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The One Year New Testament

April 21

Mark 10:1-12

Mark 10:1-12

And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.

2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Reflection

The Pharisees asked an ethical question about marriage, hoping to label Jesus as an opponent of God’s law (Mark 10:2). If they had succeeded, Jesus would be known as a man who spoke against God. Instead, Jesus once more exposes the hard-heartedness (v. 5) of those who merely kept the rules externally.

The follower of Christ is, above all, a person whose heart has been changed. True disciples of Christ have been so softened internally that their entire approach to life is transformed —including their perspective on marriage and divorce. While there are many painful circumstances in marriage, the grace of God can soften our hearts toward God and toward each other. Christ’s disciples are empowered to lay down our “rights” because Jesus himself laid down his rights on our behalf to purchase us as his own bride.

2 Corinthians 11:7-15

2 Corinthians 11:7-15

7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

12 And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Reflection

Paul loves this rebellious church and is grieved by their disloyalty to him. He works on different terms than the false apostles (2 Cor. 11:12). While they are deceitful and disguised (v. 13), he is honest and open in his ministry (4:2).

How did the false apostles deceive the Corinthians? The answer is, just as Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (11:14), so also the false apostles have disguised themselves as “servants of righteousness” (v. 15). Temptations and false teachings are usually dressed in attractive clothing. In our world —where success is defined by self-earned wealth, power, and social status —false gospels offer deceptive promises. To guard and proclaim the true gospel, we must show that our culture’s definition of success (money, control, and fame) lacks the power to change our hearts. The gospel of Jesus Christ demonstrates that generosity brings true wealth, weakness is power, and the interests of others are more important than our own. Christ’s selfgiving love leads us to live this unusual kind of life (cf. Phil. 2:5–11).

Psalm 33:16-17

Psalm 33:16-17

16 The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Thoughts For Prayer

We must beware of the false promises of this world so that we do not put our hope in them. Pray for those in your life who are trusting in the things of this world to save them, and ask God to help them see why the gospel offers a superior alternative.

Missions Prayer Requests More

  • June 7, 2025

    Supported Workers: Bobby & Julie in Central Asia

    Countries:

    Recently, families who are exploring overseas ministry visited Bobby and Julie. Pray for these families as they seek God’s will. Pray for Bobby and Julie’s children as they work hard caring for one another and studying diligently. Their school depends on volunteer teachers. Without a normal track program, the oldest two have been regularly committed to track voluntarily. Pray for rest for the children and for Julie, who is short on sleep with a 4am sunrise and a teething baby. Pray that by God's Spirit, Bobby and Julie will share the river of mercy, love, and sacrifice that is flowing from the throne of grace with their family, with their church family, and with those around them.

    Bosnia (Europe). Population: 3,140,096 Believers: 0.1%. Evangelical believers have increased significantly but still represent only a miniscule proportion of the population. Pray for believers and their witness in this divided land. Bosnia is not a spiritually receptive place; pray that many hearts might open to the gospel. From Operation World DVD-ROM 2010 and www.operationworld.org

The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.