anything like that to do occurs to anything like that to do anything that god doesn't want it to do anything that god doesn't want it to do when you come to living things it's a when you come to living things it's a little bit different little bit different when god said let the earth bring forth when god said let the earth bring forth the grass and the trees and so forth the grass and the trees and so forth well the earth no doubt obedient they well the earth no doubt obedient they did so and it still does did so and it still does also when god said thorns also and also when god said thorns also and thistle should it bring forth to thee thistle should it bring forth to thee when men had sinned then thorns and when men had sinned then thorns and thistles it did bring forth and in the thistles it did bring forth and in the ordinary course of nature that's what ordinary course of nature that's what you get if you have grass seed you sow you get if you have grass seed you sow it you get grass it you get grass if you had and you wanted to do it thorn if you had and you wanted to do it thorn and thistle seed and you sowed those and thistle seed and you sowed those though while you would i can't imagine though while you would i can't imagine then you would get thorns and thistles then you would get thorns and thistles and the only exception to that law is me and the only exception to that law is me because when i feel so gratitude i get because when i feel so gratitude i get forms and thistles and i've never been forms and thistles and i've never been able to understand why that is but it able to understand why that is but it seems to happen all the time there may seems to happen all the time there may be an explanation but uh you must tell be an explanation but uh you must tell me if you think of one me if you think of one it's it's the law of nature has been generally the law of nature has been generally obeyed that those things do as they're obeyed that those things do as they're expected to do expected to do when you get the moving things but it's when you get the moving things but it's a little bit different because they do a little bit different because they do have a kind of freedom of will have a kind of freedom of will if you create a horse then the horse if you create a horse then the horse will move about to where it sees the will move about to where it sees the pasture pasture and if you create a fish the fish will and if you create a fish the fish will go about to where it can find its planks go about to where it can find its planks or whatever it is that fish eat or even or whatever it is that fish eat or even there has to be a fishy fish and then it there has to be a fishy fish and then it will go to where the little fish are will go to where the little fish are so these things move about and they have so these things move about and they have a certain freedom of choice but their a certain freedom of choice but their choice is always dictated by their choice is always dictated by their appetites appetites not just their appetites for food either not just their appetites for food either by their appetites for each other so by their appetites for each other so that the next generation will arise that the next generation will arise it's only when you come to man that this it's only when you come to man that this thing breaks down thing breaks down because when you come to people like us because when you come to people like us we don't instinctively obey the law of we don't instinctively obey the law of god at all god at all in some of our natural appetites we do in some of our natural appetites we do because when we're hungry we try to get because when we're hungry we try to get food to eat and when we uh reach the food to eat and when we uh reach the appropriate age we try to find somebody appropriate age we try to find somebody with whom we can make friends and live with whom we can make friends and live and become the parents of their children and become the parents of their children so yes we do have certain natural so yes we do have certain natural appetites of our own but in other appetites of our own but in other respects we're quite different from the respects we're quite different from the rest of creation rest of creation we don't naturally do as we're told we don't naturally do as we're told and the reason why we are not very and the reason why we are not very pleased when we are told to do as we are pleased when we are told to do as we are told is that we don't do it naturally told is that we don't do it naturally we've got something else deep within us we've got something else deep within us that makes us think otherwise that makes us think otherwise and if we're going to begin to make any and if we're going to begin to make any kind of understanding of the impact of kind of understanding of the impact of the bible the bible and the law of god and the law of god and the arranging brethren of the and the arranging brethren of the occlusion all kinds of things upon our occlusion all kinds of things upon our lives in the matter of man woman and lives in the matter of man woman and family in christ we have to get kicked family in christ we have to get kicked in our minds the idea that somewhere in our minds the idea that somewhere along the line we must prepare to do as along the line we must prepare to do as we're told we're told that's why the beginning rather a long that's why the beginning rather a long way round about in this way round about in this turn to genesis chapter 3 then and find turn to genesis chapter 3 then and find out how it came about that we are the out how it came about that we are the kind of people that we are can we read around again genesis chapter 3 verse 1 until i say stop going on from 3 verse 1 until i say stop going on from wherever you did stop last time but at the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the god the midst of the god god has said we shall not each other god has said we shall not each other neither shall and [Music] amongst the trees the lord [Music] [Music] is in the first place god gave a perfectly clear and distinct law eat what you like clear and distinct law eat what you like except for the fruit of a certain tree except for the fruit of a certain tree called the tree of the knowledge of good called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and evil in the second place a tempter and we in the second place a tempter and we didn't discuss who the tempter was or didn't discuss who the tempter was or why it tended in this way came along and why it tended in this way came along and said has god said you are not to eat of said has god said you are not to eat of every tree of the garden every tree of the garden and the woman answered we may eat of and the woman answered we may eat of every tree except one and concerning every tree except one and concerning that one tree god has said you shall not that one tree god has said you shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it lest eat of it neither shall ye touch it lest ye die ye die now i can't find anywhere previously in now i can't find anywhere previously in that chapter the words of god neither that chapter the words of god neither shall ye touch it shall ye touch it all that god had said apparently was you all that god had said apparently was you shall not eat of it for in the day that shall not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest there are shalt surely die thou eatest there are shalt surely die why i wonder did he put in those words why i wonder did he put in those words neither shall you touch it neither shall you touch it now some people would say that was an now some people would say that was an invention on you spot she attributed invention on you spot she attributed something that god hadn't said to him something that god hadn't said to him but i don't think that can be right but i don't think that can be right because she hadn't sinned yet because she hadn't sinned yet and if you're saying something about god and if you're saying something about god that wasn't true she was sinning already that wasn't true she was sinning already and her sin came when she had the and her sin came when she had the forbidden fruit so it can't have been forbidden fruit so it can't have been wrong to say what she said wrong to say what she said when she said but god said when she said but god said neither shall you touch it neither shall you touch it and i reckon something like this and i reckon something like this probably went on that we don't really probably went on that we don't really know know they were a very friendly group of they were a very friendly group of people god and his children during those people god and his children during those first days in the garden however many first days in the garden however many are few they were they got on well are few they were they got on well together and god seems to have been in together and god seems to have been in the habit of paying them regular visits the habit of paying them regular visits in some form that they could understand in some form that they could understand and that they could bear for when later and that they could bear for when later they heard the voice of the lord god as they heard the voice of the lord god as he walked in the garden in the cool of he walked in the garden in the cool of the day it rather looked as it was a the day it rather looked as it was a habit of his through whatever habit of his through whatever manifestation it was manifestation it was and so perhaps regularly day by day it and so perhaps regularly day by day it pleased god to have communication with pleased god to have communication with and conversation with his children and and conversation with his children and it looks to me as though once the woman it looks to me as though once the woman might have said to him that tree of might have said to him that tree of knowledge and good and evil we know knowledge and good and evil we know we're not to eat of it but you don't we're not to eat of it but you don't have to handle it have to handle it and god said and god said better not you know because once you better not you know because once you start that way you don't when you'll start that way you don't when you'll stop stop that's true isn't it that's true isn't it you've probably had the same kind of you've probably had the same kind of experience experience mother makes a delightful cake and she mother makes a delightful cake and she puts the cake with an eyeshadow and you puts the cake with an eyeshadow and you say can i have a piece say can i have a piece and she says no and she says no believe it it's for your birthday three believe it it's for your birthday three days time whatever it might be days time whatever it might be when you've grown up to one year older when you've grown up to one year older than you were than you were so you say all right mother and she goes so you say all right mother and she goes out of the room and you say that's a out of the room and you say that's a nice looking cake but of course i nice looking cake but of course i mustn't eat it mustn't eat it you wouldn't do any hard to feel it you wouldn't do any hard to feel it would it would it so you feel it and the the the frosting so you feel it and the the the frosting is soft is soft and you've got to get rid of the and you've got to get rid of the frosting somehow well when mother comes back they're under the crumbs under the crumbs and you can see why can't you uh if only and you can see why can't you uh if only the last performer turned out would have the last performer turned out would have already touched it she would have given already touched it she would have given the same advice as it looks as though the same advice as it looks as though god gave to eve now leave well alone god gave to eve now leave well alone don't go near it because if you do well don't go near it because if you do well you might one day find yourself you might one day find yourself committing to sin committing to sin so i think that when the innocent eve so i think that when the innocent eve just like a schoolgirl just like a just like a schoolgirl just like a little child said to the serpent no god little child said to the serpent no god said don't eat it and don't touch it said don't eat it and don't touch it your spoon is thinking the truth and your spoon is thinking the truth and that is what god has said that is what god has said however the tempter said you shall not however the tempter said you shall not surely die surely die and god doesn't know that in the day and god doesn't know that in the day that you eat thereof you shall be as god that you eat thereof you shall be as god to know good and evil to know good and evil by the way our common version says shall by the way our common version says shall be as gods be as gods it's the word elohim it is a plural word it's the word elohim it is a plural word it could be rendered gods but usually it it could be rendered gods but usually it just means the one almighty god and you just means the one almighty god and you shall be like god is the most likely shall be like god is the most likely meaning of the word as though the meaning of the word as though the tempter said one it won't kill you and tempter said one it won't kill you and two you'll be a god in your own right if two you'll be a god in your own right if you have it so there was the temptation you have it so there was the temptation take it you'll enjoy it you'll know a take it you'll enjoy it you'll know a lot more when you've had it and you can lot more when you've had it and you can be your own god be your own god now what the woman ought to have said now what the woman ought to have said when all those things were put before when all those things were put before her was well whatever you say i've been her was well whatever you say i've been told i mustn't eat it told i mustn't eat it even if you're right that it would make even if you're right that it would make me very wise that god has said don't me very wise that god has said don't touch it so i won't he made me he has touch it so i won't he made me he has the right to say the right to say and if you're right it would make me an and if you're right it would make me an independent god i'm not supposed to be independent god i'm not supposed to be an independent god i'm supposed to be an independent god i'm supposed to be under the one god there is so no thank under the one god there is so no thank you i won't have any that's the kind of you i won't have any that's the kind of answer she ought to have given answer she ought to have given but with the temptation before her and but with the temptation before her and with the statement that she wouldn't with the statement that she wouldn't come to any harm if she did then come to any harm if she did then obedience was was put in the back place obedience was was put in the back place it was what she could get that became it was what she could get that became more important than what would happen to more important than what would happen to her and what she could get that became her and what she could get that became more important than what god wants me to more important than what god wants me to do and so she did it out of purely do and so she did it out of purely personal notice for what she could get personal notice for what she could get from it she saw that the tree was good from it she saw that the tree was good for food and the fruit thereof to be for food and the fruit thereof to be desired to make one wise and she took desired to make one wise and she took and she did eat and she did eat she tried to make herself her own she tried to make herself her own goddess goddess when she gave to her husband and he when she gave to her husband and he apparently with his eyes wide open took apparently with his eyes wide open took of the fruit and committed the same of the fruit and committed the same thing that she had he either wanted to thing that she had he either wanted to be his own god it was determined to go be his own god it was determined to go the way his wife went and anyway the two the way his wife went and anyway the two of them went together and the result was of them went together and the result was they became fallen creatures they became fallen creatures and well the rest of the story would be and well the rest of the story would be comical if it weren't so tragic comical if it weren't so tragic god says to the woman what did you do god says to the woman what did you do that for she said because the servant that for she said because the servant beguiled me which is true there was no beguiled me which is true there was no excuse excuse then god said to the then god said to the he said sorry he had said to the man he said sorry he had said to the man before that hadn't he got the older before that hadn't he got the older wrong he said to the man what did you do wrong he said to the man what did you do that for and the man said the woman gave that for and the man said the woman gave to me and i didn't eat to me and i didn't eat now you can say that was the first case now you can say that was the first case when a man blamed his wife everything when a man blamed his wife everything he'd done wrong he'd done wrong i don't think he was just doing that he i don't think he was just doing that he was blaming his god was blaming his god he said the woman whom thou gave us to he said the woman whom thou gave us to be with me be with me she gave me of the fruit in 90 knees and she gave me of the fruit in 90 knees and already the seed's a real rebellion in already the seed's a real rebellion in the man's mind it's your fault god if the man's mind it's your fault god if you hadn't given me that woman i you hadn't given me that woman i wouldn't have done it wouldn't have done it so you get the basic human unwillingness so you get the basic human unwillingness to do as we're told coming right to the to do as we're told coming right to the fore in adam's answer to what god said fore in adam's answer to what god said when he said why hast thou done this when he said why hast thou done this well you know the outcome they're well you know the outcome they're expelled from the garden they are given expelled from the garden they are given the coats of skins by god in replacement the coats of skins by god in replacement for their improvised aprons of pig for their improvised aprons of pig leaves and they become the prey to all leaves and they become the prey to all the weed growing and thorns and thistles the weed growing and thorns and thistles that the earth could bring they become that the earth could bring they become certain of dying and one day they do certain of dying and one day they do both die and sin multiplies in such a both die and sin multiplies in such a way that there's a murder in the next way that there's a murder in the next generation when cain kills abel and then generation when cain kills abel and then the world becomes so bad that by the the world becomes so bad that by the time we get to noah it has to be time we get to noah it has to be destroyed because wickedness is almost destroyed because wickedness is almost everywhere and all that arose because everywhere and all that arose because people wouldn't do as they were told now the way to climb back from that is not easy not easy we are all in the model of our first we are all in the model of our first parents parents when god said let us make man in our when god said let us make man in our image we had the opportunity if only our image we had the opportunity if only our first parents had taken it of remaining first parents had taken it of remaining in god's image willingly obeying him and in god's image willingly obeying him and gladly doing as we were told but when gladly doing as we were told but when the sin took place we learned that adam the sin took place we learned that adam begat a son in his image begat a son in his image and called himself and so all the rest and called himself and so all the rest of us are like adam who in some ways was of us are like adam who in some ways was like god we've got the right kind of like god we've got the right kind of shape and the right kind of mind for shape and the right kind of mind for that kind of understanding but it's that kind of understanding but it's still to be true that even modern man is still to be true that even modern man is made in god's image but there's this big made in god's image but there's this big difference that now we don't want to go difference that now we don't want to go god's way we have to be persuaded to do god's way we have to be persuaded to do so or we have to be compelled to do so so or we have to be compelled to do so or we have to be reborn to do so or we have to be reborn to do so now we who meet now we who meet with the bible in our hands are not with the bible in our hands are not merely people who are god's creatures merely people who are god's creatures and for that reason should do as we're and for that reason should do as we're told told we are some of us people who have we are some of us people who have already been recreated in our baptism in already been recreated in our baptism in the lord jesus christ and all of us are the lord jesus christ and all of us are thinking of that in due course and so thinking of that in due course and so for everybody in that position there's for everybody in that position there's the statement that paul makes later you the statement that paul makes later you are not your own are not your own you are bought with christ you are bought with christ so in addition to the duty of all so in addition to the duty of all creation to do as god tells it creation to do as god tells it we have the double duty to do as god we have the double duty to do as god tells us when we have been baptized into tells us when we have been baptized into christ or when we think of being because christ or when we think of being because we either have been or are going to be we either have been or are going to be brought with the christ that involved brought with the christ that involved the death of god's beloved son and so the death of god's beloved son and so there's not really the duty to do as we there's not really the duty to do as we ought there's the urge to do so ought there's the urge to do so because such was the love that god gave because such was the love that god gave to us in causing christ to die for our to us in causing christ to die for our sins sins a man and woman side of this coming a man and woman side of this coming straight into our subject in genesis straight into our subject in genesis chapter 2. like us to read from verse 18 to the end of the chapter again taking up where we of the chapter again taking up where we left off genesis 2 from verse 18. she shall be called woman because she was taken out of me was taken out of me therefore his father and his mother just therefore his father and his mother just prevent his wife yes thank you the picture i have in my mind as to what the picture i have in my mind as to what happened then is something like this it happened then is something like this it may not have been a bit like it really may not have been a bit like it really but that's the way in which it presents but that's the way in which it presents itself to me itself to me there we have in the garden of eden all there we have in the garden of eden all the living creatures that were made and the living creatures that were made and they're all tame they're all tame none of them will do any harm to adam none of them will do any harm to adam when they come to him and they're all when they come to him and they're all there in couples that's the bit i can't there in couples that's the bit i can't prove but i think they were all there in prove but i think they were all there in couples the work of creation of the couples the work of creation of the animals had already been done anyhow no animals had already been done anyhow no doubt their males and their females had doubt their males and their females had all been made all been made so they're broke before man there's a so they're broke before man there's a token of his authority he gives them all token of his authority he gives them all their names which means he has the right their names which means he has the right to rule over them so you're alive and to rule over them so you're alive and you're the pig and whatever it might be you're the pig and whatever it might be there was nothing personal in that there was nothing personal in that remark remark so there you have them and they come so there you have them and they come along the animals come two by two and along the animals come two by two and when the parade is over when the parade is over there's just adam there's just adam one by one one by one and to adam there was not found and and to adam there was not found and helped me for him helped me for him all they have got their spouses or their all they have got their spouses or their husbands husbands there's not him all by himself without there's not him all by himself without one one that's what the record is presenting that's what the record is presenting before us before us and no doubt he realizes what god says and no doubt he realizes what god says it is not good it is not good that man should be alone that man should be alone interesting isn't it that when the work interesting isn't it that when the work of creation is described as in chapter of creation is described as in chapter one at the end of each day's work we one at the end of each day's work we learn and god saw the light that it was learn and god saw the light that it was good good or god saw or god saw the earth that it was good augments god the earth that it was good augments god saw the creatures that they were good saw the creatures that they were good and at the end god saw everything that and at the end god saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good he had made and behold it was very good and here we have genesis chapter 2 and here we have genesis chapter 2 saying it is not good saying it is not good so genesis 2 obviously is written before so genesis 2 obviously is written before the final part of man's creation has the final part of man's creation has been brought about that is before man been brought about that is before man has been made what god meant him to be has been made what god meant him to be remember the words are let us make man remember the words are let us make man in our image and after our likeness so in our image and after our likeness so god created man in his image and in his god created man in his image and in his likeness in the image of god created him likeness in the image of god created him male and female created he then so until male and female created he then so until they were male and female it wasn't good they were male and female it wasn't good so in some way therefore these words of so in some way therefore these words of genesis 2 are to be incorporated in genesis 2 are to be incorporated in genesis chapter 1 verse 26 it wasn't all genesis chapter 1 verse 26 it wasn't all at once good it needed two stages before at once good it needed two stages before it became good and that was when the it became good and that was when the woman was made as well woman was made as well so the man needed a partner god said i will make him and help meet for him meet for him and both the people who read the help and both the people who read the help meet for him said i will make him help meet for him said i will make him help me me for him for him joining together the help and the joining together the help and the meetings of one word or putting a hyphen meetings of one word or putting a hyphen between between i think probably because help me become i think probably because help me become so easy so easy but really it isn't like that god didn't but really it isn't like that god didn't say i would make him help me say i would make him help me for him he said i would make him help for him he said i would make him help meet for him meet for him meets meaning appropriate meets meaning appropriate suitable suitable adapted adapted so i'll make him help of the right kind so i'll make him help of the right kind for him is what god is really saying so for him is what god is really saying so no more help me no more help me right i will make him and help right i will make him and help