What Is Marriage? - Genesis 2:21-24
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INTRODUCTION
Marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman, but what constitutes a marriage? Scripturally speaking it is not merely "flesh joining flesh." This is plain in that a man could marry a wife only to find that she had been unfaithful (Deuteronomy 24:1When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
See All...; Matthew 5:32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
See All...). It is also clear that Shechem defiled Dinah, but then asked if she could be his wife (Genesis 34:1-4 [1] And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
[2] And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
[3] And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
[4] And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
See All...). The woman at the well had an improper relationship with a man, but the Lord declared that the man was not her husband (John 4:16-18 [16] Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
[17] The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
[18] For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
See All...). Instead, marriage occurs when God joins a man and a woman (Genesis 2:21-24 [21] And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
[22] And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
[23] 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.
[24] Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
See All...; Mark 10:9What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
See All...), and it is often established by a ceremony (Matthew 22:1-13 [1] And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
[2] The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
[3] And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
[4] Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
[5] But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
[6] And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
[7] But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
[8] Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
[9] Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
[10] So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
[11] And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
[12] And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
[13] Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
See All...; John 2:1-2 [1] And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
[2] And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
See All...).
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
- (For smaller children) Marriage is very serious. God brings a man and woman together and in His eyes, they are one. He expects them to stay together for a lifetime. It is a command, not a request (Matthew 19:6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
See All...). Abraham and Sarah had troubles and trials but stayed together until Sarah died at age 127. - Why is it important that we have a proper understanding of what marriage is? How can an unscriptural view of marriage lead to gross immorality?
- With certain aspects of relationship available only for those who are married, why does it make sense that the world would try to corrupt the means of establishing a marriage?
PRAYER NEEDS
- Ask the Lord to give you a biblical view of marriage.
- Ask God to help your home have a godly respect for marriage.
HYMN
Take My Life and Let It Be
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