(Mark 10:1-16)

I. The question

A. The Pharisees’ “testing” question (Mark 10:1-2; cf. Matthew 19:3)
B. Jesus answers with a question (Mark 10:3)
C. The Pharisees’ answer (Mark 10:4; cf. Deut. 24:1-4)

II. Jesus shows God’s original intent

A. “From the beginning it was not so” (Mark 10:5; cf. Matthew 19:8)
B. God’s intent from the beginning (Mark 10:6-9; cf. Matthew 19:4-6)

III. Back to the question of divorce

A. Divorce regulated through the Law “because of the hardness of your heart” (Mark 10:5; cf. Matthew 19:8)
B. One exception for acceptable divorce and subsequent marriage: fornication (Matthew 19:9)
C. Jesus acknowledges the difficulty of this doctrine but that does not change the truth of it (Matthew 19:10-12)

IV. God’s view of children

A. Jesus took time for children (Mark 10:13-14)
B. Jesus touted the trusting nature of children (Mark 10:15)
C. Jesus touched to bless children (Mark 10:16)
D. Should we not view our children in the same way as we “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4)?