meet for him meet for him so you look through all the animals and so you look through all the animals and you say well a lioness wouldn't do or a you say well a lioness wouldn't do or a pig wouldn't do you want the right kind pig wouldn't do you want the right kind of help so i would make him and help me of help so i would make him and help me for him he wants one of his own kind for him he wants one of his own kind now we must presume that we don't know now we must presume that we don't know anything about it that when god made the anything about it that when god made the rest of creation he made a male and a rest of creation he made a male and a female female in the same way from the same dust of in the same way from the same dust of the ground the ground made them independently made them independently didn't make them in the way he made man didn't make them in the way he made man and woman and woman we know from genesis chapter 2 that when we know from genesis chapter 2 that when he made man and woman he made it in this he made man and woman he made it in this precise way that the man was there to precise way that the man was there to begin with begin with without a woman without a woman but then he was put under anesthesia but then he was put under anesthesia and surgery was performed and surgery was performed and the bone was removed and the bone was removed and that bone was shaped into a woman and that bone was shaped into a woman and that woman was presented to him and and that woman was presented to him and then there were two and adam looked and then there were two and adam looked and said having been told no doubt what had said having been told no doubt what had taken place this is now bone of my bones taken place this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh this starts us off on a line that's not going to be too easy to follow going to be too easy to follow again because we live in the 20th again because we live in the 20th century and because century and because people don't look at each other in these people don't look at each other in these ways now and ways now and women don't like in particular to be women don't like in particular to be regarded in the kind of way that genesis regarded in the kind of way that genesis chapter two brings out so can i begin by chapter two brings out so can i begin by apologizing for being a man apologizing for being a man uh uh i i can't help it you see it's the way i i i can't help it you see it's the way i was born was born and i don't think my second name is and i don't think my second name is chauvinist he's not meant to be i don't chauvinist he's not meant to be i don't feel like that at all feel like that at all in fact i think i could say quite in fact i think i could say quite frankly that some of the things in the frankly that some of the things in the relationship between man and woman relationship between man and woman husband and wife or whatever it might be husband and wife or whatever it might be which the bible sets out in which in which the bible sets out in which in loyalty to the bible i have got to loyalty to the bible i have got to accept and also got to tell you accept and also got to tell you are things which i wouldn't have chosen are things which i wouldn't have chosen for myself for myself uh the idea of being a boss in a family uh the idea of being a boss in a family doesn't happen to appeal to me it's just doesn't happen to appeal to me it's just one of those things which without the one of those things which without the word boss there but authority or word boss there but authority or something something is required by god and there's something is required by god and there's something in the relationship between man and in the relationship between man and woman set out in the bible that is again woman set out in the bible that is again there for us to accept there for us to accept and that's again why the message of and that's again why the message of being obedient becomes so important to being obedient becomes so important to us we all tend to rebel against these us we all tend to rebel against these things in these days and especially in things in these days and especially in the days of women's liberation it's not the days of women's liberation it's not easy at all for a woman to accept the easy at all for a woman to accept the kind of position that the bible says she kind of position that the bible says she is in in relation to the man not easy is in in relation to the man not easy for the man to treat it right i don't it for the man to treat it right i don't it never was but it's not easy at all now never was but it's not easy at all now so let's again quite humbly recognize so let's again quite humbly recognize that this story of creation is meant to that this story of creation is meant to tell us something about how how god tell us something about how how god wants men and women to regard each other wants men and women to regard each other it clearly doesn't convey within it at it clearly doesn't convey within it at all any idea of what you would call all any idea of what you would call authority to begin with because the authority to begin with because the authority wouldn't be needed when they authority wouldn't be needed when they were unfallen everything would go right were unfallen everything would go right until they sinned it's only when people until they sinned it's only when people have become sinners that things begin to have become sinners that things begin to go wrong go wrong so when god says therefore shall a man so when god says therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they too shall cleave unto his wife and they too shall be one flesh if you can imagine shall be one flesh if you can imagine their being children of unfallen parents their being children of unfallen parents themselves with no sinful tendencies in themselves with no sinful tendencies in their hearts then i take it that a man their hearts then i take it that a man would leave his father and his mother's would leave his father and his mother's home and would be joined in matrimony to home and would be joined in matrimony to his wife and the harmony between them his wife and the harmony between them would be such that the idea that a tells would be such that the idea that a tells me what to do would never have arisen it me what to do would never have arisen it would be an automatic compliment of the would be an automatic compliment of the lives that they would live as creatures lives that they would live as creatures who were obeying their gods so all would who were obeying their gods so all would go well with them go well with them the reason why we have to talk about the reason why we have to talk about this kind of thing at all is because this kind of thing at all is because things have gone wrong things have gone wrong but i must pursue that just a little bit but i must pursue that just a little bit further now having got to that point we further now having got to that point we may as well pursue it to the i hope not may as well pursue it to the i hope not bitter end bitter end so can we turn to first corinthians in so can we turn to first corinthians in the new testament chapter 11. i will just read the first two or three verses of this chapter verses of this chapter first corinthians chapter 11 yes be ye followers of me even as i also am of christ of christ that's a good starting point by the way that's a good starting point by the way for what i want to read later for what i want to read later paul says paul says follow me follow me but he says i'm following christ but he says i'm following christ so he means let me lead you on the way so he means let me lead you on the way to christ not follow me because i'm paul to christ not follow me because i'm paul but follow me because i am following but follow me because i am following christ who tells me what to say to you christ who tells me what to say to you it's another case of a man set under it's another case of a man set under authority doing as he's told and authority doing as he's told and therefore able to tell other people to therefore able to tell other people to do as they're told do as they're told then he goes on then he goes on now i praise you brethren that you now i praise you brethren that you remember me in all things and keep the remember me in all things and keep the ordinances as i delivered them to you ordinances as i delivered them to you but i would have you know the head of but i would have you know the head of every man is christ every man is christ and the head of the woman is the man and the head of the woman is the man and the head of christ is god and the head of christ is god there are three postulates there aren't there are three postulates there aren't there the head of every man is christ there the head of every man is christ the head of the woman is the man and the the head of the woman is the man and the head of christ is god head of christ is god now two of those things i think we can now two of those things i think we can accept without difficulty accept without difficulty one of them we might have difficulty in one of them we might have difficulty in pursuing it we can accept it in words at pursuing it we can accept it in words at least least the one that gives us no problem is the the one that gives us no problem is the head of christ is god head of christ is god we know that so we know that christ is we know that so we know that christ is the son of god we know he said i do the son of god we know he said i do always those things that please my always those things that please my father we know that god has honored him father we know that god has honored him with every name and that the lord jesus with every name and that the lord jesus christ will one day take all the things christ will one day take all the things that he has done and give it to god the that he has done and give it to god the father that god may be all in in all so father that god may be all in in all so we're quite satisfied that the head of we're quite satisfied that the head of christ is god christ is god though mind you it wasn't always easy though mind you it wasn't always easy for christ himself to recognize that to for christ himself to recognize that to know it yes know it yes but to do it but to do it well that's another matter that we're well that's another matter that we're talking about in the adult class talking about in the adult class that one though is fairly easy for us to that one though is fairly easy for us to accept because we're outside it we can accept because we're outside it we can see god being the head of christ and it see god being the head of christ and it doesn't hurt us that it is so doesn't hurt us that it is so now when paul is the head of every man now when paul is the head of every man is christ is christ well every believer knows that that's well every believer knows that that's true and everyone who intends to become true and everyone who intends to become a believer knows that he or she must a believer knows that he or she must accept that is true christ is our head accept that is true christ is our head and our lord we are expected to do as he and our lord we are expected to do as he tells us tells us it's the bit in the middle of those it's the bit in the middle of those three which isn't so easy that is the three which isn't so easy that is the head of the woman is the man head of the woman is the man but the fact that the other two are but the fact that the other two are there makes it a bit easier doesn't it there makes it a bit easier doesn't it because he's putting because he's putting four beings in order of authority and four beings in order of authority and it's god christ man woman or woman man it's god christ man woman or woman man christ god that's the sequence and he christ god that's the sequence and he says you have no doubt that god is the says you have no doubt that god is the head of christ you have no doubt that head of christ you have no doubt that christ is the head of the man i must now christ is the head of the man i must now tell you that in the law of christ there tell you that in the law of christ there is a headship is a headship i won't say for them what kind of i won't say for them what kind of picture but there is a headship which picture but there is a headship which exists between man and woman too that exists between man and woman too that the thing that god did in creation he the thing that god did in creation he really meant when he made the woman from really meant when he made the woman from the man and said i will make him and the man and said i will make him and help help suitable for him suitable for him there is some sort of dependence there is some sort of dependence existing between man and woman and existing between man and woman and particularly between husband and wife particularly between husband and wife which was part of god's plan from the which was part of god's plan from the very beginning very beginning when we get that firmly fixed in our when we get that firmly fixed in our minds we'll perhaps find it easier to minds we'll perhaps find it easier to follow follow let me just say one thing though just let me just say one thing though just you can regardless sugar in the pill if you can regardless sugar in the pill if you like which isn't meant like that you like which isn't meant like that have you ever looked around at almost have you ever looked around at almost any religious body and sort of counted any religious body and sort of counted heads and saying heads and saying how many men and how many women that are how many men and how many women that are in that congregation in that congregation well i have done it quite a lot for all well i have done it quite a lot for all kinds of reasons some of which will kinds of reasons some of which will emerge god willing a bit later in this emerge god willing a bit later in this week week well the answer is that even in the most well the answer is that even in the most shall we say matter-of-fact religions shall we say matter-of-fact religions like ours like ours there's probably something like a 60 40 there's probably something like a 60 40 ratio of women to men ratio of women to men there are more women who obey the gospel there are more women who obey the gospel than there are men than there are men quite a lot more quite a lot more when you get to the more emotional when you get to the more emotional religions the disparity becomes even religions the disparity becomes even greater greater until you get to christian science and until you get to christian science and spiritualism they're nearly all women spiritualism they're nearly all women but with us it's about 60 40 or but with us it's about 60 40 or something like that something like that now there must be something to make it now there must be something to make it like that like that and i haven't any doubt in my own mind and i haven't any doubt in my own mind that one of the major reasons for it is that one of the major reasons for it is that the man the male man is naturally that the man the male man is naturally the more rebellious creature the more rebellious creature men like having their own way men like having their own way more than more than or in a different way than if you like or in a different way than if you like women like having their own way women like having their own way god has so us that even in these god has so us that even in these emancipated ages there are emancipated ages there are quite a lot of quite a lot of female men female men who are happy to do as they're told who who are happy to do as they're told who don't mind being in subjection who like don't mind being in subjection who like playing the second fiddle who enjoy that playing the second fiddle who enjoy that position better than being on top let's position better than being on top let's say even in our day when it's not say even in our day when it's not considered popular or right than it considered popular or right than it should be so women find that an easier should be so women find that an easier position to accept than men do position to accept than men do and one of the things that follows from and one of the things that follows from that is that if you're willing to do that is that if you're willing to do that with each other you're also willing that with each other you're also willing to do it with your god to do it with your god and the natural rebelliousness of the and the natural rebelliousness of the male man who wants to go his own way male man who wants to go his own way reveals itself in that quite often reveals itself in that quite often starting with earliest ages it's the starting with earliest ages it's the young men who leave the sunday school young men who leave the sunday school first or go out into the world or take a first or go out into the world or take a lot of time to think about it before lot of time to think about it before they come back if they do come back and they come back if they do come back and accept christ accept christ and it's the young women who in a and it's the young women who in a greater proportion stick closer to this greater proportion stick closer to this and accept christ earlier and don't have and accept christ earlier and don't have so much trouble about doing so and again so much trouble about doing so and again there are plenty of exceptions to that there are plenty of exceptions to that it's just statistical but broadly it's just statistical but broadly speaking it works out that way that on speaking it works out that way that on the whole women accept obedience more the whole women accept obedience more readily than men do readily than men do well that carries with its own problems well that carries with its own problems in the collegial life when there are far in the collegial life when there are far more women than men but all the same more women than men but all the same if ever if ever young woman you're supposed to feel a young woman you're supposed to feel a bit resentful that the bible does bit resentful that the bible does give a second place in authority to give a second place in authority to yourselves rather than to men bear in yourselves rather than to men bear in mind as far as salvation is concerned mind as far as salvation is concerned you have a real advantage it's much more you have a real advantage it's much more likely that people like yourself will likely that people like yourself will accept the road of salvation and you've accept the road of salvation and you've got a much smaller sacrifice to make in got a much smaller sacrifice to make in doing so as far as humility is concerned doing so as far as humility is concerned than an arrogant male man has so be than an arrogant male man has so be grateful for that it's worth a lot more grateful for that it's worth a lot more than the need to be a bit humble is from than the need to be a bit humble is from time to time time to time now the one last point i want to make now the one last point i want to make now is continuing the story of creation now is continuing the story of creation and bringing out something else that and bringing out something else that will help us a lot as we go on it's will help us a lot as we go on it's still in the new testament and i'll be still in the new testament and i'll be glad if you return to ephesians chapter glad if you return to ephesians chapter 5 5 chapter 5 of ephesians i'd like you to read around again if you will please starting at verse 22 and will please starting at verse 22 and reading to the end of ephesians five that doesn't sound right chapter 5 verse 28. shall a man leave his father and mother that shall be joined unto his wife that shall be joined unto his wife thank you for the flesh thank you when reading around there are several ways of trying to have the right several ways of trying to have the right verse ready when it comes to your turn verse ready when it comes to your turn one way is following while it's being one way is following while it's being read read you don't often go wrong that way you don't often go wrong that way the second is to count ahead and say my the second is to count ahead and say my time will come at verse 17 or whatever time will come at verse 17 or whatever it is which is all right if you counted it is which is all right if you counted right if you haven't been looking at the right if you haven't been looking at the right chapter but it goes away right chapter but it goes away disastrously if you have disastrously if you have and of course the third way is to fall and of course the third way is to fall into a daydream when you will never get into a daydream when you will never get it right so uh let's try to give us it right so uh let's try to give us attention shall we then we shall know attention shall we then we shall know where we are where we are uh now there's something uh now there's something very important in this chapter there's a very important in this chapter there's a lot it's all important and we'll come to lot it's all important and we'll come to it again later it again later but you will notice that he's repeating but you will notice that he's repeating some of the things i said about the some of the things i said about the position of the sexes in relation to position of the sexes in relation to each other in marriage about wives doing each other in marriage about wives doing as their husbands ask and husbands as their husbands ask and husbands loving their wives loving their wives but that husband's loving their wives is but that husband's loving their wives is set in a very different context here set in a very different context here from the way in which we might normally from the way in which we might normally think of it think of it they say that in old-fashioned victorian they say that in old-fashioned victorian homes husbands homes husbands thought they were thought they were the boss by decree of god which in a the boss by decree of god which in a sense that is true but only in a sense sense that is true but only in a sense and exercised it so they could do just and exercised it so they could do just as they liked and lay down the law in as they liked and lay down the law in with a very heavy hand and generally be with a very heavy hand and generally be tyrants in their houses whether it was tyrants in their houses whether it was true i don't know because there are true i don't know because there are plenty of examples of the other way plenty of examples of the other way around where the wife wielded the around where the wife wielded the rolling pin where it was quite different rolling pin where it was quite different but um the the theory was that you had a but um the the theory was that you had a kind of right to be a boss and there kind of right to be a boss and there were no responsibilities in return were no responsibilities in return now it's certainly not the way which is now it's certainly not the way which is set hard in this chapter and the way in set hard in this chapter and the way in which it brings in the lord jesus christ which it brings in the lord jesus christ into the picture shows us the right way into the picture shows us the right way in which any sort of authority in a in which any sort of authority in a household ought to be exercised household ought to be exercised husbands love your wives as christ also husbands love your wives as christ also loved the church and gave himself up for loved the church and gave himself up for it it that he might purify to himself a holy that he might purify to himself a holy bride having no spot nor wrinkle nor any bride having no spot nor wrinkle nor any such thing such thing and if you ask how did christ love the and if you ask how did christ love the church did he do it for the sake of church did he do it for the sake of being its boss and the answer is no being its boss and the answer is no though he is the head though he is the head he did it for the sake of bringing about he did it for the sake of bringing about its salvation and giving it everything its salvation and giving it everything he could because he loved it he could because he loved it and the extent that he went in making it and the extent that he went in making it possible for that to happen was to die possible for that to happen was to die for it for it so the lord jesus christ won the right so the lord jesus christ won the right to his lordship by claiming nothing for to his lordship by claiming nothing for himself by but by giving it up and himself by but by giving it up and making himself the offering that made it making himself the offering that made it possible for people to come to salvation possible for people to come to salvation and what that chapter brings out if it and what that chapter brings out if it brings out no more is that whenever any brings out no more is that whenever any man thinks of being a married man any man thinks of being a married man any believing person and thinks of the believing person and thinks of the responsibilities of that involved he responsibilities of that involved he should bear in mind that the lord jesus should bear in mind that the lord jesus christ gained his authority by the christ gained his authority by the sufferings he underwent by the sufferings he underwent by the sacrifices he made by stopping thinking sacrifices he made by stopping thinking about himself and by thinking about the about himself and by thinking about the one he loved and desiring to bring about one he loved and desiring to bring about the benefit and the blessing of that one the benefit and the blessing of that one and if every man who always exercise and if every man who always exercise such authority as belongs to him in that such authority as belongs to him in that kind of spirit that he will do it a lot kind of spirit that he will do it a lot better than he sometimes does i speak as better than he sometimes does i speak as a fool being that's kind of a person a fool being that's kind of a person having gone through my own years of having gone through my own years of married life and not always been quite married life and not always been quite as good as this i can assure you and if as good as this i can assure you and if every woman had a husband like that then every woman had a husband like that then she would find that her position in life she would find that her position in life would be very much more bearable and would be very much more bearable and enjoyable than it sometimes can be if enjoyable than it sometimes can be if the man is a mere tyrant it's getting as the man is a mere tyrant it's getting as far back as one can get to being in the far back as one can get to being in the garden of eden again and the words that garden of eden again and the words that are said at the end of genesis chapter are said at the end of genesis chapter two two so if we both kinds of sexes bear that so if we both kinds of sexes bear that in mind in our responsibilities to each in mind in our responsibilities to each other life will be much easier all round other life will be much easier all round however the apostle doesn't merely say however the apostle doesn't merely say husbands love your wives because christ husbands love your wives because christ loves the church loves the church he almost seems to leave his subject he almost seems to leave his subject he starts off by saying wives do as your he starts off by saying wives do as your husband say husbands love your wives and husband say husbands love your wives and then having said then having said even as christ loved the church he even as christ loved the church he spends the next few verses in describing spends the next few verses in describing christ as though he was adam and the christ as though he was adam and the church as though it was eve even the church as though it was eve even the extent of we are born we all of his body extent of we are born we all of his body of his bones and of his flesh he even of his bones and of his flesh he even quotes the words of genesis chapter 2 quotes the words of genesis chapter 2 about christ therefore shall a man leave about christ therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall his father and his mother and shall leave his wife and shall be joined unto leave his wife and shall be joined unto his wife and they twain shall become one his wife and they twain shall become one flesh and he says