Oneness

17. June 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Yesterday, we talked about  why the question on divorce raised to Jesus from the Pharisees was a temptation.  Today, we want to look at Jesus’ response to the Pharisees.  Our text is as follows: 

Matthew 19: 3 “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” 

Jesus quickly takes the Pharisees back to the scriptures.  The Pharisees were the “teachers of the law” so Jesus uses the very words that they held valuable and they spent their lifetimes teaching and promoting.    Jesus says:  “Have you not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh and whatever God has joined together, let no man separate.   

WOW!!!!!!!.  The concept of oneness.  The power of oneness.  Jesus describes how at marriage, literally a miracle of oneness takes place.  God does not see the union as two anymore but as one.   How this all comes together we don’t know but I have experienced this oneness in my own marriage.  It’s amazing,  I don’t know when it developed or should I say, when I noticed it, but its fascinating how my husband and I think a like, I know what he likes, what he dislikes, we complete each other sentences, we know when something is wrong with each other, we know when each other hurts without even having to be told.  We are so connected, it’s hard to explain.   You may say “well, that oneness experience hasn’t happened in my marriage.”  The text teaches that once we get married, the two are no longer separate but become one.  I think for many married couples, we fight to stay separate which may explain why we never experience “the power of oneness.”   

Jesus goes on to say that this union is more important than any other union in life.  I think most of us will agree that typically our parents are the most important people in our lives.  They birthed us into the world.  They taught us and gave us the first images of how people should behave, talk, love,  etc.  They shaped us and in many cases molded us into the people that we are.  For some people, it becomes very difficult to leave that union.  Jesus says, for this cause (marriage)  shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they will be one.  You will never be one with your parents, but Jesus teaches that we can be one with our spouse.   

During my 20 years of pastoral counseling, I have come across so many situations in marriage, where one or both spouses will not break the tides with their parents.  They constantly let the parents interfere with their marital life and even sometimes it escalates into major divisions between the husband and wife.  I have seen couples fight over the constant interference of the in-laws in their marriage.  I have seen couples put their parents first over their spouses and the list goes on and on.   

In the ancient world, children did not leave the home of their parents unless for the purpose of marriage.  Families stayed together in communities and helped one another.  From birth, parents trained their children to be spouses and taught them responsibility, manhood, and womanhood.    I said that to say, that Jesus says that the only reason to leave this community with your family would be to start one of your own.   

Tomorrow, we will talk about the Pharisee’s response to what Jesus said. 

God Bless. 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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