How can we align our marriages with God's intent described in Matthew 19:8? Setting the Scene: Matthew 19:8 “Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.’” God’s Original Blueprint for Marriage • Genesis 2:24—“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” • Mark 10:9—“Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” • Malachi 2:15-16—God makes two one and hates divorce, calling husbands and wives to guard their spirits and remain faithful. These verses reveal marriage as a lifelong, one-flesh covenant designed by God for unity, faithfulness, and mutual blessing. The Heart Issue Highlighted by Jesus • Hardness of heart resists God’s will, nurtures self-centeredness, and erodes covenant loyalty. • Sin entered through the fall (Genesis 3), and its effects show up in stubbornness, unforgiveness, and relational distance. • Christ calls every believer to receive a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) that responds to His Word and His Spirit. Living the Blueprint Today Cultivate a soft heart • Daily repentance and confession keep consciences tender (1 John 1:9). • Regular Scripture intake renews the mind and melts resistance (Psalm 119:11). Embrace covenant love • Husbands love sacrificially—Ephesians 5:25, 28. • Wives respect and support—Ephesians 5:22-24. Guard oneness • Prioritize time together: shared meals, prayer, and conversation. • Protect intimacy: flee pornography and emotional affairs (Proverbs 5:18-19). Practice constant forgiveness • “Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) • Refuse to rehearse past wrongs; love “keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:5) Speak life • Choose words that build up (Proverbs 18:21; Colossians 4:6). • Pray blessing over your spouse even when emotions run low. Seek godly counsel early • Wise mentors and biblically sound counseling help course-correct before crises deepen (Proverbs 11:14). Honor the covenant publicly • Model faithfulness before children, friends, and church family, affirming that marriage reflects Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32). Scriptures to Anchor Your Marriage • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7—patient, kind love that never fails • Colossians 3:19—husbands, no harshness • 1 Peter 3:7—honor your wife as a co-heir of grace • Romans 12:10—“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; outdo yourselves in honoring one another.” • Psalm 127:1—Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain By nurturing soft hearts and living the covenant truths God revealed “from the beginning,” marriages align with His intent and glorify Him. |
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