this is a great flesh and he says this is a great mystery but i speak concerning christ mystery but i speak concerning christ and the church nevertheless that each and the church nevertheless that each one of you separately love his own wife one of you separately love his own wife as himself and the wife see that she as himself and the wife see that she fear her husband fear her husband so the apostle having started off with so the apostle having started off with how how any given christian husband and daughter any given christian husband and daughter behave in relation to any given behave in relation to any given christian wife and the other way around christian wife and the other way around goes off onto what looks like a side goes off onto what looks like a side theme but it isn't it's the major theme theme but it isn't it's the major theme of the lord jesus christ and his church of the lord jesus christ and his church or his bride but he's saying in effect or his bride but he's saying in effect that when god said let us make man in that when god said let us make man in our image and after our likeness and our image and after our likeness and when god made man male and female he had when god made man male and female he had in mind that that would be a little in mind that that would be a little picture of the big thing he had in mind picture of the big thing he had in mind and the big thing he had in mind was the and the big thing he had in mind was the lord jesus christ as husband bridegroom lord jesus christ as husband bridegroom and the believing church as being his and the believing church as being his bride that was where it was all working bride that was where it was all working up to up to taken taken i mean i've officiated that a fair i mean i've officiated that a fair number of weddings in because the last number of weddings in because the last few years few years and when the party's concerned have and when the party's concerned have happily agreed that it should be so happily agreed that it should be so amongst the declarations that the bride amongst the declarations that the bride and the bridegroom have made and the bridegroom have made is this is this the bridegroom says the bridegroom says in the name of our lord jesus christ in the name of our lord jesus christ and in the presence of our heavenly and in the presence of our heavenly father father i do call upon these persons here i do call upon these persons here presence to witness that i do take thee presence to witness that i do take thee and the rest of the formulae and then and the rest of the formulae and then i promise so to live with my wife that i promise so to live with my wife that our union may faithfully bear witness to our union may faithfully bear witness to the love of our lord for his church the love of our lord for his church and the wife to be says in reply so to and the wife to be says in reply so to live with my husband that our union may live with my husband that our union may faithfully bear witness to the devotion faithfully bear witness to the devotion of his church to our lord of his church to our lord and that if you start a married life in and that if you start a married life in that kind of way puts the thing in its that kind of way puts the thing in its right perspective and shows where it's right perspective and shows where it's intended to lead and it tells every intended to lead and it tells every married couple man be as much like married couple man be as much like christ as you can in relation to your christ as you can in relation to your wife and life be as much like the wife and life be as much like the obedience of the church to as you can in obedience of the church to as you can in your relation to your husband and then your relation to your husband and then you will present the right picture to you will present the right picture to the world then your life will have a the world then your life will have a real meaning in it and then it will come real meaning in it and then it will come most safely and most securely and most most safely and most securely and most harmoniously to its appointed goal we might complete that one by just looking at the picture which we have of looking at the picture which we have of that event in revelation chapter 19. and a voice came out of the throne saying praise our god all ye his saying praise our god all ye his servants and ye that fear him both small servants and ye that fear him both small and great and great and i heard as it were the voice of a and i heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and is the voice of many great multitude and is the voice of many waters and is the voice of mighty waters and is the voice of mighty thunderings saying alleluia for the lord thunderings saying alleluia for the lord god omnipotent reigneth god omnipotent reigneth let us be glad and rejoice and give let us be glad and rejoice and give honour unto him for the marriage of the honour unto him for the marriage of the lamb he's come lamb he's come and his wife hath made herself ready and his wife hath made herself ready and to her it was granted that she and to her it was granted that she should be a radiant fine linen clean and should be a radiant fine linen clean and white for the fine linen is the white for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints righteousness of the saints that's the goal to which we're all that's the goal to which we're all working it's a goal moreover to which as working it's a goal moreover to which as i think you can see i think you can see although in our ordinary life there's a although in our ordinary life there's a man and there's a woman they are in man and there's a woman they are in relationship with man and woman relationship with man and woman husband and wife husband and wife the giver of and the receiver of a the giver of and the receiver of a measure of authority between them but as measure of authority between them but as soon as it comes to our relation to soon as it comes to our relation to christ we're all part of the woman christ we're all part of the woman and the subordination which is expected and the subordination which is expected in our ordinary lives of one to the in our ordinary lives of one to the other becomes everybody's subjection to other becomes everybody's subjection to christ and we are all as it were in the christ and we are all as it were in the females

Transcript

and between us all and our god through the lord jesus christ but there are the lord jesus christ but there are several passages in scripture where several passages in scripture where another kind of obedience is spoken of another kind of obedience is spoken of and it will help me to introduce another and it will help me to introduce another topic by bringing that in first of all topic by bringing that in first of all so would you turn to romans chapter 13. and perhaps following the same technique as yesterday and starting in the same as yesterday and starting in the same place place with a rather crooked back roll there i with a rather crooked back roll there i think we can make it out all right we go think we can make it out all right we go there and then we go there then we come there and then we go there then we come back around there like so it doesn't back around there like so it doesn't really matter really matter romans chapter 13 then can we read the romans chapter 13 then can we read the first seven verses verse by verse please romans 13 starting at verse 1 let every soul be subject unto the let every soul be subject unto the higher powers for there is no power but higher powers for there is no power but god god the powers that be are ordained of god [Music] but to the evil but to the evil will thou then not be afraid of the will thou then not be afraid of the power power do that which is good and thou shalt do that which is good and thou shalt have praised have praised [Music] [Music] can we go on please to verses 5 6 and 7. can we go on please to verses 5 6 and 7. [Music] yes thank you now in that chapter and in several others in the new testament the several others in the new testament the apostles are dealing with the apostles are dealing with the relationship of believers to the country relationship of believers to the country in which they live in which they live and are saying obey the laws and are saying obey the laws be a good resident be a good resident don't be noted for disobedience but pay don't be noted for disobedience but pay respect to the powers who are placed respect to the powers who are placed over you over you that's another kind of obedience which that's another kind of obedience which is called for in these pilgrim days from is called for in these pilgrim days from the disciple of god even to the earthly the disciple of god even to the earthly powers which are run by unbelievers that powers which are run by unbelievers that they must always or nearly always do as they must always or nearly always do as they're told they're told now i said nearly all because there are now i said nearly all because there are certain circumstances in which the certain circumstances in which the disciple of christ can't do as the disciple of christ can't do as the country tells him to do country tells him to do and there was one case of that as you and there was one case of that as you might perhaps remember when just after might perhaps remember when just after the day of pentecost when the disciples the day of pentecost when the disciples were preaching the gospel in jerusalem were preaching the gospel in jerusalem peter and his friends were commanded by peter and his friends were commanded by the rulers that speak no more in the the rulers that speak no more in the name of jesus name of jesus and peter's answer on two occasions was and peter's answer on two occasions was whether it is right in the sight of god whether it is right in the sight of god to obey you rather than god you judge to obey you rather than god you judge and on the other we ought to obey god and on the other we ought to obey god rather than men rather than men so there was a case where if the powers so there was a case where if the powers that be made a law or issued a that be made a law or issued a commandment which would have made the commandment which would have made the disciple into an unfaithful disciple disciple into an unfaithful disciple then the disciple must say i will not do then the disciple must say i will not do as you say i must do as my god says as you say i must do as my god says the really important thing to bear in the really important thing to bear in mind there is that one doesn't choose to mind there is that one doesn't choose to be disappearing because one doesn't like be disappearing because one doesn't like the law the law and i don't say i will break the law and i don't say i will break the law because it suits me better not to keep because it suits me better not to keep it it you say if there is a law given which you say if there is a law given which cuts across the commandments of god then cuts across the commandments of god then and only then for the sake of my loyalty and only then for the sake of my loyalty to the lord jesus christ i must say no i to the lord jesus christ i must say no i cannot keep that law and that's what cannot keep that law and that's what peter was saying on this occasion peter was saying on this occasion now that goes a little bit further and now that goes a little bit further and extends even into family life too extends even into family life too you might remember the lord jesus christ you might remember the lord jesus christ once said i am come to set once said i am come to set a father against the son and the son a father against the son and the son against the father the mother against against the father the mother against the daughter of the daughter against the the daughter of the daughter against the mother the daughter-in-law against her mother the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law and the mother-in-law mother-in-law and the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law i am not against her daughter-in-law i am not consent peace but a sword consent peace but a sword and there what the lord was saying was and there what the lord was saying was this that when the gospel is preached this that when the gospel is preached there will be some who are willing to there will be some who are willing to obey it and there will be some who are obey it and there will be some who are not not and the line between obedience and and the line between obedience and disobedience can get right across family disobedience can get right across family loyalties there will sometimes be a son loyalties there will sometimes be a son who is willing to obey and a father who who is willing to obey and a father who is not or the other way around is not or the other way around a daughter who is willing to abandon a a daughter who is willing to abandon a mother who is not or the other way mother who is not or the other way around a daughter-in-law and a around a daughter-in-law and a mother-in-law who are not mother-in-law who are not even even a husband and a wife a husband and a wife and whereas that is not discussed in the and whereas that is not discussed in the particular passage that i've mentioned particular passage that i've mentioned where the lord doesn't as i can recall where the lord doesn't as i can recall mention husband and wife that would be mention husband and wife that would be the one valid occasion when the one valid occasion when a partner who believes in the lord jesus a partner who believes in the lord jesus christ could cut across the duty of christ could cut across the duty of obedience and say there is a higher obedience and say there is a higher loyalty that i must follow loyalty that i must follow so sometimes children have had to accept so sometimes children have had to accept the hostility of their parents and if the hostility of their parents and if necessary endure being turned out of the necessary endure being turned out of the home because they wish to follow christ home because they wish to follow christ sometimes they've had to say i'm sorry i sometimes they've had to say i'm sorry i can't agree with your command that i can't agree with your command that i should not be baptized because baptism should not be baptized because baptism is cult told me from thy from me by my is cult told me from thy from me by my god god and sometimes husband and wife have and sometimes husband and wife have found themselves in the same situation found themselves in the same situation you might like to turn to first you might like to turn to first corinthians chapter seven i'd like to start at verse 10 and read down as far as and read down as far as verse 16 verse 17 reading around again verse 16 verse 17 reading around again if you will please first corinthians if you will please first corinthians chapter 7 chapter 7 from 10 through 17. that doesn't sound right to me somehow first release chapter 7 first release chapter 7 verse of the 10. let my wife depart from her heart heart that will remain unknown that will remain unknown [Music] [Music] and let not suppress him for the life of and let not suppress him for the life of his wife his wife but to rest i see but to rest i see but to rescue god not the lord if any but to rescue god not the lord if any mother happy life mother happy life [Music] is [Music] [Music] thank you i'll be using that passage for thank you i'll be using that passage for other purposes too before this course is other purposes too before this course is over god willing but for the present over god willing but for the present purpose i just want you to know that the purpose i just want you to know that the apostle apostle meets a situation in which meets a situation in which a husband and wife become aware of the a husband and wife become aware of the truth truth and they make their decisions to whether and they make their decisions to whether they will believe or not they will believe or not and in these cases we're here and in these cases we're here considering one says yes and the other considering one says yes and the other says no says no the apostle paul then considers so what the apostle paul then considers so what does the believer do about it does the believer do about it he doesn't have to consider what does he doesn't have to consider what does the unbeliever do about it because the the unbeliever do about it because the empathy will make his own mind up and he empathy will make his own mind up and he won't ask the apostle paul but he does won't ask the apostle paul but he does have to answer the question what does have to answer the question what does the believer do about it and the answer the believer do about it and the answer is the believer does the utmost that the is the believer does the utmost that the believer can to make the marriage believer can to make the marriage continue to work continue to work so that if the unbeliever is willing to so that if the unbeliever is willing to stay and doesn't feel that he must stay and doesn't feel that he must forsake the believer because the forsake the believer because the believer believes believer believes then they stay together and the believer then they stay together and the believer accepts the situation accepts the situation if the unbeliever insists on going then if the unbeliever insists on going then the believer must stick firm to her or the believer must stick firm to her or his faith and decline to follow him into his faith and decline to follow him into wherever he goes away wherever he goes away so it can be a case where a husband is so it can be a case where a husband is set against the wife if the unbeliever set against the wife if the unbeliever won't have it won't have it it needn't be a case like that if the it needn't be a case like that if the unbeliever is willing to go along with unbeliever is willing to go along with the marriage already existing so the the marriage already existing so the sake of keeping their union going in sake of keeping their union going in those circumstances says the apostle those circumstances says the apostle paul the believer should accept it and paul the believer should accept it and continue to live along even hoping that continue to live along even hoping that time will arise when her example or his time will arise when her example or his example will be useful in bringing the example will be useful in bringing the unbeliever to the faith how unbeliever to the faith how our wife whether i shall save thy our wife whether i shall save thy husband and how knowest our husband husband and how knowest our husband whether i shall save thy wife whether i shall save thy wife so having gone as far as i need to go on so having gone as far as i need to go on the road of discussing what the duty of the road of discussing what the duty of obedience is and the rare circumstances obedience is and the rare circumstances in which we do the opposite and say no i in which we do the opposite and say no i can't do as i'm told can't do as i'm told i want to continue to use the basis of i want to continue to use the basis of this parrot this passage for another this parrot this passage for another reason reason we'll leave it behind for the moment and we'll leave it behind for the moment and just go back to old testament times just go back to old testament times you will remember i'm sure that when you will remember i'm sure that when israel came out of the land of egypt and israel came out of the land of egypt and they were to enter into the promised they were to enter into the promised land they were going into a land that land they were going into a land that was was absolutely rotten with sinfulness absolutely rotten with sinfulness you can tell how bad it was by the fact you can tell how bad it was by the fact that when god had appeared to abraham that when god had appeared to abraham some hundreds of years before in genesis some hundreds of years before in genesis chapter 15 chapter 15 he said that the children of abraham he said that the children of abraham would go into exile in a land that would go into exile in a land that wasn't theirs and they wouldn't come wasn't theirs and they wouldn't come back to what god calls the fourth back to what god calls the fourth generation for he says in the fourth generation for he says in the fourth generation they shall come here again generation they shall come here again for the iniquity of the america is not for the iniquity of the america is not yet full yet full by which god meant that the time had not by which god meant that the time had not yet come to exterminate the inhabitants yet come to exterminate the inhabitants of kenya but that time would come they of kenya but that time would come they were going the way that would ultimately were going the way that would ultimately lead them to such a state of incurable lead them to such a state of incurable painfulness that the only way to deal painfulness that the only way to deal with them would be the way that god had with them would be the way that god had dealt with mankind at the flood and that dealt with mankind at the flood and that was to remove them from the scene so was to remove them from the scene so israel was told when you get into that israel was told when you get into that land what you do is wipe out the nations land what you do is wipe out the nations which are there it's not a pleasant which are there it's not a pleasant theme and i don't find it pleasant theme and i don't find it pleasant that's what the instructions were that's what the instructions were and they were also told that amongst and they were also told that amongst those who were not wiped out they must those who were not wiped out they must in no circumstances consider in no circumstances consider taking the daughters of the landers taking the daughters of the landers wives for their sons wives for their sons or giving their daughters as wives for or giving their daughters as wives for the sons of the land the sons of the land there must be no contamination of the there must be no contamination of the holy people by association in marriage holy people by association in marriage whether with sons or daughters of the whether with sons or daughters of the heathen in the land where they lived heathen in the land where they lived at this stage we can't imagine quite at this stage we can't imagine quite what were all the problems be setting what were all the problems be setting that line but it does look as though that line but it does look as though they had given themselves to such a uh a they had given themselves to such a uh a riot of immoral immorality that the riot of immoral immorality that the whole place was simply riddled with whole place was simply riddled with disease it was probably a totally disease it was probably a totally venereal disease cultured land where venereal disease cultured land where even physically to associate with them even physically to associate with them would have been to run great dangers but would have been to run great dangers but apart from that their godlessness was apart from that their godlessness was also such that to associate with them also such that to associate with them would cause their people to be turned would cause their people to be turned aside from the one true god and to aside from the one true god and to worship the abominations of the heathen worship the abominations of the heathen idols of the lands in which they lived idols of the lands in which they lived so don't take their daughters to your so don't take their daughters to your son said god and don't give your son said god and don't give your daughters to their sons he said daughters to their sons he said now that was a principle upon which now that was a principle upon which israel was expected to live throughout israel was expected to live throughout the days of their life in the land they the days of their life in the land they didn't keep it very well they didn't didn't keep it very well they didn't give any of god's commandments very well give any of god's commandments very well but they were expected to marry within but they were expected to marry within their own race to let chosen people be their own race to let chosen people be married to or to marry chosen people so married to or to marry chosen people so that they would that they would if they did this remain faithful to if they did this remain faithful to their god would not contaminate his their god would not contaminate his worship would not introduce even idols worship would not introduce even idols would not be defiled by immoral would not be defiled by immoral practices but would live faithful to practices but would live faithful to their god their god well they didn't do it well they didn't do it they were badly mixed up with the people they were badly mixed up with the people of the land and they were contaminated of the land and they were contaminated and they did suffer the ills of the and they did suffer the ills of the people around them and god's very severe people around them and god's very severe judgments came down upon them when they judgments came down upon them when they were divided into two nations partly were divided into two nations partly because of the immoral behavior of because of the immoral behavior of solomon and then having been divided solomon and then having been divided into two nations where peace meal taken into two nations where peace meal taken into captivity the northern kingdom into captivity the northern kingdom first and the southern kingdom first and the southern kingdom afterwards now you might well say that's a long long way away from the circumstances in long way away from the circumstances in which we are living in the 20th century which we are living in the 20th century and so it is and so it is both in time and circumstances both in time and circumstances but we might then go forward from their but we might then go forward from their time to new testament times time to new testament times which although a long way away in time which although a long way away in time wasn't so very far away in circumstances wasn't so very far away in circumstances because there they were the jews who had because there they were the jews who had now last resolved that they would now last resolved that they would worship the one true god worship the one true god in their own false way in their own false way but at least they were not contaminated but at least they were not contaminated with idols with idols and there were the heathen nations and there were the heathen nations around them which were worshiping their around them which were worshiping their greek gods and goddesses and were greek gods and goddesses and were contaminated with the moral practices contaminated with the moral practices that went with them that went with them now we don't meet very many clear now we don't meet very many clear statements in the scriptures about the statements in the scriptures about the way in which the believer should react way in which the believer should react to those nations around them in the to those nations around them in the matter of marriage matter of marriage but we do meet some but we do meet some there really is one isn't there in this there really is one isn't there in this chapter that we read together chapter that we read together first corinthians is a letter which first corinthians is a letter which seems to be full of answering problems seems to be full of answering problems which arise which arise in some cases their problems which have in some cases their problems which have been reported to paul in other cases been reported to paul in other cases their problems they had actually raised their problems they had actually raised with him he's trying to answer the with him he's trying to answer the difficulties they felt and i feel those difficulties they felt and i feel those verses we read together are verses that verses we read together are verses that deal with a problem of that kind deal with a problem of that kind somebody had said to paul somebody had said to paul we know that you have said that we know that you have said that believers should only marry believers believers should only marry believers in fact however some of us were married in fact however some of us were married before we were brought into contact with before we were brought into