What is the meaning of Matthew 19:6? So they are no longer two – “From the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’” (Matthew 19:4). Jesus quotes Genesis 2:24 to remind the Pharisees—and us—of God’s original design. – Genesis 2:24 declares, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife.” God Himself instituted marriage before sin entered the world. – Ephesians 5:31-32 points out that this union pictures Christ and the Church, underscoring its sacredness. – Key implications: • Marriage is God-ordained, not a social experiment. • Husband and wife form a brand-new household under God’s authority. • Individual autonomy gives way to shared life and purpose. but one flesh – Jesus continues Genesis 2:24: “and the two will become one flesh” (Matthew 19:5). – One-flesh union involves: • Physical intimacy (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). • Emotional and spiritual unity (Malachi 2:15, “He seeks godly offspring”). • A lifelong covenant (Proverbs 2:17, warning against “the covenant of her God”). – Mark 10:8 (parallel passage) repeats the phrase, doubling the emphasis: “So they are no longer two, but one flesh.” – This oneness is exclusive; any intrusion violates God’s design (Hebrews 13:4). Therefore what God has joined together – The verb “joined together” points to divine action; marriage is God’s handiwork, not merely a human contract (Proverbs 19:14, “a prudent wife is from the LORD”). – Ecclesiastes 4:12 pictures a “cord of three strands,” hinting at God binding the couple. – Because God joins the pair, He also governs the marriage (Ephesians 5:23-25). – Practical takeaways: • Enter marriage reverently, recognizing God’s involvement. • Seek His guidance and grace to sustain the union. • Value marriage as worship, reflecting Christ’s faithful love. let man not separate – Jesus issues a clear command: no human authority may dissolve what God has fused. – Malachi 2:16 says, “For I hate divorce, says the LORD.” – 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 reinforces Jesus’ words, telling believers not to depart from their spouses. – Matthew 19:9 allows only sexual immorality as grounds for divorce, showing the seriousness of separation. – Application points: • Guard the marriage with forgiveness and humility (Colossians 3:13). • Seek godly counsel before conflicts harden (Proverbs 15:22). • Resist cultural pressures that trivialize commitment (Romans 12:2). summary Matthew 19:6 teaches that marriage is God’s creation, forging two individuals into one flesh. Because the Lord Himself joins the couple, no person has the right to tear them apart. The verse calls husbands and wives to honor their covenant, rely on God’s sustaining grace, and showcase the enduring love of Christ to the world. |
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