And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery. (Mark 10:12)
Contrary to the subject of adultery in Mark 10:11, in verse 12 it is a woman who initiates divorce. We easily understand the natural incident that a husband takes another woman in marriage leaving his wife. However, it is difficult to understand that a woman leaves her husband and takes another man in marriage. In the ancient society, it does not have much probability that a woman deserts a man initiatively. Why does the author of Mark's gospel intentionally add verse 12 though he could deliver his intended message from verse 11 alone?
It is difficult to find out an answer. And it is better to neglect it for this matter is not much important in this context. How about to give answer in this way indirectly by stating that either a man or a woman giving one's heart to another after leaving his own spouse commits the same level of adultery.
Matthew 19:1-12 is parallel to that of Mark 10:1-12. There is one interesting point of slight difference between Jesus’ answer in Matthew and of Mark. Jesus says, "I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery (Matthew 19:9). Mark's gospel does not give the comment 'except for marital unfaithfulness'. According to Matthew, Jesus allows divorce in case of committing adultery. That adultery might be, as the above verse says, an act of marriage with another man or woman.
In his teaching on the mountain recorded in Matthew chapter 5-7, Jesus says, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28) Nobody can escape from this sin. At this very point, ethics and faith crashes each other again. The ethics does not say anything about adultery of the mind but faith regards it seriously. Christians have to handle the greater tension of maneuvering to live in these two worlds together.
Contrary to the subject of adultery in Mark 10:11, in verse 12 it is a woman who initiates divorce. We easily understand the natural incident that a husband takes another woman in marriage leaving his wife. However, it is difficult to understand that a woman leaves her husband and takes another man in marriage. In the ancient society, it does not have much probability that a woman deserts a man initiatively. Why does the author of Mark's gospel intentionally add verse 12 though he could deliver his intended message from verse 11 alone?
It is difficult to find out an answer. And it is better to neglect it for this matter is not much important in this context. How about to give answer in this way indirectly by stating that either a man or a woman giving one's heart to another after leaving his own spouse commits the same level of adultery.
Matthew 19:1-12 is parallel to that of Mark 10:1-12. There is one interesting point of slight difference between Jesus’ answer in Matthew and of Mark. Jesus says, "I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery (Matthew 19:9). Mark's gospel does not give the comment 'except for marital unfaithfulness'. According to Matthew, Jesus allows divorce in case of committing adultery. That adultery might be, as the above verse says, an act of marriage with another man or woman.
In his teaching on the mountain recorded in Matthew chapter 5-7, Jesus says, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28) Nobody can escape from this sin. At this very point, ethics and faith crashes each other again. The ethics does not say anything about adultery of the mind but faith regards it seriously. Christians have to handle the greater tension of maneuvering to live in these two worlds together.
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