"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

In Jesus' day, men were divorcing their wives because the bread was burned or because they found someone prettier. These weren't acts of passion or desperation—they were calculated moves by people who had studied the law just enough to find the loopholes.

They thought they were righteous because they followed the technical requirements, but their hearts were farming excuses instead of love.

Here's what's incredible about Jesus' response: He doesn't argue legal technicalities. Instead, He goes straight to Genesis, back to God's original blueprint. Just like a builder who returns to the architect's plans when the construction goes wrong, Jesus points to what was always intended.

The Pharisees had turned their relationship with God into a contract negotiation rather than a marriage covenant. A contract asks, "What's the minimum I can get away with?" A covenant asks, "What's the maximum I can give?" Right now, which question drives your faith?

This isn't just about marriage, it's about every area where we interact with God's will. Do you approach church attendance, generosity, forgiveness, or holiness looking for the bare minimum, or do you ask how much love can flow through you? The difference reveals whether you're building on permission or perfection.

Choose one relationship in your life (spouse, child, friend, coworker) and consciously look for ways to give maximum love rather than minimum effort. Pay attention to how this shifts your heart posture throughout the day.