What other scriptures reinforce the sanctity of marriage as seen in Mark 10:4? Setting the Scene: Mark 10:4 “They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.’ ” When the Pharisees appeal to Deuteronomy’s concession, Jesus immediately pulls them back to God’s original blueprint for marriage (Mark 10:5-9). Scripture consistently affirms that blueprint—here are key passages that reinforce it. Foundational Genesis Passages • Genesis 1:27 — “God created man in His own image… male and female He created them.” God’s design begins with complementary, image-bearing partners. • Genesis 2:18, 21-24 — “It is not good for the man to be alone… the two shall become one flesh.” Marriage is instituted before sin ever enters the world; its sanctity is rooted in creation itself. Prophetic Call to Covenant Faithfulness • Malachi 2:13-16 — “The LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth… So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.” God equates marital unfaithfulness with covenant treachery and explicitly states, “He hates divorce” (v. 16). Jesus’ Further Teaching on Marriage • Matthew 19:4-6 — “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Jesus reiterates Genesis and closes the loopholes. • Luke 16:18 — “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery.” The Lord upholds lifelong fidelity. • Mark 10:5-9 — “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of creation…” Jesus contrasts human concessions with divine intention. Apostolic Instructions to the Church • 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.” • Ephesians 5:22-33 — “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her… This mystery is great—but I am speaking about Christ and the church.” Marriage mirrors the gospel. • Colossians 3:18-19 — “Wives, submit to your husbands… Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” • 1 Peter 3:1-7 — “Husbands… grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life.” Mutual respect and sacrificial love preserve the marriage bond. The Honor of Marriage in the Community • Hebrews 13:4 — “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 — “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality… that no one take advantage of or defraud his brother in this matter.” Sexual purity protects every marriage. • 1 Timothy 3:2, 12 & Titus 1:6 — Church leaders must be “the husband of one wife,” underscoring the covenant’s permanence and exclusivity. Marriage as a Picture of Redemption • Revelation 19:7-9 — “The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.” Earthly marriage foreshadows the ultimate union of Christ and His people. • Revelation 21:2 — “I saw the Holy City… prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” The sanctity of marriage points ahead to eternity. Key Takeaways • From Genesis to Revelation, marriage is consistently portrayed as God-ordained, lifelong, exclusive, and honorable. • God views marital covenants as reflections of His own faithfulness; to break them is to betray His design. • Jesus reaffirms that any human concession (like the certificate in Deuteronomy) never overrides the Creator’s intent. • The apostles call believers to guard their marriages with holiness, love, and mutual submission, showcasing the gospel to a watching world. |
    |