Mark 10:1-12

• Before you begin your study time - spend time in prayer, preparing your heart and surrendering your will to the Spirit of God! Allow Him to have full access by not withholding anything He wants to do in and then do through you!!

• I am going to use the same format as last week- I am not going to break this up into days- I want you to go through this at your own pace as you respond to your God! Remember, the enemy is going to try to keep you from being in the Word so resist him and he will flee!

• Start by reading the end of Mark 9 to get the context! What is going on here? Where is Jesus headed? Where are these places and why are they significant? Do a study on this area - find out where we are in the timeframe of Jesus going to the cross?

• Now read Mark 10:1-12, then look up any words you want to dig into from verses 1-2!

• The tone from chapter 9 and theme of conversation has changed completely! What is Jesus doing? What was His main goal? Who does He encounter?

• What is the motive behind the group of people He encounters? How do you know?

• What did they ask Jesus?

• In the study we discussed 2 different views or beliefs concerning divorce....1.) Rabbi Hillel view where he allowed a husband to divorce his wife for almost any reason- very popular view Among the Jewish men- 2.) Rabbi Shammai- had a much stricter view and allowed divorce only if a wife were guilty of immorality - much less popular view - what was the view of the Pharisees and why would asking Jesus in this public setting be a snare for Him? • How do these two beliefs compare to our culture today? List all the things you can think of that are common for our culture and world concerning marriage and divorce! Let’s see how they look compared to God’s original desire and design!

• Look up Deuteronomy 24:1-4, this is the verse the Pharisees and all the Jews who followed Rabbi Hillel derive their support for their belief! Look up the word “when” what do you see? What is the emphasis really on in these verses?

• Look at verse 3, look up any words from this verse you want to dig into in our Blue Letter Bible app! What did Jesus say? He answers with a question and look at His wording, what is He saying?

• Take a minute right here - what were the Pharisees doing? What trap did they fall in? Can you think of a time where you were tempted to do the same thing- or you did and didn’t realize till later? Explain!

• Compare verse 3 with Matt.19:4- isn’t this stinking cool?? Did you not read?? It is SOO not a good idea to challenge the Word of God made flesh on the Word of God!! Look up Matt 5:17-20 Write out a prayer of praise that we serve a God who does not ever change- He is a promise keeper!!!!! Record it in your “Who is God” journal!

• Read verse 4, look up any words in the Blue Letter Bible app you want to get more clarity! • What did the religious leaders say? What was their response? Did that sound like Deu. 24? If so how? Notice the difference in the question Jesus asked and how they answered - look up the words that are different! What point was Jesus trying to make?

• The Pharisees had made up their own minds, then used scripture to support their way of thinking...why is this SO dangerous? What are the results of this type of approach to the Word of God?

• We discussed how flippant marriage was being taken during this time- what did we discuss?

• Then we went through the Word of God on how He views the tearing apart of a marriage (divorce), look up the following verses and record what you find- also please make sure you look up any words you want to diver deeper into! • Malachi 2:13-16 • 1 Cor 7:15-16 • Matt 5:31-32 • Matt 19:9 • Mark 10:10-12

• While looking at the verses you just read- what category do they fall under- (ex. Adultry-immorality etc.) now look up any other verses that deal with that same category- you will see God’s view and heart on each issue!

• And even still - our God redeems- our God restores and there is ALWAYS an opportunity for a new start- so even though these areas are areas of release- it is only when there is a refusal to repent and allow God to bring about something so beautiful out of ashes! Our God is a God of restoration and reconciliation!! Praise Him for that!!

• We discussed some heavy points that I want to record here as well- so please reach out if you are struggling in ANY way in these two areas: -- • 1.) If you or someone you know is in an abusive marriage- you need to get help immediately - God never condones abuse!! Please reach out for help! This we know from His character and His heart demonstrated here and all over the Word. (Mal 2:13-16 or do a word search on the topic you will find many)

• 2.) If you have gone through a divorce - no matter the reason- there are so many situations and circumstances that all have one root (we will get into in a minute) some wanted and some not wanted- some due to adultery, abuse, fear, anger, revenge, the list goes on- And although divorce is not ideal - restoration is always ideal but guess what ladies? We have a God who deals with the “not ideals” in life- if you were the cause of the divorce -it is called grace and forgiveness- if you were on the receiving end of the divorce -it is called opportunity and redemption - without Jesus Christ and His forgiveness on the cross-we are left with no hope- no mercy - no grace- our God is a God of second chances - and a God of Grace- Praise God Jesus came, died, and rose again so we have grace and mercy new every morning! Praise HIM!!!

