Marriage

By Carl O. Cooper

            Marriage was instituted by God. Of this there can be no doubt. The Bible confirms this in more than 1 place. Look at what Jesus had to say about marriage in Matthew 19:4-6 (KJV) 

            And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

            Jesus quoted Gen. 2:24 and showed those listening that marriage was instituted by God and it is God who joins a man and his wife together. And since this union was created by God, man does not have the authority to undo this union unless it is a case where God, Himself, allows it to be done.

            Jesus also gave His ruling on when this separation can be done and approved as a divorce by God. We find His words about that in Matthew 19:8-9 (NKJV)

            8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

            Jesus gives the final word on the subject of marriage and divorce. It is clear and to the point. Marriage is instituted by God. God is involved in every marriage in some way. In a proper marriage, God joins the couple together and they “become one flesh”.

            Jesus said that no man has the right to dissolve this union. That is, unless, and only unless, there is sexual infidelity involved. This is the only case where Jesus says divorce is approved by God.

            Yes, the Bible is clear about God’s requirements concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Understanding what the Bible says about it is easy. But following these requirements is another thing, altogether. Many people just don’t follow God’s commands and do not have proper divorces and their marriages are actually, in many cases, living in adultery. Even the disciples saw how hard it would be to follow God’s requirements. Look what they said in Matthew 19:10-12 (NKJV)

            10 His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”  

            Notice He says that “some men made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake”? Do you want to be a faithful Christian? Then you must follow God’s requirements concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage.

Carl O. Cooper