The Gospel is Lord of MDR

In Matthew 12, Jesus confronts the Pharisees over their legalistic interpretation of Sabbath law. His disciples had plucked heads of grain on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees accused them of breaking the law. Jesus responds with three powerful examples–from David, the priests, and the prophet Hosea–to show that mercy and the intent of the law matter more than ritualistic compliance. Then He declares, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:8), meaning that He–not tradition, not rabbinical rulings–is the true interpreter and fulfillment of Sabbath law. His authority and the gospel He brings clarify the purpose and spirit of God's commands.

This confrontation reflects a broader issue that continues today: the tendency to elevate legal frameworks above the redemptive spirit of the gospel. A clear example is found in how some approach the Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage (MDR) debate.

Like the Pharisees with the Sabbath, some teachers today construct detailed legal arguments about who may marry, divorce, and remarry–complete with case law, flow charts, and binding judgments. These positions, often built on human logic rather than gospel clarity, reduce complex personal histories to technical rulings. In doing so, the heart of the gospel–grace, forgiveness, reconciliation–is sometimes lost. For example, a person forgiven of past sin through the blood of Christ may still be told their marriage is illegitimate because of a pre-conversion divorce, as if the gospel cannot fully cleanse or sanctify their current life situation.

In contrast, Jesus teaches that the gospel is Lord over all law, including Sabbath, food laws, and yes–marriage law. He does not abolish God's moral will regarding marriage, but He fulfills and applies it with grace and truth. The New Testament never presents MDR as a new legal code for church courts to administer. Instead, the gospel calls believers to repentance, faith, and holy living in the light of God's mercy. It teaches that any sin–whether it concerns sexual immorality, divorce, or adultery–can be forgiven, and that those in Christ are new creations, not prisoners of their past (II Corinthians 5:17).

This doesn't mean marriage is unimportant or that moral boundaries are erased. Just as Jesus didn't dismiss the Sabbath, He doesn't dismiss marriage. But He re-centers the discussion around God's intent and redemptive power, not human rules. The legalistic spirit that says, "You cannot be right with God unless your marital status fits this chart," is not unlike the spirit that told hungry disciples, "You cannot eat on the Sabbath, even if you're in need."

The gospel is Lord of MDR because Jesus is Lord of all. He alone judges rightly, not according to appearances or human categories, but according to the heart. If we truly believe in the power of grace, then our counsel, teaching, and fellowship must reflect the redemptive mercy found only in Him.