What other scriptures emphasize the temporary nature of earthly institutions like marriage? Starting with Jesus’ Words Luke 20:34–35 sets the tone: “Jesus answered, ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.’” In one stroke the Lord reminds us that something as foundational as marriage belongs to “this age,” not to the age to come. Echoes in the Other Gospels • Matthew 22:30 – “In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.” • Mark 12:25 – “When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.” These parallel passages confirm that Jesus consistently taught the temporary character of marriage. Paul Describes a World on the Clock • 1 Corinthians 7:29–31 – “From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; … for this world in its present form is passing away.” Paul isn’t minimizing marriage; he is magnifying the shortness of time and urging believers to hold everything—including marriage—lightly. Death Ends the Covenant • Romans 7:2–3 – “A married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.” The moment one spouse dies, the marriage covenant ends. That simple fact underscores its earth-bound nature. Earthly Marriage Mirrors a Greater Union • Ephesians 5:31–32 – “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.” Marriage exists, in part, to point beyond itself to the eternal union of Christ and His bride. Once the reality arrives, the shadow is no longer needed. Creation Itself Will Be Remade • 2 Peter 3:10 – “The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.” If the entire created order is slated for renewal, every institution tied to it—including marriage—shares that temporary status. • Hebrews 13:14 – “For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” Life’s most stable structures are tents, not temples. The Coming Wedding That Lasts • Revelation 19:7 – “Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory! For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.” • Revelation 21:2 – “I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” The eternal future holds one marriage: Christ and the Church. All earthly marriages serve as a stage-prop preparing us for that grand finale. Key Takeaways • Marriage is precious but provisional; Jesus places it squarely in “this age.” • Death dissolves the bond, proving its earthly limits. • The form of this world is passing away, so we embrace marriage gratefully yet hold it loosely. • Every covenant now points to the everlasting covenant—Christ with His redeemed people. |
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