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The Pharisees ask what the law permits a man to do. Jesus redirects them toward what God intends.

As you read this sermnon preview, ask yourself thes questions honestly:

1. Who might I consider disposable? That question needs t go deeper: Can I put that person of those people aside in my thining, planning, or concern?

2. Who does my church consider disposable? By that I do not mean that they articulate it that way, but, in planning, programming, accomodation, and concern or attention, are some people less worthy to us? Are they despensible?

3. Are there lifestyles that people live that are so repulsive to us that we feel more concerned about condemining them than welcoming them to the Kingdom of God?

The last question is a hard question because it requires some theological thought and, perhaps, a fresh look at the pattern and the teachings and well as the emphases of Jesus.

Would you be willing to engage in that?

In Matthew 19:1–15, Jesus moves us:

• From control to covenant
• From disposability to dignity
• From conformity to calling
• From exclusion to welcome

Jesus will not allow law, marriage, singleness, or religious custom to become a mechanism for controlling, discarding, or excluding people. He calls us away from hard-heartedness and toward covenant faithfulness, human dignity, and openhearted welcome.

His teaching must never be used to excuse cruelty, protect abuse, silence wounded people, or exclude those whose relationships have ended. The same Jesus who honors covenant also protects human dignity and opens his arms to wounded people.

Read the sermon companion and access the subscriber study and reflection guides:

https://tomsims.substack.com/p/the-hard-heart-and-the-open-arms