• Ok, now lets look at verse 5, what explanation does Jesus give for what Moses said in Deut.24:1-4?

• Look up “hardness of heart” in BLB app- and any other words you want to dig deeper into! • Do a word search on “hardness of heart” and see where in the Bible does it talk about a hard heart?

• Now go slowly through Ephesians 4:17-24, unpack what a hard heart produces here?

• So...how is your heart? Hard, cold unmovable? Or soft, gentle and moldable? Or maybe somewhere in between? Stop here and ask the Lord to show you your heart- read Psalm 139:23-24- and allow Him to peel back the walls and have total access to your heart - He is trustworthy!!

• Look at verse 6, where does Jesus take them? This is so cool- He is saying - like with Job- were you there when I formed the earth? Let’s go back before the law- read Gen. 1:27where He takes the Pharisees.. what is Jesus saying?

• Jesus directed them away from the subject of divorce why?

• We discussed 3 “D’s” that Jesus focuses on, the first one is God’s design for marriage! He created male and female different- list all the ways we are different and why God made us that way!! What does that tell you about who God is?

• Look at verse 7, for what reason?

• Look up any words that you want to dive deeper into from 6-8!

• We talked about God’s design, now let’s look at God’s desire for marriage! What does it say in verse 7-8 about God’s desire - there is a joining here - how? How does this represent God and us? • Marriage is the most important relationship you have apart from your relationship with God- If you are married, how did your life change when you got married? What areas do you still tend to live your life separate from your husband? Why? What steps can you take to make sure you live as “one” the way Jesus is talking about in these scriptures? (This may take a while, forgiveness may need to be given, repentance may need to be done and restoration may need to happen- please do not dismiss and go on without making sure your heart is soft in this area)

• In Bible study we discussed the following TRUTHS, how have these truths challenged you? Encouraged you? And helped you to see the bigger picture? (Spend time here!)

• You are your spouses biggest fan and his roughest sandpaper- but hey- sandpaper makes him smooth • He is also your biggest fan and roughest sandpaper- you need be smoothed out as well! • Your call in your marriage is to help your husband finish well! Not to become a stumbling block along his race!

• Read verse 9, look up any words you want to dive deeper into!

• We went through God’s desire for marriage, God’s design for marriage and now we see here in verse 9, God’s declaration of marriage - look up “joined” and “separate” if you have not already! What do you find? What does it remind you of? (Read Matt 11:28-30 in context)

• Go with me to Gen. 1:18- what do you see? Whose idea was it to give Adam a helpmate? • Stop and really think about this statement- Marriage is God’s IDEA- it is His plan, so therefore it belongs to Him, and that means that means that my marriage is not my own- it is God’s! How does this truth change your perspective on your marriage? Do you live like your marriage is God’s? Write out your response to the Lord- some of you may have to surrender your marriage out of the grip of your hands - lay it at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to do a mighty work - it is His anyway! � ❤

• What do you think of when I say - Sovereignty of God?

• Now if you are married or really in any relationship at all- think about all the pieces that had to come together to really make this relationship happen...think of when you first met your spouse? Think of all that took place- read Acts 17:24-31 and Colossians 1:16-17 - then write out your story in worship to your Sovereign God, He is writing your story- it is not done yet- you can’t see the whole canvas but your can rejoice and praise Him for the parts you can see- and what He is going to do!! Praise HIM!!

• God has called us to be the “helpmate” - but you and I can not be the helpmate with a hard heart!!! Let’s look at what the Word says on how we walk this out and why it is so important to have a soft heart!! Read and LOOK up as many words as you can- all of them would be awesome � - so you can know the context and the beauty of what is being said- what is really being said, not what you see at first glance!! • 1 Peter 2:21-25- we see marriage is part of a MUCH BIGGER PLAN- what is that plan? • 1 Peter 3:1–6 - you can not look at chapter 3 without first reading chapter 2 why? After reading these scriptures, how does marriage conform me into the image of Christ? How can I keep my heart soft according to these scriptures? (Please if you can - look up any verses that talk about a soft heart!!)

• Spend the remainder of this study in worship!! God has given us everything we need for life and godliness ladies, it just takes a little perspective shift!! I know this is a lot and I know it is intense but it is sooo worth it!! If it matters this much to God - it needs to be walked through slowly, digested entirely, and viewed eternally!