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9. Jesus’ Words About Marriage (Mark 10:1-12)
MARK 10:1-12
1 He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them. 2 Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. 7 For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” 10 In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. 12 If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Marriage is a gift of heaven, and not a temptation of Satan. Though we all are unclean because of our sins, and are unable to be holy and blameless ourselves, the order of marriage to one wife is directly sanctioned by the merciful Creator. Marriage under the direction and guidance of the Lord is similar to the garden of paradise. It is like an oasis in the midst of the desert, because God is the third partner in the compact of marriage. So, do not consider marriage unclean, but holy in the presence of Christ, and in the power of his Spirit.
But unfortunately, we find divorce more prevalent today than in any previous time. The reason is that God is not he who joins the partners. They met together casually, and without due thought decided to marry one another. This is why they get divorced without regret, and do not wish to continue their marital relations for insufficient reasons.
If the fear of God did not possess hearts and homes then evil spirits would move up and down the streets, and inside homes, hearts would become hardened, and divorce would become easy and lawful. We do not know the unspeakable grief and pain which many men and women suffer because they lived without God, got married without his guidance, and were separated by divorce in opposition to his will.
Rivers of tears are shed because of hard, unbelieving minds, and wicked divorces, which are often unlawful, but are practiced through separation of hearts. Couples may live together but in hatred, which causes fear in the hearts of their children. Woe to parents in broken families because of the suffering of their children!
The general principle of God is love and purity. He instituted marriage to show in the union of the couple that love does not signify licentious lust, but mutual service, humble forbearance, and reciprocated honor.
This is why pure love between a husband and his wife is a great mystery. First, they unite with each other, and their thoughts converge. A praying wife can lift you to heaven. She is a blessing to your children. But a faithless woman who is interested in money and prestige would despise you, dominate you, and corrupt your soul. She would draw you as a slain bull to hell, if the Spirit of Christ did not free her soul, and consequently love, contentedness, prayer, kindness, and peace dwell in her. Before marriage, you have to ask the Lord for a faithful wife, regardless of riches, beauty, and cleverness, for the advantages of this world pass away as quickly, but divine love will never fail.
Dear girl, accept only to marry a believer. Let your marriage be in Christ that you may secure family happiness. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”
PRAYER: O holy God, we thank you for the gift of perfect marriage. Teach us to live in holiness and self-control that we may serve one another as Christ served his church. Save us from our lusts, that we may not marry according to our own wishes. Grant each believer a partner established in your Spirit that they may lift one another to heaven and that their marriage may become a paradise even here on earth. Amen.
QUESTION:
- What are the principles of Christian marriage?
A passage to memorize:
“From the beginning of the creation,
God made them male and female.
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.”
(Mark 10:6-9)