contact with the truth and we are members of broken the truth and we are members of broken unions one party believes and the other unions one party believes and the other party doesn't what do we do about that party doesn't what do we do about that now not being very much concerned for now not being very much concerned for the moment with paul's about as to what the moment with paul's about as to what they do about it which are partly they do about it which are partly considered already considered already the reason for mentioning it is that it the reason for mentioning it is that it looks as though paul had already given looks as though paul had already given them very clear counsel on this matter them very clear counsel on this matter you ought not to marry people who are you ought not to marry people who are not of your faith not of your faith and then he deals with the problem about and then he deals with the problem about marriages already existing and says as marriages already existing and says as i've already said accept that if the i've already said accept that if the unbeliever will do your utmost to bring unbeliever will do your utmost to bring the unbeliever to the faith in his time the unbeliever to the faith in his time but if you have a choice about this but if you have a choice about this matter then marry only in the faith and matter then marry only in the faith and he does give one example at the end of he does give one example at the end of this chapter when he says that if this chapter when he says that if somebody becomes a widow and she wishes somebody becomes a widow and she wishes to marry again she is fully entitled to to marry again she is fully entitled to do so whether it's wise or not she can do so whether it's wise or not she can and he says she is that limitatively and he says she is that limitatively married to whom she will only in the married to whom she will only in the lord lord and even when he's talking about these and even when he's talking about these marriages where they were contracted marriages where they were contracted beforehand and one person believes and beforehand and one person believes and the other person doesn't you get the the other person doesn't you get the impression that he is telling us that impression that he is telling us that god is willing to make a concession god is willing to make a concession he doesn't want people to marry out of he doesn't want people to marry out of the faith if they've done it before the the faith if they've done it before the faith comes the situation can't be faith comes the situation can't be helped god wants them now to make a go helped god wants them now to make a go of it is at all possible and moreover he of it is at all possible and moreover he will accept it god will as a marriage will accept it god will as a marriage which is which is fully valid in his sight when he says fully valid in his sight when he says the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy children unclean but now are they holy and he seems to be saying although that and he seems to be saying although that marriage had you both believed at the marriage had you both believed at the time sorry had only one of you believed time sorry had only one of you believed at the time shouldn't have taken place at the time shouldn't have taken place yet now that it has before you became yet now that it has before you became believers then god will accept it as believers then god will accept it as being a fully valid marriage with being a fully valid marriage with respect to both husband and wife and respect to both husband and wife and children children now the only other passage i want to now the only other passage i want to quote in this connection would be from quote in this connection would be from the second letter to the corinthians well i'll read from verse 14 [Music] [Music] of chapter six of chapter six second corinthians chapter six second corinthians chapter six verse fourteen be not unequally yoked with unbelievers for what fellowship have righteousness for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity and iniquity or what communion hath light with or what communion hath light with darkness darkness and what concord hath christ would be and what concord hath christ would be leo leo or what portion hath the believer with or what portion hath the believer with an unbeliever an unbeliever and what agreement has the temple of god and what agreement has the temple of god with idols with idols for we are the temple of the living god for we are the temple of the living god even as god said i will dwell in them even as god said i will dwell in them and walk in them and i will be their god and walk in them and i will be their god and they shall be my people wherefore and they shall be my people wherefore come me out from among them and be ye come me out from among them and be ye separate saith the lord and touch no separate saith the lord and touch no unclean thing and i will receive you and unclean thing and i will receive you and i will be to you a father and ye shall i will be to you a father and ye shall be to me sons and daughters set the lord be to me sons and daughters set the lord almighty now you will have noticed that the word marriage isn't mentioned there marriage isn't mentioned there but he does say that believers should but he does say that believers should not form part of a team with unbelievers not form part of a team with unbelievers being yoked together as two animals are being yoked together as two animals are yoked together when they draw a plow yoked together when they draw a plow that's verse 14. that's verse 14. he does say that righteousness are not he does say that righteousness are not walked to walk side by side in walked to walk side by side in friendship and fellowship with friendship and fellowship with unrighteousness unrighteousness he does say that christ and the he does say that christ and the personification of iniquity can't dwell personification of iniquity can't dwell together together he says you don't set up idols in the he says you don't set up idols in the temple of god temple of god you don't ask god to keep company with you don't ask god to keep company with an unbeliever because you've introduced an unbeliever because you've introduced him into god's presence him into god's presence and every one of those is so and every one of those is so far-reaching and advising the disciple far-reaching and advising the disciple to keep away from association with to keep away from association with idolatrous unbelief that there can be no idolatrous unbelief that there can be no doubt i think that everybody who doubt i think that everybody who contemplated marriage in the first contemplated marriage in the first century would see that paul was telling century would see that paul was telling them quite plainly that you're not doing them quite plainly that you're not doing the cause of god any good if a believer the cause of god any good if a believer marries an idolater marries an idolater i'm keeping it on that level for the i'm keeping it on that level for the moment because i acknowledge that this moment because i acknowledge that this is a quite different situation still is a quite different situation still from the one in which we exist today from the one in which we exist today so there we have the advice don't so there we have the advice don't corrupt and don't compromise your faith corrupt and don't compromise your faith by being linked together in binding by being linked together in binding associations with people of associations with people of idolatrous faiths idolatrous faiths or i suppose of no faith at all now although that could well cover other kinds of association kinds of association it could cover association in recreation it could cover association in recreation it could cover business associations it it could cover business associations it could cover all kinds of things in which could cover all kinds of things in which people work closely together with people work closely together with unbelievers unbelievers yet yet marriage is the most intimate of them marriage is the most intimate of them all all but it's difficult to imagine a but it's difficult to imagine a situation in which a believer chooses to situation in which a believer chooses to be married to an idolater be married to an idolater without seeing how that believers faith without seeing how that believers faith must be must be challenged at every turn challenged at every turn how his practices will be contrary to how his practices will be contrary to those of his wife or hers to those of those of his wife or hers to those of her husband her husband how they'll want to go different ways on how they'll want to go different ways on the day of worship the day of worship how the things that they're willing to how the things that they're willing to do will be different the things they can do will be different the things they can tolerate will be different the language tolerate will be different the language they use will be different their they use will be different their attitude towards the lord and master of attitude towards the lord and master of the believer will be different it's a the believer will be different it's a life which would be bound to be lived in life which would be bound to be lived in a total strait of strain throughout the a total strait of strain throughout the whole of its existence for as long as whole of its existence for as long as one remained a believer and the other one remained a believer and the other one an unbeliever one an unbeliever and of course there's always the and of course there's always the possibility that the believer might come possibility that the believer might come to the face to the face there's also the possibility and it's there's also the possibility and it's much more the more likely one of the two much more the more likely one of the two that the unbeliever would go away from that the unbeliever would go away from it and become cold with it or leave it it and become cold with it or leave it all together all together those are good reasons and there are those are good reasons and there are others why the apostle would give that others why the apostle would give that advice in the first advice in the first century and so now we come to the 20th century and so now we come to the 20th and we try to relate that to our own and we try to relate that to our own situation now it's a situation which is made worse for us by the fact that i mentioned us by the fact that i mentioned yesterday that there are more religious yesterday that there are more religious women than there are religious men and women than there are religious men and there are more christian girls and there there are more christian girls and there are casadophian boys are casadophian boys and even if every castadophian boy chose and even if every castadophian boy chose himself a christiadian girl as a partner himself a christiadian girl as a partner in marriage there would still be girls in marriage there would still be girls left over left over and the girls in particular therefore and the girls in particular therefore are in a very difficult situation some are in a very difficult situation some at least when the question of marriage at least when the question of marriage comes about comes about if there were a requirement that if there were a requirement that believers should continue to marry believers should continue to marry believers then it would be very hard on believers then it would be very hard on that excess as it were of unmarried that excess as it were of unmarried female christadelphians female christadelphians now we have to discuss this thing on two now we have to discuss this thing on two levels levels one is one is is it nevertheless right is it nevertheless right and the apostles advice and the apostles advice and the and the duty or at least a thing of obvious duty or at least a thing of obvious desirability desirability that a believer should only marry a that a believer should only marry a belief or i'll be married to one belief or i'll be married to one and the second is if that is accepted and the second is if that is accepted then what do we do about it when numbers then what do we do about it when numbers are unequal are unequal where in any case francis rove in such a where in any case francis rove in such a way that people may not find anybody way that people may not find anybody they even like to marry within the bonds they even like to marry within the bonds of the faith in their own immediate of the faith in their own immediate neighborhood along with those they come neighborhood along with those they come across now the first point would have to make is that it is perfectly true that there is that it is perfectly true that there are not many idolaters about these days are not many idolaters about these days but is there not many people who worship but is there not many people who worship heathen idols heathen idols and have gone and have gone carry on the abominable practices of the carry on the abominable practices of the heathen heathen it isn't that true there are none it isn't that true there are none and with the advent of equal and with the advent of equal opportunities and with opportunities and with immigration from non-christian lands immigration from non-christian lands taking place in my country at least and taking place in my country at least and i imagine in yours there are in fact i imagine in yours there are in fact even temples around but there are in even temples around but there are in fact ways of worship which have nothing fact ways of worship which have nothing in common with the lord jesus christ and in common with the lord jesus christ and in connection with that i think we have in connection with that i think we have to say that with all the old force the to say that with all the old force the apostle would certainly say don't do it apostle would certainly say don't do it if ever you contemplate marrying or if ever you contemplate marrying or being married to somebody in that being married to somebody in that situation situation but there's a lot of people who are not but there's a lot of people who are not in that position i suppose they're the in that position i suppose they're the majority majority there will be some who have other there will be some who have other varieties or would look upon it in that varieties or would look upon it in that way themselves of the christian faith way themselves of the christian faith who would acknowledge that jesus christ who would acknowledge that jesus christ is lord who would say that they believe is lord who would say that they believe in the lord jesus christ as described in in the lord jesus christ as described in the bible the bible there are some who have no faith at all there are some who have no faith at all and are just perhaps good living perhaps and are just perhaps good living perhaps always not always good living always not always good living lazy unbelievers who may have a nominal lazy unbelievers who may have a nominal faith but don't do much about it in faith but don't do much about it in practice and there'll be others who have practice and there'll be others who have abandoned any sort of faith at all but abandoned any sort of faith at all but being neither idolaters nor christians being neither idolaters nor christians are still it may be good living people are still it may be good living people so is it all right in those so is it all right in those circumstances to relax the first century circumstances to relax the first century and the old testament rules about and the old testament rules about marrying out of the faith marrying out of the faith well well i think i should give you an example of i think i should give you an example of this stage this stage it's some years ago now it's some years ago now that i was that i was giving the morning and evening addresses giving the morning and evening addresses at one of our ecclesias in leeds in at one of our ecclesias in leeds in yorkshire where there are three yorkshire where there are three [Music] [Music] after i given my talk in after i ecclesiastical given my talk in the morning the morning and had had my lunch and was looking and had had my lunch and was looking forward to a nap forward to a nap there came a ring at the doorbell and i there came a ring at the doorbell and i turned up the recording brother of turned up the recording brother of another of the cliches another of the cliches and very unceremoniously i was bottled and very unceremoniously i was bottled into his car and hijacked into his car and hijacked um taken away from the house where i was um taken away from the house where i was staying into another home where having staying into another home where having got me inside his door he pushed me into got me inside his door he pushed me into his lounge room and said there they are his lounge room and said there they are she's going to marry him out of the face she's going to marry him out of the face now talk to them now talk to them which i didn't enjoy very much but that which i didn't enjoy very much but that was the situation in which i found was the situation in which i found myself so i had to tell them to which myself so i had to tell them to which the crystaldelphian daughter of this the crystaldelphian daughter of this person and the non-crystallophilia person and the non-crystallophilia fiance of the daughter fiance of the daughter what we thought about marrying out of what we thought about marrying out of the faith nobody can tell what the the faith nobody can tell what the recording brother thought from what he'd recording brother thought from what he'd done to me uh now the question is what done to me uh now the question is what did i think did i think well i thought a rather a rather bad well i thought a rather a rather bad chicken been played upon me but that's chicken been played upon me but that's beside the point i did in fact think as beside the point i did in fact think as he thought about the problem in front of he thought about the problem in front of them them at first i was just supposed to be at first i was just supposed to be embarrassed and a little bit resentful embarrassed and a little bit resentful that he put me in a position where i had that he put me in a position where i had to face without any warning the to face without any warning the non-crystaldelphian fiance of the non-crystaldelphian fiance of the crystallophilian girl but after about 10 crystallophilian girl but after about 10 seconds prayerful reflection i said to seconds prayerful reflection i said to myself well this is just right this is myself well this is just right this is the way it ought to be the way it ought to be we all must be telling her you shouldn't we all must be telling her you shouldn't be married to him we ought to be telling be married to him we ought to be telling him why we have him why we have a principle or a practice which would a principle or a practice which would make it undesirable that that should make it undesirable that that should take place so i talked mostly to him take place so i talked mostly to him rather than to her rather than to her and these are the things as far as i can and these are the things as far as i can remember them as i tried to say i told him that if we were faithful to the commandments of our god we regarded the commandments of our god we regarded our faith is the most precious thing our faith is the most precious thing that we had that we had this is the way of salvation for us this is the way of salvation for us the teaching we receive we believe to be the teaching we receive we believe to be not only true but precious not only true but precious we look upon the lord jesus christ and we look upon the lord jesus christ and his saving work and the meaning of his his saving work and the meaning of his death our duty of baptism as believers death our duty of baptism as believers our hope of his return and all the other our hope of his return and all the other things that belong to the gospel as things that belong to the gospel as being the most important things in our being the most important things in our life there could be nothing more life there could be nothing more significant than being saved from sin significant than being saved from sin and being brought into the blessings of and being brought into the blessings of the kingdom of god through faith then i said that our faith had been our faith had been brought into its present state when brought into its present state when through the labors of earlier through the labors of earlier crystaldelphians various crystaldelphians various false teachings of christendom have been false teachings of christendom have been recognized recognized and then have been rejected and then have been rejected and we had to say without any sign of and we had to say without any sign of self-righteousness or pride and without self-righteousness or pride and without trying to partake of the trying to partake of the assurance of the pharisees assurance of the pharisees that that situation still existed that that that situation still existed that there was truth here there was truth here which we hoped that it would please god which we hoped that it would please god to give to us to give to us and there was untruth or perversion of and there was untruth or perversion of truth in many bodies even calling truth in many bodies even calling themselves crystaldelphian and we wish themselves crystaldelphian and we wish to safeguard the truth to safeguard the truth and the and the confidence of those who had it and confidence of those who had it and the the single-minded faith single-minded faith from the compromise that would from the compromise that would inevitably follow were we to look inevitably follow were we to look charitably upon marriage with those who charitably upon marriage with those who didn't share that faith didn't share that faith i told him that there could be nothing i told him that there could be nothing more intimate more intimate than the married life between two people than the married life between two people who love each other who love each other and nothing more if i can put this and nothing more if i can put this frankly nothing more difficult to frankly nothing more difficult to understand understand than than sharing a man's bed and not sharing his sharing a man's bed and not sharing his hope of glory hope of glory the idea that one would the idea that one would surrender oneself to a person in that surrender oneself to a person in that position position and become and become his partner and bear his children his partner and bear his children well at the same time one had the well at the same time one had the feeling that feeling that if if i reach the kingdom of god he wouldn't i reach the kingdom of god he wouldn't and so death would partis because and so death would partis because there's belief on the one side and there there's belief on the one side and there isn't faith on the other isn't faith on the other was a very incongruous way of thinking was a very incongruous way of thinking i went on to say that i went on to say that if you do if you do willingly marry someone who hasn't willingly marry someone who hasn't accepted the faith accepted the faith then you may be in danger of saying to then you may be in danger of saying to yourself though you never say it in yourself though you never say it in words words i'm putting side by side two things one i'm putting side by side two things one is the salvation of that man the other is the salvation of that man the other is having him as my man and the second is having him as my man and the second is the more important to me is the more important to me which can't be right can it which can't be right can it if one accepts an offer of knowledge if one accepts an offer of knowledge from the man in that position i tried to from the man in that position i tried to say to them it is by way of saying that say to them it is by way of saying that i care less about your salvation i care less about your salvation mine too perhaps mine too perhaps than i do about having a partner than i do about having a partner and having a home of my own even if we take it outside the relations of the two concerned of the two concerned and we suppose that a way of living can and we suppose that a way of living can be arrived at then be arrived at then every sunday if the believer wants to every sunday if the believer wants to continue faithful she would go this way continue faithful she would go this way and he would go that way or stay at home and he would go that way or stay at home or go and play golf or whatever it might or go and play golf or whatever it might be be and there couldn't be any happiness in and there couldn't be any happiness in knowing that your partner didn't share knowing that your partner didn't share your faith even if he was kind and nice your faith even if he was kind and nice and indulgent and that you go your way and indulgent and that you go your way and gave you every facility it would and gave you every facility it would still be a situation where strain would still be a situation where strain would exist exist and there must be an ache in the heart and there must be an ache in the heart of a really faithful believer every time of a really faithful believer every time she looked on the face of the man she she looked on the face of the man she loved and said that man is not a loved and said that man is not a candidate for the kingdom of god and then when you go beyond that and you come to the case where come to the case where children are born into the marriage and children are born into the marriage and they see that mother goes to the they see that mother goes to the christian meeting room and father goes christian meeting room and father goes to the catholic church or to the mormons to the catholic church or to the mormons or he doesn't go or he doesn't go and the child may perhaps he with the and the child may perhaps he with the indulgence of the father be brought up indulgence of the father be brought up in the christian sunday's kill but one in the christian sunday's kill but one day day comes to wonder now why are they this comes to wonder now why are they this way way he this way and she that and anyway why he this way and she that and anyway why did she allow herself to be married to did she allow herself to be married to him in those circumstances doesn't her him in those circumstances doesn't her face really matter to her very much and face really matter to her very much and then he or she meets a partner with whom then he or she meets a partner with whom he or she wishes to be married and he or she wishes to be married and the ground is cut away from the feat of the ground is cut away from the feat of loyalty by the fact that mother of loyalty by the fact that mother of father did it first father did it first you can see that this is a growing and a you can see that this is a growing and a complicating problem and it can dilute complicating problem and it can dilute the loyalty of the faith it's got all the loyalty of the faith it's got all kinds of kinds of difficulties and disadvantages difficulties and disadvantages associated with it well i made that speech to a room that was about as silent as this room that was about as silent as this one is but i hope not for the same one is but i hope not for the same reasons i i hope this one is silent reasons i i hope this one is silent because you're taking it in and might because you're taking it in and might perhaps come to agree with me but in perhaps come to agree with me but in that room i thought i that room i thought i sensed a very considerable hostility sensed a very considerable hostility growing to what i was saying on the path growing to what i was saying on the path of both the girl who was a kissadelphian of both the girl who was a kissadelphian the man who wasn't and when i said the man who wasn't and when i said goodbye to them that afternoon i was goodbye to them that afternoon i was greeted with such a very un greeted with such a very un cordial goodbye that i i thought i'd cordial goodbye that i i thought i'd make two enemies make two enemies well the story didn't quite finish there well the story didn't quite finish there because a few days later i think it was because a few days