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Current mood:  peaceful Category: Religion and Philosophy
Then the little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
This part of Matthew's gospel comes straight after Jesus' teaching on divorce and is linked to it. In my job I regularly encounter young people and children who have been so messed-up by divorce that it is distressing. It is therefore no surprise to me that the juxtaposition has been made of intolerance for divorce and blessing for children.
Jesus taught that a man and a woman become one, having been two, and that God is the one who joins them. How else could children be made? How else could family happen? The kingdom of heaven belongs to children, and God's effective rule and reign within husband-wife relationships is part of that. Unity within marriage is a picture of God's will being done. Nothing hinders children discovering the truth of God's love like lack of love between parents. Parents are one flesh, and therefore it is easy to understand love by observation. Husbands are to love their wives as God loves the church, laying down their lives for them. If they do not observe love triumphing between parents, whom they can see, how will they discover the reality of love from God whom they can not see?
The disciples understood how hard it would be to be married men, and baulked at the prospect of it, but Jesus countered their irresponsible and immature attitude by telling them that there are people to whom this word has been given, and they can accept it. He affirmed, in other words, that it is possible. If you look closely enough at that affirmation, you will find a promise of grace. An elder in our church is fond of remembering something his boss used to say to him: "It's only a suggestion, but of course, you might care to remember who is suggesting it..." Well, this is no suggestion. It is clear and unambiguous assertion: some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it... Interestingly Jesus speaks of eunuchs here. He was thinking about fatherhood, not merely marriage.
Jesus also taught that anyone who divorces his wife except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery. Of course, to commit adultery is a bad thing, because it blocks joy. It blocks joy because it sets aside God's plan, idolatrously. It may look like a plausible solution to a difficult problem, but I have met too many damaged, stunted children to believe that it is ever a good idea, or one of which God ever approves. Families are families because God had an idea of what family should be. The church's job is always to support this. Our thing is to let the little children come to him, and not to let any lack of love or separation prevent them from discovering for themselves what it means to come to him. The same dumb disciples who whined about Jesus' teaching on marriage were instrumental in keeping kids away from Jesus. One thing follows the other.
A man may not think he has what it takes to be a husband for his wife. Good. He doesn't. But God does, and all things can be done through Christ who strengthens. That self-awareness can actually be the first step to repentance.
05:51
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