I recently learned that the phrase starting from scratch was first used in the Sport, Cricket.[1] It simply means, begin from the beginning. The “scratch” in question is the marked white line from which sprinters start their run in track and field events. Often sprinters emphasize how important it is, to have a good start in their races. The same holds true in relationships.

This truth is reinforced when Jesus responded to His critics, the Pharisees, about divorce (Mark 10:2; Matthew 19:3). The religious leaders asked him if a man could divorce His wife. The first part of Jesus’ response to their plan of entrapment speaks volumes. Jesus said that from the beginning God made male and female. And for that reason a man would leave his parents and cleave to his wife, so that they could be united.

The Pharisees argued that Moses permitted divorce to take place (Deuteronomy 24:1). Though their intention was to get the Lord in trouble, their question somewhat reflects a reason why some relationships and marriages don’t work. They asked Jesus about how to end a relationship. Amongst other things, Jesus hinted that to have a successful marriage, one needs to focus on how to start it, not how to end it.

In a sense Jesus reveals that marriages will be successful when we start from scratch with God’s original plan for it. Relationships won’t go south if the couple in the relationship went NORTH first. Starting from scratch, if a couple does not have God in their relationship, the relationship is destined to be scratched.

Recently I spoke extensively on this topic. Here is the message below. Feel free to download and share with others.

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