Marriage

Gen 2: 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Matthew 19:4-6 (4) 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.

Matthew 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except [it be] for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery

Prov. 31:10-31 (10) Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies. (11) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. (12) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. (13) She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. (14) She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. (15) She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. (16) She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. (17) She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. (18) She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night. (19) She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. (20) She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. (21) She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet. (22) She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple. (23) Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. (24) She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. (25) Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. (26) She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness. (27) She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. (28) Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her. (29) Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. (30) Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. (31) Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Matt. 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

John 20:17-18 (17) Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God. (18) Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and [that] he had spoken these things unto her.

Lev. 21:13-14 (13) And he shall take a wife in her virginity. (14) A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, [or] an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.

Lev. 20:13-17 (13) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them. (14) And if a man take a wife and her mother, it [is] wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. (15) And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. (16) And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.

Eph. 5:22-29 (22) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (23) For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. (24) Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing. (25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (28) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (29) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.

1 Tim 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

1 Tim 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach.These verses illustrate how seriously God takes marriage.

Marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and his wife. Any deviation from that definition such as adultery is a violation of that covenant. Regardless if one’s station in life, marriage is to be taken seriously. With marriage comes vitue, love, perseverance, honor, obedience, faithfulness, and chastity. Marriage is not just a piece of paper as some may say. It is something that must be honored. People who take their vows serioulsly should not be ridiculed; they should be respected. Thankfully they are especially in an age where the divorce rate in the United States is nearly 60%. God’s Word illustrates the marriage covenant between Christ and the Church. Christ is not only the Bridgroom, but also Savior, Counsellor, Husbandman. Those in marriage are also called to be examples for others such as the deacons and the bishop, but also know that there are consequences to not knowing that Christ is the Head and God commands us to love Him with every fiber of our being. We are to be faithful to Christ just as He is faithful to us. We are to honor our relationship with Him just as He loves us and has died for us. He rose again. He is not only the Son of God, he is God Himself for all things were created through Him.