Marriage Must Begin With the Love of God

 Finding A Wife for Isaac

Book of Genesis Chapters 24 Through 26

The one thing Abraham realized and we to are to realize is, that it is just a great thing to be involved in the plan of God.

It is a great thing to be in the family of God and being left upon this earth to do the work He has assigned to us.

We must make the will of God for us to be our own will!

We should understand that God takes these little things that are so important in life and with them, teaches us the great mysteries of the Bible and the truth of His Word.

A marriage is of great concern to our Heavenly Father. 

A marriage that follows the Biblical design will be a lasting marriage and also teaches us the relationship of the Lord Jesus Christ to His Church.

Yes, the Church belongs to Jesus Christ. 

It astounds me that so many so-called churches have removed the Lord Jesus Christ and are no longer a part of God's Church and no longer married to the Lord Jesus Christ though they still claim to be and their members who have rejected the Word of God.

They reject the truth of Jesus.

They reject that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.

They reject the truth of the Scriptures allowing man's law to take priority.

They reject the Virgin birth.

They reject the Cross.

Yet they claim to know the way to Heaven.

God cares who we marry and to marry is one of the great decisions we make in our lifetime.

A good marriage will be filled with love, joy, and peace just as our relationship with our Savior will be.

A marriage will be between one man and one woman and God decided their sex at birth.

A marriage to the wrong person will only bring heartache!

It was time for Isaac to get married.

*****Gen 24:1  And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 

Gen 24:2  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 

Gen 24:3  And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 

Gen 24:4  But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

In the day of Abraham it was common for the parents to arrange the marriage of their children.

Abraham was 140 years old and Isaac was now 40 years old and mature.

Sarah, Isaac's mother had been dead for 3 years and Isaac still mourned for his mother.

We should understand that God has a time for us to think about marriage!

God is not involved but only in part, in the marriage of unbelievers.

Remember unbelievers do not know the Word of God nor do they respect the Word of God.

They are best described as those people who lived in the day of Noah before the flood destroyed them.

No doubt that Abraham had discussed these things of marriage with his son Isaac.

Abraham was insisting that Isaac would not marry a maid of the Canaanites.

We already know the Canaanites worshiped false gods and had wicked and immoral beliefs.

God had already destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and three more cities of the plain, and there had been no survivors.

It is probable that the remaining Canaanites did not realize why such a thing would happen and brushed it off as something natural.

This still happens today!

The world does not see the acts of God nor the miracles of God and brush them off as accidents or blame them on nature or other people, such as this Climate Change hoax that is blamed on humanity rather than the promises of God.

Certainly, the climate is changing and if people are worried about heat, they had better learn how to avoid Hell!

God has said things will get worse and we see it in plagues, in the climate, in wickedness, corruption, and immorality and the wickedness in high places.

We know Jehovah is righteous and it is the right thing to do to destroy unrighteousness, but only God has this knowledge to do so.

The Canaanites were a cursed people.

Gen 9:25  And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 

Abraham would never have chosen a daughter of the Canaanites!

To Abraham there was only one choice for Isaac this wife was to be chosen from Abraham's home country, the descendants of Noah's son Shem.

We used to have a tradition to swear an oath by laying our hand on the Holy Bible.

In the day of Abraham and oath was sworn by a hand upon the thigh.

It was a sacred thing and was not to be broken.

In our father’s day a handshake was as good as an oath!

Today you have to sign your name a hundred times just to get a loan.

As we follow the journey of this eldest servant, we will see another lesson in typology.

We will see this eldest servant as the Holy Spirit.

Isaac as the Messiah.

Abraham as Jehovah.

Rebekah as the Church, the gentile bride of Christ.

Abraham said to his servant that Jehovah would send His angel to guide him.

Abraham knew if his son was in the lineage to the Messiah, then Jehovah would be involved in his marriage!

One thing we should clearly understand, it is better not to marry than to enter into a bad marriage!

As Abraham instructed his servant, if the woman does not come willingly then Isaac will not marry her.

2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Remember to be saved we must willingly give ourselves to the truth of God and repent from the ways of the world.

Believers should marry true believers or not marry at all!

*****Gen 24:10  And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. 

Notice just as the Holy Spirit is God, just as God the Father and God the Son, this eldest servant had control of all the goods of Abraham.

The journey to Mesopotamia was as much as a 500-mile trip and it would take a lot of supplies to go and return from such a trip. 

It is the will of God that we marry a true believer, and we may have trouble finding one. It may take some time and we must be prepared for the journey.

If we are to find our soul mate, we must trust the Word of God and the Will of God and that He will lead us to that person who He has chosen for us.

In reality, it would be wise to not even date someone who does not meet these qualifications given by the Lord.

This servant came to the end of his journey, and he prayed for guidance.

*****Gen 24:11  And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. 

Gen 24:12  And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. 

We must always pray for the guidance of the Lord!

I fail in this myself and usually just dart off on my own.

What is God's promise?

Psa 32:8  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 

What is our prayer?

Psa 119:133  Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 

Psa 25:4  Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 

What should I clearly understand? The promises of God.