later i think it was during that same week i was in leeds during that same week i was in leeds again giving a lecture at some place in again giving a lecture at some place in town and the girl was there which i was town and the girl was there which i was glad to know i can't remember whether glad to know i can't remember whether her fiance was i don't think he was her fiance was i don't think he was anyway taking with me just in case we anyway taking with me just in case we should encounter each other a uh chapter should encounter each other a uh chapter that i'd written called only in the lord that i'd written called only in the lord about the wisdom and rightness of about the wisdom and rightness of marrying in the faith marrying in the faith and i gave it to her and i gave it to her well she took it with a very bad grace well she took it with a very bad grace and so i i was pretty sure that i lost a and so i i was pretty sure that i lost a friend friend well that was that until about three well that was that until about three months later i think it was months later i think it was when i heard a letter from her in which when i heard a letter from her in which she said she said dear uncle often i think she called me dear uncle often i think she called me which i thought was nice anyway dear which i thought was nice anyway dear uncle alfred you will be glad to know uncle alfred you will be glad to know that john which wasn't his name so he that john which wasn't his name so he didn't call him john i am doing it didn't call him john i am doing it you'll be glad to know that john has you'll be glad to know that john has been baptized we're hoping you've been been baptized we're hoping you've been married i think it wasn't about two married i think it wasn't about two months time and please will you take our months time and please will you take our wedding service wedding service well that couldn't have been nice i well that couldn't have been nice i thought that was a lovely thing and uh thought that was a lovely thing and uh well that was the end of that one of the well that was the end of that one of the very few success stories that i have and very few success stories that i have and so i i treasure that one so i i treasure that one uh but it is important to look at it in uh but it is important to look at it in that kind of way and i was deeply glad that kind of way and i was deeply glad and grateful that they came to do so and grateful that they came to do so i hope some of the reasons i've put in i hope some of the reasons i've put in front of you now will seem to you to be front of you now will seem to you to be good reasons as well good reasons as well so so you meet all kinds of problems in this you meet all kinds of problems in this connection connection and i'll tell you another episode that and i'll tell you another episode that didn't end too well it was during one of the earliest visits that i made one of the earliest visits that i made to this country to this country and i was staying in the house of a and i was staying in the house of a widowed sister who had a very attractive widowed sister who had a very attractive daughter who aged about 18 i think daughter who aged about 18 i think and she called mary from now on which and she called mary from now on which also was not her name also was not her name and uh the mother said to me and uh the mother said to me mary said she wants to be baptized mary said she wants to be baptized splendid said i splendid said i but i'd advise her not to said mother but i'd advise her not to said mother whatever before said i whatever before said i because said she because said she mary will uh one day be likely to want mary will uh one day be likely to want to get married and i thought it very to get married and i thought it very likely indeed likely indeed and she said and there are no eligible and she said and there are no eligible young brethren around here young brethren around here so you see if she gets married first so you see if she gets married first and is baptized afterwards she won't be and is baptized afterwards she won't be running out of the faith will she running out of the faith will she well as a piece of cold logic it was well as a piece of cold logic it was indisputable she was right of course but indisputable she was right of course but as a piece of advice it was shocking and as a piece of advice it was shocking and i said so i said so i told her i should take the first i told her i should take the first opportunity to give the absolutely opportunity to give the absolutely contrary advice to her daughter contrary advice to her daughter on the ground that you can pull the wool on the ground that you can pull the wool over the eyes of the arranging brethren over the eyes of the arranging brethren but you can't do it with god but you can't do it with god you can adopt a maneuver that may take you can adopt a maneuver that may take all power of discipline out of the hands all power of discipline out of the hands of earthly powers but of earthly powers but it's all perfectly clear and plain to it's all perfectly clear and plain to our maker and if our maker sees somebody our maker and if our maker sees somebody being advised and accepting the advice being advised and accepting the advice to get around the rules as it were by to get around the rules as it were by doing the marriage first and then having doing the marriage first and then having the baptism afterwards he's not likely the baptism afterwards he's not likely to be very pleased with it to be very pleased with it so i did have the talk and i did give so i did have the talk and i did give the advice and the girl took no notice the advice and the girl took no notice and thought about her mother it said and thought about her mother it said and she did marry and then she was and she did marry and then she was baptized and well i'm happy to say at baptized and well i'm happy to say at this stage that the fears that that this stage that the fears that that would lead to her departure from the would lead to her departure from the faith didn't materialize faith didn't materialize one of the relatively rare events took one of the relatively rare events took place and the husband himself saw that place and the husband himself saw that the faith was right and the unbelieving the faith was right and the unbelieving partner did say we hope it will be saved partner did say we hope it will be saved the husband and he was baptized too so the husband and he was baptized too so what what i feared wasn't right but the what what i feared wasn't right but the advice i'm sure was right advice i'm sure was right there is a sequel to the story though there is a sequel to the story though and that is that she left the faith and and that is that she left the faith and he didn't he didn't and that's very sad and that's nothing and that's very sad and that's nothing to do with the story but it's a very to do with the story but it's a very peculiar episode peculiar episode but what i have to say to you is i think but what i have to say to you is i think the the plain council that for the sake the the plain council that for the sake of one's own happiness in all the days of one's own happiness in all the days that come throughout our lives if one is that come throughout our lives if one is contemplating marrying or being married contemplating marrying or being married to somebody who is not a christian then to somebody who is not a christian then think very hard think very hard and regardless of the possibility that and regardless of the possibility that it may reflect upon one's ecclesial it may reflect upon one's ecclesial membership if the arranging rather in membership if the arranging rather in take that kind of position put the other take that kind of position put the other point first and say is this really the point first and say is this really the right thing to be doing or if i should right thing to be doing or if i should be contemplating what might be the rest be contemplating what might be the rest of my life of my life married to and in the situation of the married to and in the situation of the greatest intimacy with somebody who has greatest intimacy with somebody who has not accepted the faith because remember not accepted the faith because remember they mostly don't they mostly don't when this kind of mixed marriage takes when this kind of mixed marriage takes place the unbelieving partner doesn't place the unbelieving partner doesn't usually accept the faith though he or usually accept the faith though he or she sometimes does she sometimes does and though the believing partner may and though the believing partner may remain faithful in situations of great remain faithful in situations of great and sometimes increasing difficulty it and sometimes increasing difficulty it doesn't always happen perhaps it most doesn't always happen perhaps it most often doesn't happen and even if it does often doesn't happen and even if it does it's a very hard life to live and one it's a very hard life to live and one has made one's own bed and has to lie in has made one's own bed and has to lie in it so it so do please do please bear in mind that one's own happiness bear in mind that one's own happiness and one's own salvation and the and one's own salvation and the salvation of the possible partner too salvation of the possible partner too may depend upon being firm with oneself may depend upon being firm with oneself going down one's knees to one's guard going down one's knees to one's guard and asking for strength to do the right and asking for strength to do the right thing another point comes well then does that mean that he is saying that there is mean that he is saying that there is going to be about 35 of our sisters who going to be about 35 of our sisters who are doomed to remain unmarried for the are doomed to remain unmarried for the rest of their lives rest of their lives and well no it doesn't mean that that and well no it doesn't mean that that isn't what i meant even if it did mean that in certain cases cases and i do know some and i do know some when when people don't get married but live an people don't get married but live an unmarried life and unmarried life and die on unmarried death we don't need to take that quite as hard as we sometimes do as we sometimes do says he from the security of his own says he from the security of his own married life married life but even so we don't need to take it but even so we don't need to take it quite as hard than we sometimes do i quite as hard than we sometimes do i know some of the happiest people in the know some of the happiest people in the crystalline world as those who have crystalline world as those who have learnt to live with not being married learnt to live with not being married and who accept it not as a trust not as and who accept it not as a trust not as something which is a burden to be born something which is a burden to be born to be resented and to be angry about but to be resented and to be angry about but to say well i live a different kind of to say well i live a different kind of life that's all and live it so life that's all and live it so successfully in the service of the lord successfully in the service of the lord that i've rarely seen more radiant faces that i've rarely seen more radiant faces than one or two i can think of one is than one or two i can think of one is just before my eyes now as i'm talking just before my eyes now as i'm talking so it's quite possible to rise above a so it's quite possible to rise above a situation even like that and live a life situation even like that and live a life in god's sight which is more fruitful in god's sight which is more fruitful in his service in his service than a married life would be if when i than a married life would be if when i accept it in the right way so in the accept it in the right way so in the event if it's happening to anybody in event if it's happening to anybody in this room and it does happen to people this room and it does happen to people that marriage doesn't come along don't that marriage doesn't come along don't please say until the bottom's dropped please say until the bottom's dropped out of my life because it doesn't have out of my life because it doesn't have to be like that to be like that in a different context when the lord in a different context when the lord jesus christ is discussing what to do jesus christ is discussing what to do about a broken marriage and i shall come about a broken marriage and i shall come to that subject to a little later to that subject to a little later he says he says and he's talking about men but the same and he's talking about men but the same would apply with the change of terms to would apply with the change of terms to women as well there are some units which women as well there are some units which are born eunuchs are born eunuchs there are some units which have made there are some units which have made them which are made units of men them which are made units of men there are some units which have made there are some units which have made themselves units for the kingdom of themselves units for the kingdom of heaven's sake heaven's sake he that is able to receive it let him he that is able to receive it let him receive it receive it and while i don't think he's really and while i don't think he's really talking about a man deciding not to get talking about a man deciding not to get married married i think he's rather talking about a man i think he's rather talking about a man in some circumstances deciding not to in some circumstances deciding not to get married again get married again but when he's talking about that the but when he's talking about that the lord is saying well there are some men lord is saying well there are some men who are physically incapable of being who are physically incapable of being married married there are some who in response to the there are some who in response to the barbarous customs of the times are barbarous customs of the times are mainly capable of it by other men mainly capable of it by other men there's some who would choose to accept there's some who would choose to accept the limitation and simply voluntarily the limitation and simply voluntarily not get married to the kingdom of not get married to the kingdom of heaven's sake heaven's sake and he's discussing some circumstances and he's discussing some circumstances where a man but it could be a woman where a man but it could be a woman either either chooses to remain unmarried chooses to remain unmarried and the apostle paul says of certain and the apostle paul says of certain people who make that choice they are people who make that choice they are happier if they so remain when the happier if they so remain when the alternative would be compromised alternative would be compromised so if it does happen that way and so if it does happen that way and marriage doesn't come along well there's marriage doesn't come along well there's a very useful a very useful successful and contented life that can successful and contented life that can be lived in god's service be lived in god's service even for those who are left like that even for those who are left like that i wouldn't have liked it it would happen i wouldn't have liked it it would happen to me to me but it does happen to people and i say but it does happen to people and i say it can happen and lead to the it can happen and lead to the development of a very full and development of a very full and satisfactory life in christ however that's not the advice that i'm giving that's something that may happen giving that's something that may happen in which people may choose for in which people may choose for themselves but it has to be their choice themselves but it has to be their choice the advice i'm giving is this is where the advice i'm giving is this is where we come to it we come to it that if it happens that that if it happens that whether for lack of a suitable whether for lack of a suitable crystaldelphian partner or simply crystaldelphian partner or simply because we because we find ourselves attracted to somebody who find ourselves attracted to somebody who is not a crystallogram is not a crystallogram be we brother or brie sister in christ be we brother or brie sister in christ the right way to approach that situation the right way to approach that situation is not rejected completely throw the is not rejected completely throw the thought away thought away and have nothing to do with it and have nothing to do with it but is or reasonably can be to say but is or reasonably can be to say i like that person he or she appears to i like that person he or she appears to like me i would like to be associated like me i would like to be associated with that person in friendship i'd like with that person in friendship i'd like to be dated i'd like to date i'd like to to be dated i'd like to date i'd like to think in terms of marriage think in terms of marriage but to make very plain to the person but to make very plain to the person concerned that you are a christian don't concerned that you are a christian don't leave it until it's too late to do leave it until it's too late to do something you have been compromised something you have been compromised and to make it plain to the person and to make it plain to the person concerned that this is where you go to concerned that this is where you go to worship this is the way you spend your worship this is the way you spend your bible reading hours this is the god you bible reading hours this is the god you pray to and say in effect pray to and say in effect now you see the kind of life i live and now you see the kind of life i live and i mean to go on living it i mean to go on living it if you'd like to find out what it's if you'd like to find out what it's about then come with me about then come with me come home come to the meeting join me in come home come to the meeting join me in bible readings bible readings from the very start from the very start don't join in the practices that make it don't join in the practices that make it harder for you from the beginning until harder for you from the beginning until all of a sudden you think well i'd all of a sudden you think well i'd better open his eyes to the fact that better open his eyes to the fact that i'm a crystaldopian when it will be much i'm a crystaldopian when it will be much harder to do harder to do but do it soon but do it soon do it straight do it straight and do it with courage and do it with courage it is very possible that some people it is very possible that some people with whom you might like to be with whom you might like to be associated will be lost to you because associated will be lost to you because you've done that you've done that it is also very possible that some it is also very possible that some people might come to the faith people might come to the faith and the and the believing potential wife it's usually believing potential wife it's usually that way round that way round or potential husband it's sometimes that or potential husband it's sometimes that way around might bring to the way of way around might bring to the way of salvation the one who can also be to the salvation the one who can also be to the happiness of them both their partner in happiness of them both their partner in marriage marriage so that's the way i would recommend to so that's the way i would recommend to any who find themselves in that position any who find themselves in that position to approach the problem to approach the problem by the way my wife wasn't a good by the way my wife wasn't a good philadelphia when i first met her and when we did meet and liked each other other under considerable difficulty under considerable difficulty in making up my mind what to do i mean in making up my mind what to do i mean this isn't easy and i know it isn't this isn't easy and i know it isn't i said to her i said to her look look i'd like you to give me one assurance i'd like you to give me one assurance she already knew that i was a christian she already knew that i was a christian she was already coming with me to she was already coming with me to meetings suppose i grew tired of you tomorrow and had nothing more to do with you had nothing more to do with you would you continue learning this faith would you continue learning this faith which is now being preached for its own which is now being preached for its own sake because it's right sake because it's right and equally if you got tired of me and equally if you got tired of me tomorrow would you do that tomorrow would you do that and she said she would and she said she would of course when you're in that situation of course when you're in that situation you don't always know whether what is you don't always know whether what is said is said in a way that you can fully said is said in a way that you can fully accept because it turned out i didn't accept because it turned out i didn't throw her over something was never put throw her over something was never put to the test to the test and uh she was baptized and we were and uh she was baptized and we were later married and uh i've never had any later married and uh i've never had any occasion to regret it she might have i occasion to regret it she might have i don't know but don't know but i i never have and so that is the sort i i never have and so that is the sort of approach for a certain amount of of approach for a certain amount of personal experience i can recommend personal experience i can recommend it pays handsome dividends and it can as it pays handsome dividends and it can as i say result in the way of life being i say result in the way of life being available to somebody else we've been talking a lot about i've been talking about talking about about being married about being married to a believer or to a believer or wrongly to an unbeliever wrongly to an unbeliever i have i have to approach now a topic that will be to approach now a topic that will be obviously in your minds in these days obviously in your minds in these days and which is in mind though i i expect and which is in mind though i i expect i'm very square and very uninformed i'm very square and very uninformed about this kind of thing about this kind of thing but it's obvious that we're living in a but it's obvious that we're living in a world where the very institution of world where the very institution of marriage is under attack marriage is under attack or indeed has been abandoned in many or indeed has been abandoned in many areas areas i didn't quite realize how far it had i didn't quite realize how far it had gone in this country it may have gone as gone in this country it may have gone as far in britain too for all i know until far in britain too for all i know until the other day i was informed that in the other day i was informed that in certain places of residence for certain places of residence for university students in this country university students in this country perhaps in all of them i don't know perhaps in all of them i don't know one is given the choice when one goes one is given the choice when one goes there as a student whether to live in there as a student whether to live in single quarters or in double quarters single quarters or in double quarters with a person of the other sex without with a person of the other sex without being married being married and that anything one's parents say and that anything one's parents say makes no difference and has the right of makes no difference and has the right of choice and can go this way by right and choice and can go this way by right and live in sexual intimacy with somebody live in sexual intimacy with somebody whom one has not married and may never whom one has not married and may never intend to marry intend to marry and i suppose not always with the same and i suppose not always with the same partner partner that's the way of life which is opened that's the way of life which is opened up to us which is commonly accepted you up to us which is commonly accepted you must know this better than i do must know this better than i do but um i'm growing up i wish i didn't but um i'm growing up i wish i didn't and i'm gladly learning more about these and i'm gladly learning more about these things can i say that this is a case where what i said yesterday about i said yesterday about the right of god to intervene in our the right of god to intervene in our lives must be born always before us and lives must be born always before us and no matter what men say no matter what men say no matter what they say in high school no matter what they say in high school no matter what they will allow in no matter what they will allow in universities universities to to trade one's body for lust trade one's body for lust because men will have it so and there'll because men will have it so and there'll be no punishments attaching to it be no punishments attaching to it because by suitable application of the because by suitable application of the appropriate remedies one can avoid appropriate remedies one can avoid bearing children or whatever it might be bearing children or whatever it might be to do that because the world lets it to do that because the world lets it happen and even the world's shame is no happen and even the world's shame is no longer very much attached to it and it longer very much attached to it and it may even be expected of you and you may may even be expected of you and you may be thought of being somebody who's not be thought of being somebody who's not quite whole if you don't do it quite whole if you don't do it it's something that the bible absolutely it's something that the bible absolutely condemns that there must be no condemns that there must be no compromise with it the bible is quite compromise with it the bible is quite plain that we must keep our bodies holy plain that we must keep our bodies holy to our god and give them only to our to our god and give them only to our partner whom we choose in marriage and partner whom we choose in marriage and preferably in the lord and everything preferably in the lord and everything else is sinful else is sinful that it can be fatally sinful that that it can be fatally sinful that there's no compromise with it that with there's no compromise with it that with no right to say go ahead and do it if no right to say go ahead and do it if you like it's your own life live it your you like it's your own life live it your own way own way as the apostle paul puts it in the as the apostle paul puts it in the chapter i'd like us to read together chapter i'd like us to read together the thing is quite clear-cut the thing is quite clear-cut there's an unquestioned duty would you there's an unquestioned duty would you turn to the letter to the hebrews turn to the letter to the hebrews chapter 13 the last chapter hebrews 13 i'll just read the first i'll just read the first few verses let love of the brethren continue forget not to show love unto strangers forget not to show love unto strangers for thereby some have entertained angels for thereby some have entertained angels unawares unawares remember that our in bonds is bound with remember that our in bonds is bound with them them then they are evil and treated as being then they are evil and treated as being yourselves also in the body yourselves also in the body let marriage be held in honor amongst let marriage be held in honor amongst all all and let the bed be undefiled and let the bed be undefiled for fornicators and adulterers god will for fornicators and adulterers god will judge judge i read that in the english revised i read that in the english revised version version just to relate it to your king james just to relate it to your king james versions if that's what you're using versions if that's what you're using marriage is honorable in all and the bad marriage is honorable in all and the bad undefiled but whoremongers and undefiled but whoremongers and adulterers god will judge adulterers god will judge they mean the same thing anyway they mean the same thing anyway and there the apostle paul not only and there the apostle paul not only recommends that once you treat marriage recommends that once you treat marriage as being a sacred thing as being a sacred thing no one should approach it with bodies no one should approach it with bodies that have not been defiled by other that have not been defiled by other