Matthew 19:4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,’

Once again the religious leaders are trying to trick Jesus into contradicting the law. If Jesus did contradict the law, He could not say He was of God because God gave the law. It was a strategy the religious leaders would attempt over and over again. But they were not in love with the law, they were in love with appearing able to keep the law.

One of the things that I find striking about this exchange is that Jesus responded to them at all. If it was me, I would have probably said, ”Enough. I’m not going to entertain your questions any more. Either you believe or you don’t.” But Jesus didn’t do that. Jesus continued to dialogue with them, out of love. He wanted them to get it. He wanted them to understand.

Jesus said:

Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

God is a seeker. He called out for Adam in the garden. He approached Cain with instruction when Cain was guilty of murdering his brother. He sent Nathan to David when David was wallowing in adultery and murder. In all these cases and many more, people had turned from God to religion and God yet pursued them. That’s our God. He loves, and He is persistent.

Jesus pursued sinners … even those religious leaders who sought to kill Him. The fact is that everyone needs Jesus. And when God says in the Bible:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

God really means it. So, if Jesus would pursue with love those who sought to destroy Him, what should our attitude be toward those who would seek to do us harm?