“Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

The Pharisees did not ask if it was right or wrong. They did not ask if it was ethical. They asked if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife.  They knew the answer to whether it was right or wrong or even ethical, but wanted to justify themselves they wanted to know what the law said. Jesus will go on to explain the law and God’s side in verses 3-9, but we are not going there today. How many times did the Pharisees or Sadducees or the temple leaders come to justify themselves and test Jesus, but left humbled, humiliated, or rebuked? Every time! Every time they came to test Jesus He put them in their proper alignment with the Word of God and with God. And then He would tell them a parable to see if they understood. 

“Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:29‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/mat.22.29.hcsb

“But the Lord said to him: “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil. Fools! Didn’t He who made the outside make the inside too? But give from what is within to the poor, and then everything is clean for you. 

“But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass justice and love for God. These things you should have done without neglecting the others. 

“Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 

“Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves; the people who walk over them don’t know it.” 

One of the experts in the law answered Him, “Teacher, when You say these things You insult us too.” 

Then He said: “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers. 

“Woe to you! You build monuments to the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Therefore, you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments. Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world — from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. 

“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible. 

“Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge! You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭11:39-52‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/luk.11.39-52.hcsb

If the experts in the Law could not stand justified before Jesus, then who do we think we are to justify ourselves and our actions before God? God will rebuke us with the same standard Jesus used, The word of God! so then how can we be blameless before God? The only way is to follow The Word of God in learning before God has to rebuke. Or in correcting us before we get headed the wrong way on the highway. Or in training in the right way after He has rebuked us.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/2ti.3.16-17.hcsb

The other way is to humble before God in prayer and repentance.

“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, turn Your wrath from me — a sinner! ’ I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:13-14‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/luk.18.13-14.hcsb

“Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and if it falls on anyone, it will grind him to powder! ””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭20:18‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/luk.20.18.hcsb

Whether it be divorce or any other way to justify our actions be better to make sure our current actions line up with the word of God! Because it will be the standard that God will judge us.