associations associations and that therefore one should abstain and that therefore one should abstain from defiling associations outside from defiling associations outside marriage marriage he adds the strange and strong words he adds the strange and strong words fornicators and adulterers god will fornicators and adulterers god will judge judge and we've no right to temple with that and we've no right to temple with that that's what paul is saying that's what paul is saying and he means every syllable of his and he means every syllable of his civility and having said that one has to say something else one has to say something else this again will crop up in connection this again will crop up in connection with other problems with other problems and that is and that is such is the world we live in that for such is the world we live in that for all i know any company of young people above the age of puberty may contain people who age of puberty may contain people who are already are already compromised in this matter i'm deliberately not looking just in case there should be anybody like that case there should be anybody like that but it does happen but it does happen [Music] [Music] and what we have to say in this and what we have to say in this connection is that it shouldn't have connection is that it shouldn't have happened happened one shouldn't willfully do it and one shouldn't willfully do it and certainly not willfully do it again certainly not willfully do it again but but would you send first corinthians chapter would you send first corinthians chapter six and i'll read for you from verse nine first corinthians chapter six first corinthians chapter six verse nine or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of god shall not inherit the kingdom of god be not deceived be not deceived neither fornicators nor idolaters nor neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with men nor abusers of themselves with men nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of god in which as far as i have read the apostle is condemning as having no right apostle is condemning as having no right in god's kingdom in god's kingdom fornicators and adulterers fornicators and adulterers and it would seem those guilty of and it would seem those guilty of homosexual misbehavior to a feminist and homosexual misbehavior to a feminist and abuses of themselves with men abuses of themselves with men and saying the kingdom of god is closed and saying the kingdom of god is closed to people like that to people like that but then he goes on to say in verse 11 but then he goes on to say in verse 11 and such were some of you and such were some of you but you were washed but you were washed but you were sanctified but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of but you were justified in the name of the lord jesus christ the lord jesus christ and in the spirit of our god which is to say those who go on practicing those things those who go on practicing those things cannot find a place in god's kingdom cannot find a place in god's kingdom but no matter how dark the life might but no matter how dark the life might have been of those who used to practice have been of those who used to practice such things such things or have in any way however likely been or have in any way however likely been compromised in such things compromised in such things yet the mercy of god is fully equal to yet the mercy of god is fully equal to the situation the situation and when they receive the faith and are and when they receive the faith and are washed and sanctified they are equals of washed and sanctified they are equals of those who have lived the pharisees those who have lived the pharisees righteousness righteousness in hoping for and working towards the in hoping for and working towards the kingdom of god kingdom of god so even when there has been so even when there has been something which ought not to have taken something which ought not to have taken place in the sexual life of one who place in the sexual life of one who wants to become a believer or even has wants to become a believer or even has become one become one the right kind of repentance and the the right kind of repentance and the mercy of god can reach even that mercy of god can reach even that situation the prodigal son can come home and so can the prodigal daughter and so can the prodigal daughter and the one who devoured his father's and the one who devoured his father's substance in riotous living and has substance in riotous living and has consumed his substance with harlots as consumed his substance with harlots as the elder brother said about him can the elder brother said about him can come back and his father will haste to come back and his father will haste to meet him but do bear in mind meet him but do bear in mind that that prodigal son didn't at the age that that prodigal son didn't at the age of shall we say 17 or whatever it might of shall we say 17 or whatever it might be say to himself now let me see be say to himself now let me see [Music] [Music] i'll be able to enjoy the kind of life i i'll be able to enjoy the kind of life i want to enjoy for the next 20 years so want to enjoy for the next 20 years so i'll go ahead and do it i'll go ahead and do it and then when i get to a really old age and then when i get to a really old age like say 40 like say 40 and these things no longer please me and these things no longer please me then i'll go religious then i'll go religious and i'll go back to my father and say and i'll go back to my father and say please have me back don't do it that way please have me back don't do it that way you can't program sin you can't program sin you can't timetable repentance you can't you can't timetable repentance you can't say i'll have this to myself and then say i'll have this to myself and then i'll repent i'll repent because god at least will entertain the because god at least will entertain the severest else as to whether that really severest else as to whether that really is repentance if you do it that way is repentance if you do it that way what he wants is that as soon as one what he wants is that as soon as one knows that a certain course of life is knows that a certain course of life is right then from that point right then from that point one takes it on oh god our heavenly father who knows the stuff of which we are made stuff of which we are made and he was aware of the thoughts and and he was aware of the thoughts and intents of our hearts intents of our hearts children as we are of parents who fell children as we are of parents who fell from grace from grace thou knowest our temptations and our thou knowest our temptations and our weaknesses weaknesses and host our faults and our sins and host our faults and our sins thou knowest our hopes and our desires thou knowest our hopes and our desires give our look down upon us in thy mercy give our look down upon us in thy mercy and grant us thy grace to lift from now and grant us thy grace to lift from now on faithfully before thee on faithfully before thee confessing with contrition anything we confessing with contrition anything we might have done wrong seeking for might have done wrong seeking for strength strength in the desire to do right in the desire to do right do i lead our paths into do i lead our paths into seeking for and accepting a partner who seeking for and accepting a partner who will strengthen our ways in the in whom will strengthen our ways in the in whom we in our turn can strengthen sharing we in our turn can strengthen sharing our common faith our common faith do i help us if we are in problems where do i help us if we are in problems where our hearts are already our hearts are already entwined with those of us who do not entwined with those of us who do not follow thy ways follow thy ways and move us to take whatever action in and move us to take whatever action in strength is needed and move them to strength is needed and move them to receive thy ways receive thy ways and i'll look down upon all those and i'll look down upon all those problems crowd upon our lives and give a problems crowd upon our lives and give a clear counsel as to what should be done clear counsel as to what should be done and do i help those of us who are and do i help those of us who are already already in the faith of the lord bound to in the faith of the lord bound to happy unions with our partners in the happy unions with our partners in the faith to faith to see with see with vision and understanding the problems of vision and understanding the problems of those with whom we come in contact those with whom we come in contact that knowing how easily it is for any that knowing how easily it is for any one of us to fall one of us to fall we may all rely upon thy strength and we may all rely upon thy strength and come to thee for counsel and guidance come to thee for counsel and guidance and be granted happiness now and in the and be granted happiness now and in the age to come life everlasting age to come life everlasting through jesus christ our lord through jesus christ our lord amen

Transcript

well i've got a topic which i must talk about this morning because it's so very about this morning because it's so very much in the air these days especially when they tell me i've totally got my when they tell me i've totally got my figures wrong but is it at least one figures wrong but is it at least one marriage in three that now ends in marriage in three that now ends in divorce or is it now one in two i forget divorce or is it now one in two i forget it's such a very very high proportion it's such a very very high proportion that the likelihood of this kind of that the likelihood of this kind of thing hitting us in our own lives is thing hitting us in our own lives is increasingly great and we need to know increasingly great and we need to know both what we ought to do before the both what we ought to do before the danger arises danger arises how we ought to react to those who have how we ought to react to those who have been in that position and also to any been in that position and also to any examples of this kind of thing that examples of this kind of thing that might arise in our experience when those might arise in our experience when those around us have their marriages broken around us have their marriages broken and start fresh marriages again and start fresh marriages again so i have to talk about marriage and so i have to talk about marriage and divorce now first of all i'd like to take a clear understanding of what the old clear understanding of what the old testament has to say about testament has to say about the practical possibilities of such a the practical possibilities of such a thing thing we have to define some of our terms we have to define some of our terms rather carefully to do this and we start rather carefully to do this and we start off with the meaning of the word off with the meaning of the word adultery the seventh commandment says thou shalt not commit adultery the practice of the law of moses was that those who did and were caught that those who did and were caught should be put to death by stoning should be put to death by stoning man and woman alike man and woman alike and the meaning of the word in old and the meaning of the word in old testament times was really quite simple testament times was really quite simple it was that if you take a married woman it was that if you take a married woman or a woman who is betrothed to be or a woman who is betrothed to be married married and any other than her husband or her and any other than her husband or her intended husband intended husband engages in intimacy with her that's engages in intimacy with her that's adultery adultery in other words in old testament language in other words in old testament language a married or a woman intending to become a married or a woman intending to become married married woman are essential for adultery to have woman are essential for adultery to have been committed been committed the reason for that is that the law did the reason for that is that the law did not forbid men to have more than one not forbid men to have more than one wife wife and consequently if a married and consequently if a married man chose to step outside the bonds of man chose to step outside the bonds of his marriage his marriage and engage in intimacy with another and engage in intimacy with another woman then provided that woman was not woman then provided that woman was not herself married or engaged herself married or engaged although he shouldn't have done what he although he shouldn't have done what he did did he could put the situation right by he could put the situation right by marrying the girl with whom he had marrying the girl with whom he had associated associated or again if he had a desire to become or again if he had a desire to become linked with some woman other than his linked with some woman other than his existing wife he could take another existing wife he could take another so it wasn't necessary under old so it wasn't necessary under old testament conditions to divorce a wife testament conditions to divorce a wife in order to take another wife god very clearly regarded that as being very much of a second best in people's very much of a second best in people's lives lives the idea of people multiplying wives to the idea of people multiplying wives to themselves was not in accordance with themselves was not in accordance with what god wanted people to do as we shall what god wanted people to do as we shall see but it was done and it could see but it was done and it could lawfully be done lawfully be done as we know in the case of abraham as we know in the case of abraham whose wife was sarah whose wife was sarah but whose associate from whom ishmael but whose associate from whom ishmael was born with hagar was born with hagar as we know about jacob with his two as we know about jacob with his two wives and his two concubines wives and his two concubines leah and rachel leah and rachel and the two concubines when we come to new testament times the situation is different situation is different for their for their though how is it come about we don't though how is it come about we don't really know really know it seems quite clear that the standard it seems quite clear that the standard of respectability had changed of respectability had changed and even though it might for anything i and even though it might for anything i know still had been possible in certain know still had been possible in certain surroundings to have more than one wife surroundings to have more than one wife lawfully lawfully and the jew could certainly do so when and the jew could certainly do so when the lord moses allowed it the lord moses allowed it the practice seemed to have died out the practice seemed to have died out men might no doubt misbehave in all the men might no doubt misbehave in all the ways they always have misbehaved and so ways they always have misbehaved and so might women might women but in actual marriage they seem to have but in actual marriage they seem to have accepted that you took only one person accepted that you took only one person whom you call the wife so when we shall come in a moment to the question as to whether divorce and question as to whether divorce and remarriage are allowable remarriage are allowable and when the rulers ask the lord jesus and when the rulers ask the lord jesus the question is it lawful for a man to the question is it lawful for a man to put away his wife and marry another they put away his wife and marry another they are taking for granted that you need to are taking for granted that you need to put away your wife in order to marry put away your wife in order to marry another another in other words they are practically in other words they are practically assuming assuming that the standard of respectability is that the standard of respectability is that you have only one wife at a time the situation is changed in another way in the new testament too and that is in the new testament too and that is that whereas the law of moses never says that whereas the law of moses never says anything anything about a woman's about a woman's availability of availability of of access to divorce if she wishes to of access to divorce if she wishes to get rid of her husband and marry another get rid of her husband and marry another that situation is mentioned in the new that situation is mentioned in the new testament so there has there isn't testament so there has there isn't another practice that can happen namely another practice that can happen namely a wife can in principle whether she a wife can in principle whether she should do it on another matter should do it on another matter be separated from her existing husband be separated from her existing husband and married to another one and married to another one so bear in mind that distinction that in so bear in mind that distinction that in the old testament adultery had to the old testament adultery had to involve a married or betrothed woman involve a married or betrothed woman whereas in the new testament could be whereas in the new testament could be either way around a married man might be either way around a married man might be guilty of adultery by association guilty of adultery by association outside his marriage outside his marriage and so of course as in the old testament and so of course as in the old testament could a married woman now when the old testament talks about divorce it very rarely does so divorce it very rarely does so there's really only one authenticated there's really only one authenticated case of this which we will turn to to case of this which we will turn to to leave it as quickly as we can so that we leave it as quickly as we can so that we do know the facts are there so do know the facts are there so deuteronomy please chapter 24. deuteronomy please chapter 24. [Music] when a man has taken a wife and married her and it comes about that she found no her and it comes about that she found no favor in his eyes because he has found favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her some uncleanness in her then let him write her a bill of then let him write her a bill of divorcement divorcement and give it in her hand and send her out and give it in her hand and send her out of his house of his house and when she is departed out of his and when she is departed out of his house she may go and be another man's house she may go and be another man's wife wife and if the latter has been hate her and and if the latter has been hate her and write her a bill of divorcement and give write her a bill of divorcement and give it in her hand and send us out of his it in her hand and send us out of his house house or if the latter husband died which took or if the latter husband died which took it away his wife it away his wife her former husband which sent her away her former husband which sent her away may not take her again to be his wife may not take her again to be his wife after that she is defiled after that she is defiled for that is abomination before the lord for that is abomination before the lord and thou shalt not cause the land to sin and thou shalt not cause the land to sin which the lord thy god giveth the which the lord thy god giveth the foreign inheritance now i'm not going to dwell upon that passage very largely because one is not passage very largely because one is not at all sure what the first verse means at all sure what the first verse means it seems that a man marries a wife and it seems that a man marries a wife and he may find something about her which he he may find something about her which he deems to be here a thing of uncleanness deems to be here a thing of uncleanness the hebrew calls it a matter of the hebrew calls it a matter of nakedness nakedness there was a big dispute in the days of there was a big dispute in the days of the lord jesus christ of what was meant the lord jesus christ of what was meant here here the more severe of the pharisees thought the more severe of the pharisees thought it meant finds that she has committed it meant finds that she has committed adultery adultery but it's hard to see that that could be but it's hard to see that that could be so because if that was so unprovable so because if that was so unprovable then she could be put to death for it then she could be put to death for it and no divorce would be needed and no divorce would be needed it's possible that there might be other it's possible that there might be other things which i'm not going to enter into things which i'm not going to enter into of which you might have found of which you might have found uncongenial in a marriage which would uncongenial in a marriage which would allow him to dismiss her as a wife allow him to dismiss her as a wife but would not involve guilt on her part but would not involve guilt on her part one can think of things that might imply one can think of things that might imply that but we won't need to that but we won't need to in which case he sends it away without a in which case he sends it away without a stain on her character stain on her character he can legitimately cease to regard his he can legitimately cease to regard his wife but she is not guilty in the eyes wife but she is not guilty in the eyes of the law of anything that could be of the law of anything that could be punished so she can be married again if punished so she can be married again if she wants to she wants to and the only provision which the law and the only provision which the law makes about this is that what she can't makes about this is that what she can't do is be dismissed by a second husband do is be dismissed by a second husband and then go back to her first and then go back to her first and you can see the reasons for that and you can see the reasons for that because if a man decides this woman is because if a man decides this woman is not suitable to be my wife not suitable to be my wife then she doesn't become any more then she doesn't become any more suitable by going back to him again suitable by going back to him again afterwards the reasons he alleged the afterwards the reasons he alleged the first time must still be the reasons first time must still be the reasons which he used to dismiss her and so he which he used to dismiss her and so he can't go back upon them and say oh well can't go back upon them and say oh well it wasn't true after all it wasn't true after all because if you do that you're just because if you do that you're just simply creating confusion you're giving simply creating confusion you're giving people to lift the liberty to lift fast people to lift the liberty to lift fast and loose just as they want to and and loose just as they want to and anything could go wrong in a land like anything could go wrong in a land like that so you can see how the law had to that so you can see how the law had to provide that if there was such a thing provide that if there was such a thing as divorce at all it couldn't in those as divorce at all it couldn't in those circumstances be reversed and go back to circumstances be reversed and go back to its old situation when you have already its old situation when you have already said that woman is not fitted in my wife said that woman is not fitted in my wife now with that background let's let's now now with that background let's let's now go and see what the new testament has to go and see what the new testament has to say say i want to take i want to take some five passages one by one some five passages one by one i won't comment very much about the i won't comment very much about the first two or three of them but then first two or three of them but then we'll come to the detailed ones and we'll come to the detailed ones and regard them in greater detail in this chapter between two parables the problem of the unjust steward and the problem of the unjust steward and the parable of the rich man and lazarus the parable of the rich man and lazarus the lord introduces these words and i the lord introduces these words and i think we can read these round trees so think we can read these round trees so can we read luke 16 can we read luke 16 from verse 14 through verse 18 from verse 14 through verse 18 and if you can start in this comment we and if you can start in this comment we can mention they [Music] yourself don't man your god yourself don't man your god expressed your heart expressed your heart to that which is highly sustained among to that which is highly sustained among men with the combination and the fire of men with the combination and the fire of god god along the prophet's words have gone along the prophet's words have gone since that time to know god has preached since that time to know god has preached every man's flesh into every man's flesh into [Music] [Music] its wife thank you just because of one word that was read there if i can get as far as was read there if i can get as far as the blackboard i can find a piece of the blackboard i can find a piece of chalk yes i can chalk yes i can i just uh introduce you to one little i just uh introduce you to one little fact about the words here that you might fact about the words here that you might like to know like to know did you notice the word title appear in did you notice the word title appear in that chapter and it was read as title that chapter and it was read as title uh where's the verse now uh it will be verse 17 it is easier for heaven and earth to 17 it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than for one tittle of the law to pass than for one tittle of the law to fail fail now now the the hebrew language was the language in hebrew language was the language in which the law was written which the law was written there are some words which are quite there are some words which are quite hard to tell from each on letters it's hard to tell from each on letters it's quite hard to tell from each other for quite hard to tell from each other for example that letter example that letter is the letter r and they call it rash is the letter r and they call it rash that letter that letter is the letter dalet is the letter dalet the d the d and the only really distinguished and the only really distinguished especially if you write this one around especially if you write this one around the square by that little bit stuck on the square by that little bit stuck on the end of the dalet the end of the dalet that's a tittle that's a tittle again for example the letter again for example the letter faith faith is like that is like that not doesn't really have that topic not doesn't really have that topic projecting projects more like this way projecting projects more like this way it has the kind of it has the kind of sound we would write it as ch sound we would write it as ch you stick a little tail on the end a bit you stick a little tail on the end a bit like that it becomes teeth these are like that it becomes teeth these are inside the ox depending which way you're inside the ox depending which way you're using it using it and that is a title and that is a title so in the hebrew it's the little bit you so in the hebrew it's the little bit you stick on the end of a letter to make it stick on the end of a letter to make it into another letter into another letter and the lord is saying the law is so and the lord is saying the law is so sacrosanct before god it must be trifled sacrosanct before god it must be trifled with that not the tiniest little bit with that not the tiniest little bit will go wrong and it's a little title will go wrong and it's a little title he's speaking about he's speaking about when in matthew chapter 5 the lord is when in matthew chapter 5 the lord is saying similar things he says not one saying similar things he says not one jot nor one tittle two words there shall jot nor one tittle two words there shall pass away from the law till all be pass away from the law till all be fulfilled fulfilled now again now again speaking of the hebrew language nearly speaking of the hebrew language nearly all the letters are that kind of size in all the letters are that kind of size in relation to each other one or two of relation to each other one or two of them like allah project a bit of love them like allah project a bit of love and another one like a final salah and another one like a final salah predicts a bit below but broadly predicts a bit below but broadly