How does this verse connect with Jesus' teachings on marriage in Matthew 19? Verse in Focus “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.” — 1 Corinthians 7:10 Jesus’ Teaching on Marriage “‘Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.… ‘Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.’” — Matthew 19:4-6, 9 One Voice, One Command • Paul explicitly says, “not I, but the Lord,” tying his instruction directly to Jesus’ words. • Both passages affirm that marriage is God-ordained and intended to be permanent. • The prohibition against separation (1 Corinthians 7:10) echoes Jesus’ “let man not separate” (Matthew 19:6). • Jesus provides the sole exception of sexual immorality (Matthew 19:9); Paul will address exceptions in verses 11-16, showing consistent, complementary teaching. • By rooting his counsel in Christ’s command, Paul upholds the same authority and reinforces that the standard has not changed. Why Paul Repeats Jesus • Corinth was a pagan city with casual attitudes toward marriage; believers needed clear grounding in Jesus’ words. • Repetition cements authority: the same Lord who spoke in Galilee now speaks through His apostle. • Practical application: Christian spouses tempted to separate must look first to the Lord’s unchanging charge. Supporting Scriptures • Genesis 2:24 — the foundational “one flesh” union Jesus cited. • Malachi 2:16 — God’s hatred of divorce underscores the seriousness. • Mark 10:11-12 — parallel to Matthew, reinforcing the no-divorce theme. • Ephesians 5:31-33 — marriage mirrors Christ and the church, heightening its sacredness. Implications for Today • Marriage vows are covenantal, not contractual; they rest on God’s joining, not human convenience. • Seeking reconciliation rather than separation aligns with both Jesus and Paul. • Churches should teach and support couples with the same clarity and compassion found in these passages. |
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