Human Sexuality and Divorce

Lesson 14: We Honor Human Sexuality

• Adultery includes lustful thoughts, not just physical acts.
• Stumbling because of lust should be avoided, even if it requires drastic measures.
• Removing the source of temptation promotes spiritual well-being.

Divorce

• Jesus went to Judea, where large crowds followed and were healed.
• Some Pharisees questioned Jesus about the lawfulness of divorce "for any and every reason."
• Genesis states that the Creator made humans male and female, leading to unity in marriage.
• Marriage unites two people into one flesh, so only God has the right to separate them.
• Jesus explained that Moses permitted divorce due to hard hearts but not from the beginning.
• Divorce is only permissible in cases of sexual immorality and remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery.
• The disciples believed it would be better not to marry because of the teaching on divorce.
• Not everyone can accept this teaching, only those to whom it has been given.
• There are eunuchs by birth, those made eunuchs by others, and those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom.

Understanding Adultery and Commandments

• The Sixth Commandment says, "You shall not commit adultery" (Ex. 21-14).
• This commandment forbids sexual union with anyone other than one's spouse.
• The commandment protects the family as a crucial social unit, and has more social significance than sexual.

Marriage in Genesis

• God created man male and female so that man would not be alone (Gn 2:18).
• Humans were created to multiply and fill the earth (Gn. 1:27).
• Sexuality is for human completeness and procreation.
• The 6th Commandment is about the nature of human sexuality and the range of man-woman relationships.
• It is about our common vocation to love and communion.

Coveting

• "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife" (Ex 20:17) completes the Sixth Commandment.
• It addresses the root of disorders like adulterous conduct and fornication.
• Covetousness tempted Eve, which led to loss of innocence.
• Cain's envy led to the resentment and murder of his brother Abel.
• David's lust for Bathsheba led to evil plotting and murder.
• The purpose of the Sixth Commandment is for dignity, well-being, and preservation of human families.
• Having families will prove pointless if changing spouses is acceptable.

Key Aspects of Sexuality

• Human completeness and procreation are both aspects of sexuality.
• Sexuality is understood as forging male-female relationships and building a community of love.
• God created persons as male & female with equal dignity, denouncing discrimination.

Lesson 15: We Respect Other's Property

Rich and Kingdom of God

• A man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.
• Jesus responded by questioning why the man called him good, referring to God alone as truly good.
• The man claimed to have kept the commandments: not murder, nor committing adultery, nor stealing.
• Jesus told the man to sell everything, give to the poor, and follow Him.
• The man became sad upon hearing this because he had great wealth.
• Jesus stated that it is difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.
• Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of God.
• Wealth can hinder one's entry into God's kingdom due to pride and attachment to material possessions.
• Humility and detachment from wealth are more conducive to fulfilling spirituality.

The Seventh Commandment

• ""You shall not steal" Ex. 20:15 has gone a development through history.
• Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers for twenty pieces of silver showing kidnapping.
• "You shall nor covet your neighbor's house...nor anything else that belongs to him" Ex. 20:17. Dt. 5:21 goes behind the Seventh and deals with the disordered desires of the heart.
• From stealing and exploitation of our neighbor arise unjust craving for another's property and envy of the success of others.

Envy as a Capital Sin

• Envy exemplifies Cain's envy-hatred-murder sinful pattern.
• Death came into the world by the envy of the devil, and those who are possessed by him experience it.
• The 7th commandment is “You shall not steal.” This forbids stealing people's property without their knowledge and permission.
• The 7th Commandment extends beyond material possessions, and includes taking away a person's life, dignity, freedom and even coveting someone's wife or girlfriend, engaging in illegal activities, stealing time, not working honestly, and neglecting studies.
• Stealing necessary things deprives individuals living humanely.
• Taking care of God's creation is a responsibility under the 7th commandment.
• Failure to fulfill this duty is practically the same as stealing from people, especially the poor.

Spiritual Focus

• "For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Mt. 6:21).
• Assess what Earthly goals and prestige move you to want.
• Make God's kingdom our treasure first and put our hearts in it.
• The rich man in the bible needed to remove earthly possessions from his heart.
• He needed to put these possessions into God's kingdom, by selling everything and giving these to the poor.
• Jesus tells us to free ourselves from the lure of envy that results to human strife.
• Human Strife refers to the struggles and conflicts that people face.
• The Seventh Commandment is "You Shall Not Steal" and the Tenth is "You Shall Not Covet Your Neighbor's Goods".