speaking they're all that kind of size speaking they're all that kind of size except for the little one except for the little one which which is just like that in relation to the is just like that in relation to the other high up on the line and extending other high up on the line and extending no more than half the way down it's a no more than half the way down it's a very small letter and its name is yov or very small letter and its name is yov or in english jot in english jot and so and so even that little bit won't be lost so he even that little bit won't be lost so he takes the tiniest letter in the tiny takes the tiniest letter in the tiny split of the letter and says those are split of the letter and says those are the things you must take notice of the things you must take notice of in the greek language that yo this is in the greek language that yo this is replaced by the tiniest of the greek replaced by the tiniest of the greek letters which is the iota like that and letters which is the iota like that and that too is very small in relation to that too is very small in relation to other letters for example you put its other letters for example you put its nearest neighbor theta by its side and nearest neighbor theta by its side and you can see how big it is you can see how big it is so what the lord is saying is that the so what the lord is saying is that the law is so important that we mustn't law is so important that we mustn't trapped with the smallest part of it so trapped with the smallest part of it so it's one jot or one tittle that we're it's one jot or one tittle that we're talking about talking about right now going back to this these two right now going back to this these two verses verses in that context this is what has been in that context this is what has been happening happening the lord has described their fallacies the lord has described their fallacies and the rules of the jews in terms of a and the rules of the jews in terms of a steward who is having control over his steward who is having control over his master's goods and he ought to be master's goods and he ought to be faithful to his master and he hasn't faithful to his master and he hasn't been so he's being dismissed from his been so he's being dismissed from his office office and his television reforming when he's and his television reforming when he's being dismissed he makes things worse by being dismissed he makes things worse by uh interfering with the accounts and uh interfering with the accounts and trying to get his creditors to treat him trying to get his creditors to treat him kindly and the lord says that's what you kindly and the lord says that's what you are you're unjust stewards you're not are you're unjust stewards you're not looking after that which has been given looking after that which has been given to you in particular you're not taking to you in particular you're not taking care of the commandments of god and in care of the commandments of god and in one particular case you've turned it one particular case you've turned it inside out and that's why he repeats in inside out and that's why he repeats in verse 18. verse 18. whosoever puts the way his wife and whosoever puts the way his wife and marryeth another committed adultery marryeth another committed adultery and he that marrieth her that is put and he that marrieth her that is put away from her husband committed adultery away from her husband committed adultery you have trifled with the law and made you have trifled with the law and made it easier for people to put away their it easier for people to put away their wives and to be married away again or wives and to be married away again or for the wife having been put away to for the wife having been put away to marry again you are playing ducks and marry again you are playing ducks and drakes with the law of god and that is drakes with the law of god and that is unfaithful stewardship unfaithful stewardship so you can see how severely he regards so you can see how severely he regards the strict letter of the law about the strict letter of the law about marriage and divorce marriage and divorce we'll come back to the details of that we'll come back to the details of that in a moment in a moment just very briefly turn to romans chapter just very briefly turn to romans chapter seven there's a passage like this in romans and there's one in first corinthians as and there's one in first corinthians as well but i'll pass it by just to show well but i'll pass it by just to show that it's there and then we'll go on to that it's there and then we'll go on to other matters romans chapter seven can we go on reading the first three can we go on reading the first three verses please seven verses one through verses please seven verses one through three thank you and although the apostle is using those words to illustrate using those words to illustrate something quite different from actual something quite different from actual marriage and divorce he is making it marriage and divorce he is making it very plain from the clear provisions of very plain from the clear provisions of the law that a woman who is married has the law that a woman who is married has no recourse under the law to becoming no recourse under the law to becoming separated from her husband the only separated from her husband the only conditions under which she can conditions under which she can legitimately be married again are if her legitimately be married again are if her first husband dies first husband dies right now having got those two we'll go right now having got those two we'll go to the really important ones i think to the really important ones i think we'll begin by quoting we'll begin by quoting matthew chapter 5. i'd like us to start reading at verse 27 and read on through verse 32. you is to instead whosoever shall put away his wife whosoever shall put away his wife let him give her yes thank you now i'm going to leave out those words saving for the cause of those words saving for the cause of fornication for the time being i may fornication for the time being i may come back to them later come back to them later and i want to take together and i want to take together what we had in verses 27 and 8 about the what we had in verses 27 and 8 about the last commandment that i shall not commit last commandment that i shall not commit adultery and what we have in verses 31 adultery and what we have in verses 31 and 32 about whether or not one has the and 32 about whether or not one has the right to divorce one's wife and to right to divorce one's wife and to remarry a divorced wife remarry a divorced wife between the two there's a very important between the two there's a very important verse that you'll understand in a minute verse that you'll understand in a minute first of all the lord takes that which first of all the lord takes that which is quite unmistakable he says the law of is quite unmistakable he says the law of moses says you must not commit adultery moses says you must not commit adultery we now know what that means in both old we now know what that means in both old testament and new testament terms testament and new testament terms then the lord goes on to say but i say then the lord goes on to say but i say something different something different i say whosoever look upon a woman to i say whosoever look upon a woman to lust out to her hath committed adultery lust out to her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart with her already in his heart now in a way it's not different now in a way it's not different because he isn't in any way reducing because he isn't in any way reducing what the law says about committing what the law says about committing adultery he is saying there are more adultery he is saying there are more ways than one of doing it ways than one of doing it there's the practical unfaithfulness there's the practical unfaithfulness which takes a woman who is not your wife which takes a woman who is not your wife and engages in intimacy with her and engages in intimacy with her there's the mental way of doing it which there's the mental way of doing it which sees that the desired object sees that the desired object and inside wants to commit the forbidden and inside wants to commit the forbidden act act but doesn't actually do so but doesn't actually do so in other words i think what the lord is in other words i think what the lord is condemning here is that if you're condemning here is that if you're passing your eye upon somebody to whom passing your eye upon somebody to whom you have no right of access you have no right of access and you say i would take that woman if i and you say i would take that woman if i could could or i would take that woman if i dared or i would take that woman if i dared then you have as good as committed then you have as good as committed adultery i should say as bad as adultery i should say as bad as committed adultery in his eyes committed adultery in his eyes this is the big difference between the this is the big difference between the teaching of the lord jesus christ in teaching of the lord jesus christ in practice and the teaching of the old practice and the teaching of the old testament testament even when they both say the same thing even when they both say the same thing as they quite often do in principle as they quite often do in principle the law was a law for a people living in the law was a law for a people living in a country and it had to be a country and it had to be capable of being discovered by policemen capable of being discovered by policemen and judged by magistrates and executed and judged by magistrates and executed by those who punished people you had to by those who punished people you had to see the thing see the thing before you could say that it happened before you could say that it happened so adultery to the eyes of the policeman so adultery to the eyes of the policeman is when you see adultery is when you see adultery and the punishment is because it has and the punishment is because it has happened or the attempt has been made to happened or the attempt has been made to cause it to happen and then the cause it to happen and then the punishment is carried out it's all punishment is carried out it's all outside because the law can't punish outside because the law can't punish inside it doesn't know what your inside it doesn't know what your thoughts are doing thoughts are doing but god does but god does and the lord jesus christ says and don't and the lord jesus christ says and don't suppose that you are any better in god's suppose that you are any better in god's sight if you merely think something sight if you merely think something and would do it if you could and would do it if you could that if you actually did that if you actually did the guilt is there in both cases the guilt is there in both cases so don't take refuge in not actually so don't take refuge in not actually committing the forbidden act the lord committing the forbidden act the lord says to us it connects with all kinds of says to us it connects with all kinds of things about adultery about hating one's things about adultery about hating one's brother about committing theft all kinds brother about committing theft all kinds of things like that the lord says if you of things like that the lord says if you think it and you do it if you're dead think it and you do it if you're dead then you've done it in god's eyes then you've done it in god's eyes that's why for example taking up some of that's why for example taking up some of the lord's words here the apostle john the lord's words here the apostle john can write in his first letter whosoever can write in his first letter whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer hateth his brother is a murderer because he hasn't killed anybody because he hasn't killed anybody but if you take the cane and naval kind but if you take the cane and naval kind of story you have to hate before you of story you have to hate before you kill kill if kane didn't have to have a weapon if kane didn't have to have a weapon handy or if he'd struck the blind missed handy or if he'd struck the blind missed or if it proved not fatal he was still or if it proved not fatal he was still in his own mind had been a murderer and in his own mind had been a murderer and in god's eyes too even though no death in god's eyes too even though no death had followed had followed so that's what the lord's saying about so that's what the lord's saying about adultery the fixed desire to do it is as adultery the fixed desire to do it is as bad as the thing itself bad as the thing itself and that's why he goes on to say as he and that's why he goes on to say as he does in verses 29 and 30 does in verses 29 and 30 if thy right i offend thee pluck it out if thy right i offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee for it is and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell whole body should be cast into hell and if thy right hand offend thee cut it and if thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee for it is off and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell by the way the word hell there is the greek word gena greek word gena which is putting into greek letters the which is putting into greek letters the hebrew word gehenna hebrew word gehenna which means the valley of hinnom just which means the valley of hinnom just outside jerusalem and that was the place outside jerusalem and that was the place where they always had fires burning to where they always had fires burning to destroy rubbish and trash and sometimes destroy rubbish and trash and sometimes the bodies of criminals the bodies of criminals so the lord is saying it's better for so the lord is saying it's better for you to do something that he's talking you to do something that he's talking about here than to run the risk of being about here than to run the risk of being discarded as trash and burnt up discarded as trash and burnt up and he might even mean before the and he might even mean before the judgment judgments even he says that judgment judgments even he says that so why did he say if your right eye so why did he say if your right eye offend you pluck it out offend you pluck it out why does he say it at all why does he say it at all why does he say it here why does he say it here and why do you say it's our right hand and why do you say it's our right hand of him because he die of him because he die again why did he say it at all again why did he say it at all and why does he say it here and why does he say it here and the answer must be this and the answer must be this the first thing that happens before the first thing that happens before anybody commits adultery is that he anybody commits adultery is that he sees the object that he wants to sees the object that he wants to and that becomes such an obsession with and that becomes such an obsession with him him that the thought act is done all the that the thought act is done all the real acts is done so the lord says if real acts is done so the lord says if you find yourself looking in that way you find yourself looking in that way then trick your eyes out then trick your eyes out which is why we say don't look that way which is why we say don't look that way anymore anymore take away the temptation from yourself take away the temptation from yourself so that you won't be guilty of the so that you won't be guilty of the actual act it's better to do that and actual act it's better to do that and lose the thing you are desiring so much lose the thing you are desiring so much than to run the guilt of the danger of than to run the guilt of the danger of incurring guilt before god's judgment incurring guilt before god's judgment seat seat and again if your right hand stretches and again if your right hand stretches yourself out to take something that yourself out to take something that doesn't belong to it doesn't belong to it or to grasp someone it shouldn't be or to grasp someone it shouldn't be grasping grasping then then flick away your hand from the scene flick away your hand from the scene mentally do i cut it off take away the mentally do i cut it off take away the thing you desire to do so that you won't thing you desire to do so that you won't have the desire festering within you have the desire festering within you it's better to do that and lose the it's better to do that and lose the thing you want to have thing you want to have than to lose your life before the than to lose your life before the judgment seat of god judgment seat of god so you can see how that is linked with so you can see how that is linked with the business of not committing and not the business of not committing and not wanting to commit adultery wanting to commit adultery the lord says when you feel that kind of the lord says when you feel that kind of temptation coming over you temptation coming over you look the other way look the other way and tie your hand to your side right ravik said that he goes on to the words about divorce in verses 31 and 32. words about divorce in verses 31 and 32. i'll just read them again to remind us i'll just read them again to remind us of the picture of the picture it has been said whosoever shall put it has been said whosoever shall put away his wife let him give her a writing away his wife let him give her a writing of divorcement but i say unto you that of divorcement but i say unto you that whosoever shall put away his wife saving whosoever shall put away his wife saving for the cause of fornication authenticum for the cause of fornication authenticum is adultery and who will say what so we is adultery and who will say what so we shall marry her that is divorced shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery committeth adultery so he's saying so he's saying that that he is not accepting that provision which he is not accepting that provision which was given under the law of moses as was given under the law of moses as being the right thing being the right thing for a believing person to do he ought for a believing person to do he ought not he says to put away his wife not he says to put away his wife and if he does and if he does so that that wife can marry somebody so that that wife can marry somebody else and he's making her an adulteress else and he's making her an adulteress and her new partner an adulterer and her new partner an adulterer and the context is like this and the context is like this you must not commit adultery you must not commit adultery verse 27 verse 27 you must not want to verse 28 you must not want to verse 28 and you must not seek a legal excuse for and you must not seek a legal excuse for doing the same thing without it doing the same thing without it appearing to be so appearing to be so verses 31 and 32. verses 31 and 32. so so he command condemns the act as the law he command condemns the act as the law does he condemns the desire as the lord does he condemns the desire as the lord doesn't say and he condemns the doesn't say and he condemns the expedient of getting what you want expedient of getting what you want without it looking like adultery without it looking like adultery which is what he is saying in those which is what he is saying in those verses so he's talking very much about verses so he's talking very much about motive in what he says that will be motive in what he says that will be important to us later important to us later so as far as these words have gone the so as far as these words have gone the lord seems to be setting a very high lord seems to be setting a very high standard indeed and saying marriage is standard indeed and saying marriage is ought never to be dissolved ought never to be dissolved with that in view let's turn to perhaps with that in view let's turn to perhaps our next easiest passage if any of these our next easiest passage if any of these are easy and that's mark chapter 10. can we read in mark chapter 10 the first 12 verses please the first 12 verses please starting where we left off starting where we left off i think it's over in that corner isn't i think it's over in that corner isn't it [Music] but from the beginning of the creation but from the beginning of the creation god made them male and female would i get this scholar i think knowing thanks [Music] what therefore god is going together what therefore god is going together [Music] thank you now verse 12 of that reading introduces that matter which i'd introduces that matter which i'd mentioned before something that could be mentioned before something that could be thought of in new testament times and thought of in new testament times and couldn't have been thought of in old couldn't have been thought of in old testament conditions namely that a woman testament conditions namely that a woman might take the initiative in bringing might take the initiative in bringing about a divorce but the law says if she about a divorce but the law says if she does so and then becomes somebody else's does so and then becomes somebody else's wife she herself is guilty of adultery wife she herself is guilty of adultery in doing so in doing so so he deals with both cases there the so he deals with both cases there the man who puts away his wife and the woman man who puts away his wife and the woman who puts away her husband if you add who puts away her husband if you add together all the new testament passages together all the new testament passages then i think every possible case is then i think every possible case is dealt with in one way or another dealt with in one way or another now the now the cause of this questioning is the cause of this questioning is the question asked by the pharisees in verse question asked by the pharisees in verse two two is it lawful for a man to put away his is it lawful for a man to put away his wife wife tempting him tempting him if we read the matthew record which we if we read the matthew record which we shortly will it says is it lawful to put shortly will it says is it lawful to put away his wife for every cause away his wife for every cause now the reason for all that controversy now the reason for all that controversy was this was this the policies were divided into two camps the policies were divided into two camps there was that which followed the leader there was that which followed the leader shamai and was strict as pharisees go shamai and was strict as pharisees go there's that which follows the leader there's that which follows the leader hillel and he was lacked and easy-going hillel and he was lacked and easy-going as pharisees go as pharisees go and never was hillel more easy going and never was hillel more easy going than in the master of marriage than in the master of marriage shall i would have said the only reason shall i would have said the only reason why a man can put away his wife is if why a man can put away his wife is if she has unfaithful to him she has unfaithful to him that wasn't what the law said of course that wasn't what the law said of course the law would have had her killed for it the law would have had her killed for it but shana said that's the only reason but shana said that's the only reason that is allowable and that was how he that is allowable and that was how he interpreted the words that we read in interpreted the words that we read in deuteronomy 24. deuteronomy 24. now hillel says this thing of now hillel says this thing of uncleanness about a wife that might lead uncleanness about a wife that might lead a man to put it away can be all kinds of a man to put it away can be all kinds of things things including the fact she's not a very good including the fact she's not a very good cook cook if he isn't a very good cook then he can if he isn't a very good cook then he can dismiss him and marry a better cook dismiss him and marry a better cook uh hoping i suppose the second one would uh hoping i suppose the second one would be better unless he's assembled a be better unless he's assembled a cooking beforehand cooking beforehand if he sees uh somebody who looks if he sees uh somebody who looks prettier than his wife then his own prettier than his wife then his own first wife is relatively unclean so he first wife is relatively unclean so he can get rid of her that way and marry can get rid of her that way and marry another and in fact the floodgates to another and in fact the floodgates to divorce for any cause whatsoever were divorce for any cause whatsoever were pretty well being opened up by the pretty well being opened up by the disciples of the school of hillel so disciples of the school of hillel so when the pharisees came and said is it when the pharisees came and said is it lawful for a man to put away his wife lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause then they were for every cause then they were apparently asking him to judge between apparently asking him to judge between the relative strictness of shamai and the relative strictness of shamai and the easy-going the easy-going laxity of hillary laxity of hillary so that's the background against which so that's the background against which the question is asked the question is asked they both no doubt have in mind they both no doubt have in mind that clause in deuteronomy 24 which did allow clause in deuteronomy 24 which did allow for a writing of divorcement because for a writing of divorcement because they say so verse 4 when jesus asked they say so verse 4 when jesus asked them them jesus said what did moses command you jesus said what did moses command you and they said moses suffered to write a and they said moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement and to put her away bill of divorcement and to put her away and they were very wise in saying and they were very wise in saying suffered because moses hadn't commanded suffered because moses hadn't commanded it he just allowed it it he just allowed it for the hardness of their heart they for the hardness of their heart they could do it if they were determined to could do it if they were determined to do it but that was not the thing that do it but that was not the thing that god really wanted them to do god really wanted them to do never then he went on to say in verse 5 never then he went on to say in verse 5 because of the hardness of your heart because of the hardness of your heart moses wrote you this precept moses wrote you this precept but from the beginning of the creation but from the beginning of the creation god made them male and female for this god made them male and female for this cause shall a man leave his father and cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and cleave to his wife and his mother and cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh so then they twain shall be one flesh so then they are no more twain but one flesh they are no more twain but one flesh what therefore god hath joined together what therefore god hath joined together let not man put asunder let not man put asunder and the teaching of the lord could and the teaching of the lord could hardly be clearer than this could it hardly be clearer than this could it he says although there was a provision he says although there was a provision in the law of moses when in one special in the law of moses when in one special set of circumstances they might then set of circumstances they might then divorce their wives that was not the way divorce their wives that was not the way god wanted it god wanted it that was the way god provided for the that was the way god provided for the determination of hard-hearted people determination of hard-hearted people and you ought not to be hard-hearted and you ought not to be hard-hearted people you are not to want to do a thing people you are not to want to do a thing like that you should take your like that you should take your instructions he says from the garden of instructions he says from the garden of eden eden and to the original creation story and to the original creation story and he says then and he says then god hath made them male and female verse god hath made them male and female verse six six and for this course shall a man leave and for this course shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his his father and mother and cleave to his wife verse seven and he is quoting from wife verse seven and he is quoting from genesis chapter one and from genesis genesis chapter one and from genesis chapter two chapter two four chapter one said so god