It is troubling when marriages fail. This essay attempts to show the nature of marriage as addressed in the Bible; definition of marriage, when it occurs, divorce, objections, remarriage, and the impact of divorce on the Church and society.
God does everything for the good of the believer, marriage is no different. God created marriage with Eve; from Adam, one flesh (Gen. 2:22-23). The relationship between Adam and Eve is an object lesson for the relationship between God and man. The Old Testament practice of parents entering legally binding marriage contracts for their children, and a groom paying a bride price (Gen. 34:12) has gone by the wayside, it is now the couple themselves that volitionally enter the contract, or covenant. Nonetheless, …show more content…
In opposition to the teachings of Hillel, allowing divorce for the smallest infringement (Duet. 24:1), Jesus pointed to the creation of Adam and Eve (Matt. 19:4-5). Under Mosaic Law it was a consolation for the hardness of men’s hearts. Jesus declared that God created marriage, and no man should sever it. (Mark 10:1-12). Marriage is a covenant for life. It mirrors the covenant faithfulness of God with His people. Divorce, according to Jesus, is fornication (Matt. 19:9; Matt. 5:32), but even then repentance and reconciliation can occur (Jer. 3:1). Modern society allows divorce much in the same way Hillel taught, marriage can be ended on the smallest of offenses. Some argue that lifelong fidelity between one man and one woman is an impossibility. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 would seem to agree, but the language of marriage is found not only in God’s covenant relationship with Israel (Jer. 3:14; Isa. 54:5; Hosea 2:14-23), but also in Christ’s relationship with the church (Eph. 5:25-27), making unfaithfulness the only covenant breaker. Others believe that Jesus is only talking about adultery in the sense of separation (Matt. 19:7) , but separation was unknown in the culture of Jesus’ day, and his reference to Deuteronomy 24 does not allow such an
God does everything for the good of the believer, marriage is no different. God created marriage with Eve; from Adam, one flesh (Gen. 2:22-23). The relationship between Adam and Eve is an object lesson for the relationship between God and man. The Old Testament practice of parents entering legally binding marriage contracts for their children, and a groom paying a bride price (Gen. 34:12) has gone by the wayside, it is now the couple themselves that volitionally enter the contract, or covenant. Nonetheless, …show more content…
In opposition to the teachings of Hillel, allowing divorce for the smallest infringement (Duet. 24:1), Jesus pointed to the creation of Adam and Eve (Matt. 19:4-5). Under Mosaic Law it was a consolation for the hardness of men’s hearts. Jesus declared that God created marriage, and no man should sever it. (Mark 10:1-12). Marriage is a covenant for life. It mirrors the covenant faithfulness of God with His people. Divorce, according to Jesus, is fornication (Matt. 19:9; Matt. 5:32), but even then repentance and reconciliation can occur (Jer. 3:1). Modern society allows divorce much in the same way Hillel taught, marriage can be ended on the smallest of offenses. Some argue that lifelong fidelity between one man and one woman is an impossibility. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 would seem to agree, but the language of marriage is found not only in God’s covenant relationship with Israel (Jer. 3:14; Isa. 54:5; Hosea 2:14-23), but also in Christ’s relationship with the church (Eph. 5:25-27), making unfaithfulness the only covenant breaker. Others believe that Jesus is only talking about adultery in the sense of separation (Matt. 19:7) , but separation was unknown in the culture of Jesus’ day, and his reference to Deuteronomy 24 does not allow such an