Mark's journeying Jesus moves beyond the Jordan as he approaches his final entry into Jerusalem. But although he has moved into new territory, Jesus continues to confront the same establishment adversaries and to battle the same obstinate ignorance of his disciples. The issue specifically designed to "test" him now is the question posed by the authorities about the legality of divorce. Supposedly, the formulation of this issue was intended to put Jesus on the spot before two different groups _ the body of religious authority represented by the Pharisees, and the common, unsophisticated people represented by the listening crowd.

In verse 2, Jesus is asked "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" Just as the authorities begin with a general question, so does Mark's Jesus. Instead of des…