Psa 23:1  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

And why not pray for good speed, remembering we must understand that God's timing is the best timing!

And why not pray before for specific things before we meet anyone who might be that perfect mate!

*****Gen 24:14  And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. 

This servant prayed to God for a sign.

We make huge mistakes when we do not pray before we choose a mate.

If God is not involved with us before our marriage, how do we expect to have a good marriage?

Notice how specific this prayer was.

This precious lady would be the one God had chosen for Isaac.

This precious lady would approach this servant of Abraham and ask him if he wanted a drink of water.

This precious lady would then draw water for his camels. This was in itself no easy task. A camel can easily drink 20 to 30 of more gallons of water and there were 10 camels.

It would be almost impossible to find a precious soul willing to do these things for a stranger, but nothing is too hard for God.

Her name was Rebekah, which means "she could ensnare you with her beauty".

*****Gen 24:15  And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

Rebekah was one who, when she walked into the room, you could not take your eyes off of her.

Not just her beauty but her work ethic and friendliness.

Even before this servant said Amen, his prayer was answered!

Rebekah was God's choice to be the bride of Isaac!

I believe when we are men of sincere prayer, God will provide that soul mate for life.

It is not our custom today to send someone else to find us a wife, we must do this ourselves, but God must be involved!

We should still listen to our parents if they are godly parents.

We still need God and we still need prayer and God does not mind providing a wife for godly men!

Gen 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 

Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 

Ecc 4:9  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 

Ecc 4:10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 

Ecc 4:11  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 

Ecc 4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

1Pe 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 

And Rebekah was certainly beautiful.

*****Gen 24:16  And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 

What is a virgin according to the Bible, a lady that has never been with a man in a sexual encounter!

Even though Rebekah was very fair to look upon, she did not stand still and allow this man she had just met to just gaze upon her.

Many today blessed with beauty take advantage of it in not so godly ways.

It is also very true, that beauty is only skin deep, and inner beauty is more important than outer beauty.

Being humble, courteous, with a charitable disposition will make us more pleasant to the eyes of those watching us and there is always someone watching us including the Lord.

These are the things that bring a reward from our Heavenly Father.

Mat 10:41  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 

Mat 10:42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Not part of our lesson but verse 21

Gen 24:21  And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. 

Notice this servant was amazed at the things he was seeing as he had prayed.

As this servant questioned Rebekah, he found that she was from the family that Abraham had sent him seeking a wife for Isaac.

He then bowed his head and worshiped again amazed at the ways of God.

The only thing he did not know then was "if she were willing".

Like the Holy Spirit this servant showed Rebekah some of the treasures of choosing the truth of God.

Gen 24:22  And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; 

We also see the secular side of this family.

Gen 24:30  And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. 

It is the lust of the eyes that got the attention of Laban, Rebekah's brother.

This servant of Abraham knew God had prospered his journey and it was not time to linger. 

*****Gen 24:56  And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. 

When our prayers our answered such as this one from Abraham's servant it was not time to linger with unbelievers.

It was very clear, that God was involved in the things going on with this marriage of Rebekah to Isaac.

When we accept the gift of salvation then we must understand this is a new life, a living life.

We live in a dyeing world, but Heaven is a place of Glory.

The servant showed Rebekah and her family the riches of Abraham.

Gen 24:53  And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. 

When we give our dead life to the Living Savior, we obtain a new life!

Heb 10:18  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 

Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 

Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God; 

Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 

We begin to prosper as we begin our journey with the Lord.

We must give ourselves willingly.

*****Gen 24:57  And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. 

Gen 24:58  And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

What are some great lessons we can learn from this simple story of seeking a wife for Isaac?

We must saturate our work for the Lord with prayer.

We must wait on the Lord for direction.

We must praise our Heavenly Father.

If we see Rebekah as that lost soul, then we must imagine her as someone who hears the Gospel.

She had to realize there was a great father reaching out to her.

He had only one son, His only begotten son and He was well beloved.

He was in search of a Gentile Bride amongst all of the world.

She would be the bride of His dear Son, forever and forever.

She was not worthy of such blessings.

This in typology is the way God calls us all.

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

*****Gen 24:59  And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. 

Gen 24:60  And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. 

What we see is that the journey home has begun.

As Rebekah has willingly given herself to Isaac even at a distance, she has consented to be his wife.

Each of us who have given ourselves to the Lord are now on our journey home.

Rebekah, a Gentile Bride, espoused to God's chosen son Isaac.

From Isaac would one day come the Messiah.

Rebekah, thou art also our sister!

Now that she was going to be a wife they prayed along the lines of God's blessings.

She would certainly be the mother of millions as every "Born Again" child of God adds to this number.

Without a doubt many of her seed will possess the gate of those who hate them as Israel entered into Canaan Land and forward into the Millennial Kingdom.

What had God promised Abraham?

Gen 22:16  And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 

Gen 22:17  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 

Gen 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

*****Gen 24:61  And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 

As the bride to be began her journey, the servant began his journey home.

You see as we are the Bride of Christ, the Holy Spirit will lead us to Jesus.

