Matthew 19:1-30 | Kingdom Now: Hardness of Heart

In this message, Pastor Karl walks through Matthew 19, where the Pharisees approach Jesus with pointed questions about divorce — testing him against the competing rabbinic schools of Shammai and Hillel. Rather than settling the debate on their terms, Jesus redirects them to God's original design for marriage from Genesis, addressing not just the surface question but the deeper issue underneath it: a hardened heart that looks for loopholes instead of surrendering to God's standard.Pastor Karl unpacks what Scripture teaches about marriage, divorce, and remarriage with pastoral care and honesty about how difficult these teachings can be to live out. He also explores the chapter's turn toward children, and the story of the rich young ruler — a man who came asking about religious righteousness but was really wrestling with money and control.The big idea: Jesus confronts the hardness of our hearts because his kingdom calls for commitment and sacrifice, while our natural tendency is to search for loopholes and excuses. This message is an invitation to let Scripture rebuke, correct, and train us — and to rely on the power of God's Spirit rather than our own willpower to live faithfully.Join us in person 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm