16
και ελαβες εκ των ιματιων σου και εποιησας σεαυτη ειδωλα ραπτα και εξεπορνευσας επ' αυτα και ου μη εισελθης ουδε μη γενηται
Ezekiel 16:16
What the Bible says about... Marriage and Spirituality
Napsal(a) New Christian Bible Study Staff, John Odhner
People who are truly in love know that marriage is one of the greatest blessings the Lord has given people. But, these days, there's a lot of confusion and doubt about marriage.
Let's take a look at what the Bible says about it, beginning at the very beginning. The very fact that the Lord has created us male and female (Genesis 1:27) seems to indicate that marriage is the intended condition for people.
In the Adam and Eve story, the Lord says, "It is not good that the man should be alone." (Genesis 2:18). Therefore, He creates Eve. It's a very ancient story that depicts marriage as part of His plan for people.
God's blessing on the first marriage makes this even more clear: "And God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply.'" (Genesis 1:28)
Not only does marriage have the Lord's blessing - it is also phrased as a commandment in this passage from the prophet Jeremiah: "Thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel.... Take wives and beget sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters--that you may be increased there, and not diminished.'" (Jeremiah 29:6)
King Solomon said, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." (Proverbs 18:22)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has a telling response to the Pharisees who are quizzing him about divorce:
Jesus answered, "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'." (Matthew 19:4-6)
In the text of the Bible, there are also frequent references to a marriage between the Lord and His Church, where the church is made up of the people who love the Lord and follow his commandments. This is a different sort of marriage than the one between husband and wife, but some of the same ideals of love and reciprocity and conjunction are presented.
"As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." (Isaiah 62:5)
"Your Maker is your husband: The Lord of Hosts is His name." (Isaiah 54:5)
"'Turn, O backsliding children,' says the Lord, 'for I am married to you.'" (Jeremiah 3:14)
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." (Revelation 19:7).
See also Jeremiah 31:32; Isaiah 49:18, 61:10; Jeremiah 2:32; Hosea 2:2, 2:19; Ezekiel 16; Matthew 22:2-9; 25:1-10; Luke 5:34; Revelation 21:2, 9; 22:17, etc.
From all this, it's pretty clear that there's strong support in the Bible for marriage.
That said, there are also some passages that have led people in other directions. In some of Paul's letters, there are some things which can be taken to mean that marriage is less chaste than celibacy. And, in answering a question from the Saduccees, Jesus says that in heaven, they neither marry nor are given in marriage. What did he mean by that? It has a deeper meaning than appears on the surface, but it's often been misinterpreted. We will dig into these issues in separate topics, or in an extension to this one... but, overall, the Bible's pretty clear that marriage is part of the Lord's design for us, and that our physical, earthly marriages represent a spiritual marriage, too.
Proverbs 18
1
An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
2
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4
The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6
A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person's innermost parts.
9
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10
The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but Before honor is humility.
13
He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14
A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17
He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
18
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20
A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
23
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
