Marriage is a "holy estate" instituted by God who created man and woman as equals. The man and the woman complement each other. Love is the first principle of marriage, where the husband sacrifices himself for his wife, and the wife submits herself to her husband. In holy matrimony, the two become one flesh with God's approval. Marriage is for life, and nothing but death should separate the married man and woman. God hates divorce. This lesson looks at those
Man was created in two forms: male and female
Being single all one's life is not the natural or intended state. God intended that each man should take to himself a wife, and each woman should take to herself a husband
Celibacy, in certain circumstances, can be a good thing
Notice in passing, that there was to be a LEAVING of father and mother, and a CLEAVING of husband to wife
God intended that the married couple "shall become one flesh"
[In unusual cases, two people who are married may not have a complete sexual relationship. Either they are prevented for some reason, or they prefer not to. That is their own private business. However, we should understand that there is nothing holy or superior about this state, nor should it ever be imposed
In the marriage of a man and a woman, the couple become "one flesh"
Because of the importance of abstaining from intercourse with strange flesh, one should take great care to confine sexual activity to one's own body and, in marriage, the body of one's husband or wife. Even flirting can jeopardise one's marriage or one's celibacy. You don't need to advertise your sexuality or use it to play games. The Bible says, " flee fornication"
Only the death of one partner should dissolve a marriage and free the other to remarry. The widow or widower can of course remarry whenever they feel ready, because death has dissolved the marriage
When you marry, you are bound by God for the life of the one you marry. If that bond is broken beforehand, then a very grave wrong has been committed in God's sight. If your intention is less definite and less committed than what God has bound, don't marry. Only marry if you are saying in your heart, "
Today, divorce is almost as common as marriage. God has made it pretty clear what He thinks of divorce: "I hate divorce"
Matthew 19:9 shows that, when a person gets divorced and then remarries, the consummation of that marriage is an act of adultery, except where adultery causes the divorce. Either adultery results from the divorce, or the divorce results from adultery. No wonder
The current fashion for divorce, defacto relationships, multiple marriages, and the like, is nothing new. These things were in vogue in Jesus's day too. He did not approve. The story of Jesus and the woman at the well illustrates his attitude
The Bible teaches that the man in a marriage is the head of the woman he is married to
Love is the first or foundation principle in marriage. But what kind of love? Not sex. Sex in marriage is a good thing, but it's not the "love" that makes a marriage strong. Not romance. Romance in marriage is a good thing, but it's not the "love" on which a marriage is founded. There is a far greater love. This is the sacrificial and selfless love described in
Love is patient,
Love is kind,
And is not jealous.
Love does not brag,
And is not arrogant.
Love does not behave rudely,
Does not seek its own,
Is not provoked,
Thinks no evil.
Love does not rejoice in evil,
But rejoices in truth.
Love bears all things,
Believes all things,
Hopes all things,
Endures all things.
Love never fails...