Mark has spoken about the Pharisees and various controversies before, so, this one comes as nothing new.
A little-bit of the same ol’ – same ol’.
It seems they often come – and rather randomly ask – Jesus questions to “catch him” in some kind of a theological argument or debate.
It is all very clandestine.
And yet, they usually do it with some kind of a crowd being present – in the hopes of “shaming” Jesus publically before the crowds.
And as we know, Jesus usually comes out as winner, silencing the Pharisees behind him, as he walks – humbly away.
This is pointed. This has been planned. Jesus is being set up and he is a sole target. The cross hairs are on him.
Jesus finds himself in the area of Perea, which is on the other side from Judea. He is still in the area ruled by Herod Antipas, but is moving southward toward Jerusalem.
Herod, you may remember has just recently had John the Baptizer beheaded because of his outrageous and outlandish remarks regarding the marriage of the king and his brother’s wife! It is all quite political. Lot’s of intrigue!
How dare he?
How dare they?
Just who did they think they are?
You do not call out a “wannabe king” and get away with it.
Filters people, filters.
Suppression is good.
You can’t just “blurt” things out…
“Control” the things you say…you can do it!
It is ok to THINK them…it is NOT necessarily ok to SAY them or “EVERYTHING and ANYTHING” that comes into your mind.
Restraint, people, restraint!
So here, they are, in another one of their little series of SET UP games – expecting to entrap Jesus. …And hoping against hope, that he meets the same fate as his kinsmen, John.
For once and for all, it would mean the end to this “nuisance” and to all of his strange “rhetoric!’
So the question is “quite reasonable:” “Is it “permissible” for a man to divorce or to release his wife. Is it “permissible.” “Yes or no?” Come on, no hesitation, now. Cat got your tongue? A simple “Yes” or “No” will suffice.
(If Jesus agrees with John, that could quite easily be interpreted as treason against Herod Antipas.)
Location is everything…location…location…location Jesus is in Perea, in the realm of Herod.
Jesus be careful “what” you say. Be careful “how” you answer. It is a trap!
If Jesus were to criticize Herod Antipas’ divorce, it would be argued that he deserved the same fate as John before him.
In the event that you have forgotten or perhaps may have never known – a certificate of divorce is called a “get.” This terminated the marriage and made it possible for the woman to re-marry. The actual certificate read: “You are free to marry any man.”
So, ol’ Jesus responds to the question with a question, which was a typical rabbinic practice of his day.
What did Moses command you? Jesus asks. Well those people in the know, know that Moses commanded nothing regarding divorce and remarriage. If anything, Moses merely conceded to the reality of divorce. And thus, it was permitted.
But Jesus was much more concerned with relationships…with people…with individuals and “how” that played out.
What of all “the other people” involved – who is there to think of them?

Jesus did.
Jesus cared and was concerned about all the people involved.
Jesus once again, is upending centuries of tradition here.
One more time Jesus will step to the plate and defend the cause of women…again, do I need to tell you, this is over 2,000 years ago? Jesus stood, relatively alone, as one man, against thousands of years of patriarchal history and practice.
Relationships are not easy, not then, not now. They take time. They take work. They take commitment. They take two and sometimes a whole village…
And one more time, Jesus walked away leaving his adversaries stunned…wit mouths ajar.
Amen.