What other scriptures reinforce the sanctity and permanence of marriage? Rooted in Matthew 19:6 “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Jesus treats marriage as God’s own handiwork—something humans must not undo. The rest of Scripture pulses with the same heartbeat. The First Blueprint: Genesis 2:24 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” • Marriage precedes sin, society, and civil law; it is God’s original design. • “One flesh” anticipates Matthew 19:6, showing that Jesus is echoing the Creator’s intention, not adding a new rule. Covenant Treachery Called Out: Malachi 2:14-16 “‘The LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth… she is your companion and your wife by covenant… For I hate divorce,’ says the LORD, the God of Israel.” • Marriage is a covenant, not a contract. • God identifies Himself as eyewitness and defender of the injured spouse, underscoring permanence. Jesus Repeats and Reinforces: Mark 10:6-9 “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female… the two will become one flesh… What God has joined together, let man not separate.’” • Parallel to Matthew 19 but given on a different occasion, showing the teaching was central, not incidental. • Jesus links creation, covenant, and command in one seamless thought. Bound for Life: Romans 7:2-3 “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives… if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.” • Paul uses lifelong marriage as an illustration of our union with Christ—because everyone understood marriage to be lifelong. • Death, not human decision, dissolves the bond. Apostolic Command: 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband… and a husband must not divorce his wife.” • Paul consciously transmits Jesus’ own instruction. • If separation occurs, the divine preference is reconciliation, not remarriage. Marriage Mirrors the Gospel: Ephesians 5:31-33 “‘The two will become one flesh.’ This mystery is great, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.” • A temporary, disposable marriage would give a distorted picture of Christ’s never-ending love for His people. • Husbands and wives preach the gospel by living out covenant faithfulness. Honor the Covenant: Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” • The command applies “by all,” not just by the married. • God Himself safeguards the sanctity of marriage and holds violators accountable. Threads That Tie It All Together • From Genesis to Revelation, marriage is consistently treated as God-ordained, covenantal, and lifelong. • Scripture uses marriage to picture God’s own steadfast love, making its permanence a theological, not merely social, reality. • Every passage above circles back to Matthew 19:6: what God joins, no one should sunder. |
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