Some Pharisees came to test Jesus, asking whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife, and he replied, "What did Moses command you?" Mark 10:3.
The law of Moses was the authority then, and same as today we have authorities, what do they say?
They said, "Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away."
Jesus did not deny Moses permitted divorce, but said it was because of the hardness of your hearts that he allowed you. There is a reason why such laws are passed even today, and then it was to protect women, since written charges were required. Jesus said, "He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts." Mark 10:5.
But when God instituted marriage, "from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." Mark 10:6-9.
That’s what God wanted that the two be one flesh, and because God joins them together, what therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. It’s a lifetime commitment, established by God.
"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." Matthew 19:9.
He says cannot put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and Paul says, "But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases : but God hath called us to peace." 1 Corinthians 7:12-15.
God has called us to peace; meaning whatever the way it goes it should be in the interest of both, ie, if it so pleases them.
"His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry." Matthew 19:10.
But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given and he said He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
Anyway, they asked him also a similar question. They said, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and you don't show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God; "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Luke 20:22.
But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me?"
Again what does the law in your country say? If the authorities say pay taxes, please do.
Romans 13:1-7 says, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."
Submit to government, the powers that being.
So Jesus said, "Show Me a coin. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."" Luke 20:24-25.
Again, by paying your taxes, you’re doing a good thing.
God bless,
Laurence
Simple Gospel Summation
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