This text is used for the Lectionary Year B on October 4, 2015.

At first reading, we are presented with two very different texts. The first turns the preacher’s stomach in knots as she considers how to preach on divorce. This is not exactly the text that lands on the congregation’s top ten list of Gospel highlights. But then, who does not love Jesus embracing children? Now, what is the preacher to do? Should he pick one text over the other? Is there a way to faithfully preach these two texts in one sermon? Could it be that one text informs the interpretation of the other?

Mark 10:1 states that Jesus is moving southward. Just before, he was by the Sea of Galilee. Now, Jesus is making his journey to Jerusalem—as in “the” journey to Jerusalem. As crowds follow him, he is approached by a group of Pharisees who attempt to trick him with a question about divorce (preacher be warned, questions like this are still tricky). It could be they wanted to draw Jesus into ongoing debates among the Pharisees about what constitutes legitimate divorce (we know from first century documents this was a hot topic both socially and religiously). More likely, they remember well what Mark records in 6:18. John the Baptist informed Herod it was unlawful for him to divorce his wife. That warning cost John his head. Perhaps, the Pharisees are attempting to draw Jesus into a political argument with deadly consequence.

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