The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate. (Matthew 19:3-6)
When Jesus answered the Pharisees about marriage, He knew they were not really interested in the true meaning of its commitment, but rather in how they might trap Him contradicting the law of Moses. So instead of beginning with the laws in Deuteronomy, He went all the way back to the beginning, in Genesis. The Edenic law, Jesus reminded his listeners of what God created in the true characteristics of marriage.
What God designed when He established the first marriage teaches us positively what He had in mind for a man and a woman. If we build our marriage after God’s ideal pattern, we will not have to worry about divorce laws.
Marriage is a divinely appointed union. God established marriage to procreate the earth and established a man’s need for suitable companionship through a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman. because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:21-25)
Marriage is an illustration of the loving and intimate relationship between Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:22-33). Paul called this a “great mystery” that is, a profound spiritual truth that was once hidden but is now revealed by the Spirit. Christ loves the church, cares for her, and seeks to cleanse her, making her as adorned bride awaiting her Groomsman. One day Christ will return for His bride, the church and present her faultless and in purity in the glory of heaven.
Happy marriages are not by accident. They are the result of commitment, love, mutual understanding, sacrifice, and hard work. If a husband and wife are fulfilling their marriage vows, they will enjoy a growing relationship that will satisfy them and keep them true to each other. Except for the possibility of sudden temptation, no husband or wife would think of a relationship with another person that crosses the boundaries of marriage. Proverbs 5 :15-23 tells us, that married love can be compared with drinking pure water from a fresh well and being unfaithful between husband and wife like drinking from a polluted well.
When a husband and wife are faithful to the Lord and to each other and obeying the Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 7:1-5, Ephesians 5:22-33, finding satisfaction nowhere else, their relationship will be one of deepening joy and satisfaction in the Lord and with each other. This couple will know how to make the most out of life, complementing each other, and capitalizing on each other’s strengths to form an effective marriage relationship team. Never being mentioned separately in marriage, and ministry, always abounding in the work of the Lord’s hands upon them. Bringing forth demonstrations of patience, mature understanding, and compassion between them for God’s glory.
Lord Jesus, we invite You to come and rule in our marriage. We do want a marriage relationship that lasts a lifetime, be glorified in our earthly marriage to follow after what is divinely written about what You desire marriage to be like. As You shape our hearts into being the man, and woman, husband and father, wife and mother, father in-law, and mother in-law, grandfather, and grandmother You created us to be. By Your Spirit’s power, create in us, the examples to bring a lasting legacy of Your great love and faithfulness in marriage and family life that will be like a “cemented footprint” as a reminder in our children’s home and family life. Lord Jesus, come fill our marriage and heart of our family with Your love, Your peace, Your presence, and with Your Spirit’s power. In Your name we pray. Amen
