Marriage and Commitments

Many sociologists, psychologists, and philosophers agree that trust is essential to the fabric of society. Georg Simmel, a German sociologist, stated, “Trust allows social interactions to proceed on a simple and confident basis where, in the absence of trust, the monstrous complexity posed by contingent futures would again return to paralyze action.” Without trust, we would have no intimacy, partnerships, community, or commerce.

Our brightest, modern minds will only ever scratch the surface of what Jesus already understood as he cast this vision for the imminent kingdom of God. God knows that trust– our confidence that what others say is true and what they promise will be fulfilled – is a core component of what makes it possible for human beings to live in harmony with one another. Jesus calls citizens of God’s kingdom to a high level of trustworthiness and a radical commitment to keeping their word.

One of the most significant sectors of life where trust is essential is marriage. The Old Testament Law had been interpreted by some religious leaders to allow men to divorce and abandon their wives over relatively insignificant qualms. This left divorced women in their society with abundant shame and minimal provision for sustaining their livelihood. Jesus makes clear that this tepid, mild level of marital commitment would not be the way of God’s kingdom. A wife in God’s kingdom is not a piece of property to be easily discarded, but a person to be honored and respected.

Jesus also addresses the more general sorts of commitments that people make. He seems to reference Jewish commentary on the Old Testament Law that dissects which particular strings of words constituted a binding oath, and which commitments one could wiggle out of without guilt. Some people had become more interested in finding loopholes than being faithful and loyal in their dealings with others.

Jesus conceptualizes a kingdom where God’s people do what they say they will do. It’s a kingdom where people fulfill their promises, maintain their commitments, keep their word, and are faithful to their vows. It’s a kingdom where the citizens reflect the trustworthiness and faithfulness of their King, who was killed and was raised just as he claimed he would be and who will certainly return to make everything new just as he promised.

Discussion Questions:

• Icebreaker: Who in your life do you trust the most? Why do you trust them the way you do?
• How have you been impacted by a married couple’s faithfulness, or lack thereof, to their wedding vows?
• Looking at the biblical text for this week and last, what do you discover about how Jesus views women and expects them to be treated?
• When, specifically, have you failed to keep your word? Why do you think keeping your word is important if you’re a follower of Jesus?
• Why does the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God matter to you? If God were not trustworthy, how would your life be different?