created man four chapter one said so god created man in his image in his image in the image of god created he him male in the image of god created he him male and female created he them and female created he them and in chapter two where adam saw his and in chapter two where adam saw his wife and said this is now bone of my wife and said this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh the record bones and flesh of my flesh the record goes on to say therefore shall a man goes on to say therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother until leave his father and his mother until cleveland to his wife and they too shall cleveland to his wife and they too shall be one flesh in those second set of words incidentally you'll find the real basis incidentally you'll find the real basis for believing that god not only did not for believing that god not only did not want people to break up their marriages want people to break up their marriages but didn't want people to marry more but didn't want people to marry more than one wife than one wife for they too shall be one flesh as the for they too shall be one flesh as the lord quotes it speaks of two and not lord quotes it speaks of two and not three or four or more three or four or more so that the ideal of the beginning was so that the ideal of the beginning was that marriage should go on for life and that marriage should go on for life and that marriage should be between one and that marriage should be between one and one one man and one wife that was how one one man and one wife that was how god wanted it to be so then the answer of the lord jesus christ to this mixed body of disciples christ to this mixed body of disciples of hillel and shammai some of whom of hillel and shammai some of whom wanted an easy answer and some of whom wanted an easy answer and some of whom wanted a stern and so it was you're both wanted a stern and so it was you're both wrong wrong god doesn't want marriage and divorce to god doesn't want marriage and divorce to take doesn't want divorce and re-manage take doesn't want divorce and re-manage to take place at all he wants married to take place at all he wants married partners to stay together for the rest partners to stay together for the rest of their common lives of their common lives so that's quite clear and plain isn't it so that's quite clear and plain isn't it and no exceptions are provided for and no exceptions are provided for everything in mark says that the everything in mark says that the straight line is don't divorce and don't straight line is don't divorce and don't be married be married right now we'll take matthew 19. we won't need to read the whole of this because we've got most of it in the mark because we've got most of it in the mark record but where we noticed first of all record but where we noticed first of all that that that that clause that caused us a little clause that caused us a little difficulty in matthew 5 and we left it difficulty in matthew 5 and we left it out for the time being is back again in out for the time being is back again in matthew 19 verse 9. matthew 19 verse 9. whosoever shall put away his wife except whosoever shall put away his wife except for fornication and shall marry another for fornication and shall marry another committed adultery committed adultery and who so married her which is put away and who so married her which is put away does commit adultery does commit adultery apart from that the main teaching of apart from that the main teaching of this chapter is the same as that of the this chapter is the same as that of the other one there's only that what might other one there's only that what might be slight or it might be big difference be slight or it might be big difference to take note of to take note of however there is an important addition however there is an important addition and we find that in verses 10 and we find that in verses 10 to 12 and if we could read those three to 12 and if we could read those three verses round please i'll be grateful 10 verses round please i'll be grateful 10 through 12 of matthew 19. it is [Music] yes thank you now we did refer to this passage now we did refer to this passage yesterday in a different context i think yesterday in a different context i think it may have been the first day but his it may have been the first day but his setting here is this setting here is this they come to jesus and say under what they come to jesus and say under what conditions can we divorce our wives and conditions can we divorce our wives and remarry without guilt remarry without guilt the lord says unless we take that the lord says unless we take that exception into account under no exception into account under no condition should you do that condition should you do that then upon the disciples hearing what he then upon the disciples hearing what he says are apparently quite outraged by says are apparently quite outraged by the answers and they say if the case of the answers and they say if the case of a man be so with his wife it is not good a man be so with his wife it is not good to marry to marry now what they appear to be saying is now what they appear to be saying is this if you are telling me this if you are telling me that when i have married a woman i ought that when i have married a woman i ought to stick to her throughout our common to stick to her throughout our common lives no matter how she behaves i'd lives no matter how she behaves i'd rather stay bachelor rather stay bachelor that's what they seem to be saying isn't that's what they seem to be saying isn't it if the case of a man be so with his it if the case of a man be so with his wife it is not good to marry wife it is not good to marry and the lord doesn't in any way say that and the lord doesn't in any way say that he wasn't saying something like that he he wasn't saying something like that he goes on to say well some people are goes on to say well some people are willing to accept this willing to accept this some people faced in this very difficult some people faced in this very difficult condition are willing to put themselves condition are willing to put themselves in a position where they don't live a in a position where they don't live a married life after they've been betrayed married life after they've been betrayed in this way they're willing for the in this way they're willing for the kingdom of heaven's sake to treat kingdom of heaven's sake to treat themselves as being single people from themselves as being single people from that time onward that time onward but he also says but he also says it isn't easy to accept that it isn't easy to accept that some can and some can't some can and some can't not all men can receive this saying not all men can receive this saying he that is able to receive it let him he that is able to receive it let him receive it now the reason why i quote those words of the lord jesus christ about of the lord jesus christ about the disciples outrage when the lord lays the disciples outrage when the lord lays down his down his ideals ideals is that i think it disposes of one way is that i think it disposes of one way out that so many people do think of out that so many people do think of at this point bring in that so-called at this point bring in that so-called accepted clause and what i have to say accepted clause and what i have to say from now on is that i'm going to tell from now on is that i'm going to tell you what i think about that you what i think about that not every crystaldelphian thinks the not every crystaldelphian thinks the same same and in charity one has to admit that and in charity one has to admit that they might be right and i might be wrong they might be right and i might be wrong or i might be right and they might be or i might be right and they might be wrong or we might both be wrong wrong or we might both be wrong at all events there is a definite at all events there is a definite distinction of opinion as to what that distinction of opinion as to what that verse means verse means first of all i'm not trying to scrub the first of all i'm not trying to scrub the passage the passage is there and has to passage the passage is there and has to stay there stay there the lord does say in matthew 5 and he the lord does say in matthew 5 and he does repeat in matthew 19 does repeat in matthew 19 that a man who puts away his wife except that a man who puts away his wife except for the cause of fornication is guilty for the cause of fornication is guilty of and is likely to make her guilty of of and is likely to make her guilty of adultery adultery now the most usual understanding of that now the most usual understanding of that is that the lord is saying that there is is that the lord is saying that there is one ground on which you can one ground on which you can without guilt without guilt divorce your partner divorce your partner and that ground if we accept that is and that ground if we accept that is adultery adultery in other words if you find your wife is in other words if you find your wife is unfaithful unfaithful and it's usually read the other way and it's usually read the other way around as well she finds that her around as well she finds that her husband is unfaithful or the lord husband is unfaithful or the lord doesn't actually say that doesn't actually say that but let's assume that too but let's assume that too if you find that your partner is if you find that your partner is unfaithful then you may legitimately unfaithful then you may legitimately divorce yourself from that partner and divorce yourself from that partner and marry or be married again and you will marry or be married again and you will not be condemned for it not be condemned for it that's what the usual statement is that's what the usual statement is it has sometimes been expressed in this it has sometimes been expressed in this way i'm almost quoting something now way i'm almost quoting something now this crude and wicked act meaning this crude and wicked act meaning adultery adultery dissolves the marriage bond it no longer dissolves the marriage bond it no longer exists exists i could even give you the reference for i could even give you the reference for that but i won't that but i won't anyway that statement has been made anyway that statement has been made now let's assume for the moment now let's assume for the moment that that statement is right that that statement is right if it were right it would mean not just if it were right it would mean not just that adultery can be a reason for that adultery can be a reason for divorce divorce it would be that it doesn't it must be it would be that it doesn't it must be a ground you can't avoid the divorce a ground you can't avoid the divorce because if it dissolves the marriage because if it dissolves the marriage bomb no longer exists then you're no bomb no longer exists then you're no longer married and so longer married and so there you are the marriage is gone there you are the marriage is gone and the lord isn't saying that and the lord isn't saying that he doesn't make any commandments about he doesn't make any commandments about it he doesn't say you must put away a it he doesn't say you must put away a partner who is guilty of that act partner who is guilty of that act he only says if you do it for any other he only says if you do it for any other reason reason than the one he's thinking about then than the one he's thinking about then you're guilty of bringing an adulterous you're guilty of bringing an adulterous situation into existence situation into existence so that so that it isn't possible i think look at it it isn't possible i think look at it quite in that way quite in that way the lord is not saying it would be the lord is not saying it would be impossible to forgive an adulterous impossible to forgive an adulterous partner partner he's not saying he mustn't even try he's not saying he mustn't even try he's saying that whatever is the meaning he's saying that whatever is the meaning of this word fornication of this word fornication that's the only reason that can justify that's the only reason that can justify the breakdown of a marriage the breakdown of a marriage and starting again and starting again however let's assume that he is talking however let's assume that he is talking about adultery about adultery then if he were the lord would be saying then if he were the lord would be saying that if your partner is unfaithful you that if your partner is unfaithful you can put her can put her or him we say or him we say away and be married again and you have away and be married again and you have not broken the law of god or the law of not broken the law of god or the law of christ christ now if that is so why ever would the now if that is so why ever would the disciples have been so outraged and say disciples have been so outraged and say if the case of a man be so with his wife if the case of a man be so with his wife it is not good to marry it is not good to marry they went after all 20th century people they went after all 20th century people these disciples they were good these disciples they were good conservative first century people with a conservative first century people with a decent attitude towards life decent attitude towards life and if the lord had been saying to them and if the lord had been saying to them you mustn't put away your partner for you mustn't put away your partner for poor reasons but you can if she's poor reasons but you can if she's unfaithful unfaithful i think they would have said they've got i think they would have said they've got all that they wanted all that they wanted they would have regarded that as being they would have regarded that as being the way of escape from a bad situation the way of escape from a bad situation and they'd have been quite content but and they'd have been quite content but they weren't they weren't they said if the case of a man be so they said if the case of a man be so with his wife it is not good to marry with his wife it is not good to marry and if it is right that the lord is and if it is right that the lord is saying that one has the liberty to put saying that one has the liberty to put away one's partner if she or he is away one's partner if she or he is unfaithful i don't see what all the fuss unfaithful i don't see what all the fuss was about was about they would have thought i would have they would have thought i would have thought that they got reasonable liberty thought that they got reasonable liberty can you imagine a first century disciple can you imagine a first century disciple saying saying if i can't put away my wife for other if i can't put away my wife for other reasons that unfaithfulness i'd rather reasons that unfaithfulness i'd rather stay bachelor stay bachelor i can't i can't and so i don't think they could have and so i don't think they could have understood jesus words to mean that you understood jesus words to mean that you can can divorce for adultery and remarry divorce for adultery and remarry they must have had some other ideas to they must have had some other ideas to what he meant now the question is on which i don't want to take a lot of time what might it want to take a lot of time what might it have been now you notice the lord is using two words words one is fornication one is fornication and the other is adultery and the other is adultery now they're both concerned with sexual now they're both concerned with sexual sins and the fornication word is a much wider word than the word adultery word than the word adultery it can include any kind of sexual it can include any kind of sexual aberration aberration including homosexual ones but in this particular setting i think one has to say the lord wouldn't have one has to say the lord wouldn't have used two words if one would have been used two words if one would have been enough enough and if he had been talking about and if he had been talking about adultery about the wife he could have adultery about the wife he could have said so and it would have been perfectly said so and it would have been perfectly plain whosoever shall put away his wife plain whosoever shall put away his wife unless she commits adultery and marry unless she commits adultery and marry another then he makes a committed another then he makes a committed adultery oh he commits adultery himself adultery oh he commits adultery himself would have been quite plain and we would would have been quite plain and we would have been in no doubt and he doesn't do have been in no doubt and he doesn't do it and i suggest to you that there's good reason to think that when two words are reason to think that when two words are used in the same context they don't mean used in the same context they don't mean identical identical things when the lord says for example in things when the lord says for example in math mark chapter 7 for out of the heart math mark chapter 7 for out of the heart of man evil thoughts proceed fornication of man evil thoughts proceed fornication adultery and various other things he adultery and various other things he doesn't mean the same thing by those two doesn't mean the same thing by those two when the lesson of the hebrews says when the lesson of the hebrews says fornicators and adulterers god will fornicators and adulterers god will judge it doesn't mean the same thing by judge it doesn't mean the same thing by those two those two when galatians 5 reads the works of the when galatians 5 reads the works of the flesh are manifest which are these flesh are manifest which are these fornication adultery and a lot more fornication adultery and a lot more again it doesn't mean the same thing by again it doesn't mean the same thing by those two those two so whereas the former word used by so whereas the former word used by itself could include the whole lot itself could include the whole lot when they're used together would suggest when they're used together would suggest they might mean different things now a little story as to what nearly happened in new testament times nearly happened in new testament times a man was engaged to a woman and he a man was engaged to a woman and he thought he found she'd been unfaithful thought he found she'd been unfaithful because she was going to have a child because she was going to have a child and he didn't want to create a public and he didn't want to create a public first so he decided he will put it away first so he decided he will put it away privately now there it seems to be you have the kind of situation that the lord might kind of situation that the lord might have been talking about that if you are betrothed to a person who is who is legally bound to you already as she legally bound to you already as she would have been under the law of moses would have been under the law of moses and if you discover before you come and if you discover before you come together in marriage that she's been together in marriage that she's been unfaithful to her promise unfaithful to her promise then you may then you may renounce the idea of marrying her renounce the idea of marrying her and on the new testament terms that and on the new testament terms that could be called putting away your wife could be called putting away your wife and you know what i was talking about it and you know what i was talking about it was joseph and mary was joseph and mary because that joseph thought he found in because that joseph thought he found in mary mary and he was going to put her away and he was going to put her away privately privately and the words were of the angel to him and the words were of the angel to him joseph fear not to take unto thee mary joseph fear not to take unto thee mary thy wife thy wife so she'd although betrothed was called so she'd although betrothed was called his wife because she was bound to him his wife because she was bound to him now to me make very good sense if the now to me make very good sense if the lord is saying lord is saying if you are intending to marry a person if you are intending to marry a person and you find that she is not faithful to and you find that she is not faithful to her promise her promise then before it happens you may put it then before it happens you may put it away away but afterwards you shouldn't but afterwards you shouldn't now that's what i think about those now that's what i think about those words words in other words i'm about as severe as a in other words i'm about as severe as a man can be as to the meaning of the man can be as to the meaning of the words about marriage and divorce not words about marriage and divorce not quite so bad when you get to know me quite so bad when you get to know me better maybe tomorrow but better maybe tomorrow but at this point a very severe indeed at this point a very severe indeed that is that the lord is not making any that is that the lord is not making any concessions whatsoever concessions whatsoever to a couple already married to a couple already married i think he is saying you ought i think he is saying you ought if you want to fulfill the idea laid if you want to fulfill the idea laid down in genesis 1 and genesis 2 not even down in genesis 1 and genesis 2 not even to contemplate breaking up your marriage to contemplate breaking up your marriage it should last as long as the it should last as long as the life of the shorter lived of your lasts life of the shorter lived of your lasts and only then and only then is it proper in god's sight to remarry is it proper in god's sight to remarry he's not making any exceptions he's not making any exceptions to those already married to those already married he's not making life easy for anybody he's not making life easy for anybody he's laying down an ideal that simply he's laying down an ideal that simply doesn't compromise with anything doesn't compromise with anything i think another reason why i have for thinking this is this it isn't the lord's habit this is this it isn't the lord's habit to lower his standards for any reason to lower his standards for any reason whatsoever whatsoever he may be prepared to consider very he may be prepared to consider very sympathetically those who don't rise to sympathetically those who don't rise to it it that's why not quite so hard as you that's why not quite so hard as you might have thought might have thought but it does nevertheless make very plain but it does nevertheless make very plain what the ideal is what the ideal is and i find it very hard to imagine that and i find it very hard to imagine that the lord would take a marriage in which the lord would take a marriage in which for example for example an overbearing husband makes life so an overbearing husband makes life so impossible for his wife that she leaves impossible for his wife that she leaves it and falls into the arms of somebody it and falls into the arms of somebody else else where she is guilty of adultery but he's where she is guilty of adultery but he's guilty of things just as bad and guilty of things just as bad and concentrate only on defense of one of concentrate only on defense of one of them i can't see him doing that them i can't see him doing that it would seem to me the lord reads all it would seem to me the lord reads all our hearts and the hearts of the sinner our hearts and the hearts of the sinner who sins in public are no more worse in who sins in public are no more worse in his eyes than the heart of those who his eyes than the heart of those who behave badly and almost provoke the sin behave badly and almost provoke the sin so we ought all to recognize that in so we ought all to recognize that in married life when anything goes wrong it married life when anything goes wrong it may not be only the fault of the one may not be only the fault of the one who's public wrong is seen who's public wrong is seen it may also be the fault of the one it may also be the fault of the one who's private wrong is who's private wrong is driving the other person into whatever driving the other person into whatever offence he or she commits it by the way offence he or she commits it by the way it can happen not only with cockpit it can happen not only with cockpit wives it can happen with infect husbands wives it can happen with infect husbands so it can happen both ways around this so it can happen both ways around this so that should be born in mind too now the one thing i want to make before we the one thing i want to make before we resume this subject tomorrow resume this subject tomorrow is that in all the passages we have is that in all the passages we have quoted quoted either from the lord's lips or from the either from the lord's lips or from the pharisees pharisees the sequence is is it lawful for a man the sequence is is it lawful for a man to put away his wife and marry another to put away his wife and marry another or you say it is and you're breaking the or you say it is and you're breaking the law by doing so and that's always the law by doing so and that's always the connection putting away connection putting away and marrying and marrying now the lord has been very much now the lord has been very much concerned with motive in the matthew 5 concerned with motive in the matthew 5 record whosoever looketh on a woman to record whosoever looketh on a woman to lust lust and it seems to me that all these and it seems to me that all these passages are concerned with that kind of passages are concerned with that kind of situation situation in which in which a a being dissatisfied with his wife b once being dissatisfied with his wife b once woman c and so get rid of b woman c and so get rid of b the motive is there the motive is there when the divorce is entertained when the divorce is entertained and the remarriage was in mind and the remarriage was in mind at the time at the time so i think in all these passages the so i think in all these passages the lord is talking about what you want to lord is talking about what you want to do in order to get your own way with do in order to get your own way with some other person some other person and i think we need in our minds to and i think we need in our minds to distinguish very sharply between distinguish very sharply between what you do because you want something what you do because you want something else else cause and effect cause and effect and two things that might follow in and two things that might follow in history as for example without passing history as for example without passing judgment on it a case where judgment on it a case where a man having an unfaithful wife a man having an unfaithful wife is left alone to look after two children is left alone to look after two children and after some years meets another lady and after some years meets another lady and they get married and they get married where you simply cannot say that he's where you simply cannot say that he's marrying the second person marrying the second person was in mind when he was deserted by the was in mind when he was deserted by the first one first one where the motive in other words doesn't where the motive in other words doesn't exist exist at the time when the divorce takes place now tomorrow while saying a lot more about the idea while saying a lot more about the idea of the way in which we ought to look of the way in which we ought to look upon our own pending managers i'll cope upon our own pending managers i'll cope with that situation a little bit further with that situation a little bit further for the moment leaving a subject high in for the moment leaving a subject high in the air the air let's dwell upon that a little and then let's dwell upon that a little and then come back for what i hope will be a come back for what i hope will be a better termination when we resume the better termination when we resume the topic is to wear the prayer oh lord who knows our weaknesses and sees deep into our hearts and knows and sees deep into our hearts and knows how easily we could fall from thy grace how easily we could fall from thy grace and be guilty in thy sight and be guilty in thy sight watch over us and help us to put our watch over us and help us to put our ways before thee ways before thee and to say when evil beckons us lead us and to say when evil beckons us lead us not into temptation not into temptation but deliver us from evil but deliver us from evil and receivers in this prayer we ask he and receivers in this prayer we ask he through jesus christ our lord through jesus christ our lord amen