Matthew 19:3-12
Introduction
Marriage is a covenantal union between a man and a woman who function in unison under divine authority. Husbands and wives are meant to be merged irreversibly. Sadly, many couples today seem as if they are bonded together with cheap glue rather than divine cement. Cement is an incredible bonding agent, and water is its secret ingredient. When mixed with water, the soft cement powder sets and hardens through the process of crystallization. When one man and one woman are united under Christ, the living water, then they ought to become one unbreakable unit prepared to pursue the joint goal of glorifying God.
Marriage is a divinely created institution established for the purpose of unity. Spouses are supposed to operate in sync as they become one flesh. In the beginning, God brought Adam and Eve together. He oversaw the first wedding ceremony to build a new union for the proliferation of His image in history and society. Marriage is also a covenant—a divinely created bond. God oversees this bond and connection so that it provides a covering, which offers God’s guidance for the wellbeing of the family. If you abandon the covenant, you lose the covering. There are even blessings and curses based on whether you abide by it. Furthermore, the covenant has longevity, which means the covenantal principle is to be transferred to the next generation.
Husbands and wives must return to God’s purpose, precepts, and power. If you want to cultivate your marriage into what it ought to be, you need to focus on fulfilling God’s Kingdom purpose rather than pursuing the cultural definition of happiness. You must also operate by God’s precepts. God sets the rules for you to abide by them. You cannot make up your own rules. When you are operating under God’s authority, then He will give you the power to see your marriage become what He wants it to be. If you reject God’s authority, then you lose the power to change it. Accept God’s plan, experience His power, and discover all He has in store for you.
Getting Started
- List other bonding agents (e.g., glues, tapes, adhesives). What happens when they are not strong enough?
- What happens when players make up their own rules in a game or a sport?
Let’s Get Personal
- How have the marriages in your family exemplified or not exemplified God’s precepts? How has that affected you?
- How does viewing marriage as a divinely created covenant change your understanding of it?
- When has operating under God’s authority protected and guided you? When has seeking the cultural idea of happiness harmed you?
Take the Next Step
- What aspect of God’s definition of marriage do you need to incorporate the most? Are you treating your marriage like a covenant? Are you operating under God’s authority? Are you living in unity with your spouse? Pray with your spouse this week for God to work in that area of your marriage.
- How can you encourage others struggling in their marriages to return to God’s design?
- Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Matthew 19:3-12; Malachi 2:14-16; Deuteronomy 29:9; Nehemiah 4:14; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Peter 3:7; Genesis 2:21-25; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9; Matthew 5:31-32; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:22-33; Proverbs 18:22; 19:14; 5:18.
Renew Your Mind
“And [Jesus] answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?”
Matthew 19:4-5