It may not always be a pleasant trip because we live in the world of our enemies, but we have no excuse for not enjoying it.

After all we are not going to Canaan Land, but we are going to Heaven, the true Promised Land.

The same land that Abraham was seeking and never found because he knew it was not of this earth.

Those who think Heaven will be upon this earth are wrong and foolish to believe that God would say He is giving us the best and then stop short of doing so.

1Co_2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

As Rebekah rode upon a camel, we ride upon the "Grace" of God.

2Co_12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2Co_13:14  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

The Holy Spirit will only lead us to the Bridegroom!

Joh_15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

*****Gen 24:62  And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. 

Gen 24:63  And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. 

Lahairoi means "the well of the Living God".

Jesus said 

Joh_Psa_42:2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

If we are not craving the water from the Living God, then we had better check our salvation.

Psa_84:2  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Psa_42:2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Isaac was dwelling near this well at this time waiting upon his wife to be and the Lord Jesus Christ is that well of "Living Water" and He will soon be coming to take us home to present His Bride to His heavenly Father.

Where is the best place to meditate? Near the well of Living Water.

What did Jesus teach the Samaritan woman?

Joh_4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Isaac could not have known the camels would be returning on this day.

Isaac was alone, still mourning the death of his mother who loved him so much. 

Isaac had been the only begotten son of Abraham and Sarah.

Isaac was the promised son!

Jesus said:

Mat_6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

On this day, this field in the evening time, near the well of Living Water, was the place where Isaac felt closest to the Lord.

We all need a place where we can meditate on our relationship with our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

No doubt one of the thoughts of Isaac was this wife his father had sent for and we can be sure he prayed over this matter and lo and behold to Isaac his prayer was answered.

Rebekah knew this thing also.

*****Gen 24:64  And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 

Gen 24:65  For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. 

In those days it would have been unmannerly for Rebekah to remain seated when she saw Isaac walking. There was no exception even made for a woman. 

Rebekah would not even wait until the camel she was riding came to rest, but she lighted off the camel. She simply jumped off the camel which is taller than a horse in her excitement.

She quickly recovered her composure and covered herself with a veil.

I ask myself what will I be like when I first see Jesus?

Will I lose my composure as did Rebekah?

Will I regain my composure and show respect?

Will I fall on my face before the glory of the Living God?

In reality, I believe I will be in great fear until the Lord says, "peace be with you".

To be honest I believe the Lord God of this Universe will be waiting with open arms.

If we cannot be excited about going to Heaven, then something is wrong with us!

If we cannot be excited about being saved, then maybe we are not thinking right.

When we recover, we will remember we stand before a Holy God, who has loved us into His Own Home, and we will forever be welcome in His House!

Heaven will be a happy place, not solemn and gloomy!

Isaac wanted to know all the details of the journey of his bride.

Jesus will want to hear us describe our journey to Him for He will be just as excited as we will be.

*****Gen 24:66  And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 

Gen 24:67  And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. 

The Holy Spirit would not have saved all these details if they were not important!

It is love that filled the tent of Isaac.

It will be love that will fill the Temple of God in Heaven.

God will never love us less then He loves us now and he cannot love us more because He has that true love.

We are not lured into Heaven. Heaven is a place desired by both parties.

The Lord Jesus went back to Heaven to build us a mansion in His Father's House.

This is the truth of salvation!

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Jesus has given us the instructions on how to get to Heaven.

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 

With the love of his wife, Isaac was comforted from the death of his mother Sarah.

As we live upon this earth there may be many of our loved ones who have gone on before us.

When we see all those in Heaven it will be a great comfort to see them again and then knowing we will never be separated from them again.

There will also be some that we loved who will not be there and we will be comforted by our Savior for those we will never see again.

Those who are married in a Christian home have a little taste of the relationship of the Bride of Christ to the Bridegroom Christ Himself, but we that know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior will experience the greatest life that exist when we get to Heaven.

I love you Jesus!

It has been worth every mile of the trip.

Amen.

Problem Of Broken Marriages

The Problem Of Broken Marriages

1 Corinthians 7


Before we begin this lesson we must realize that the Apostle Paul is addressing the Church and he is addressing certain questions this church at Corinth had about marriage.

Whatever the results we take from this passage we must realize that marriage is indeed honorable in the eyes of God!

Heb 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

In America today there are more than 2 million marriages each year but only 1 out of 15 of those marriages survive more than 10 years and only 1 out of every 13 even after children have come into that marriage.

It has become the trend for couples to just be cohabited together but of those, only 1 out of 23 will ever marry and their odds of divorce is even great than those that marry without first cohabiting.

There are also 30% of those married who are in their second marriage and 42% of those second marriages will also end in divorce!

In fact there is a divorce in America about every 36 seconds!

This is not what God intended!

For those that call themselves Christian, the averages are about the same as those say they are not Christian!

The truth is, that those who regularly attend church are 35% less likely to divorce than those who rarely attend church.

Over 53% of Christians say that God must be the center of that marriage for it to survive!

Those that say they are Christian, but the way they live their lives says differently, are the ones that are the most likely to get a divorce of them all!

This is another reason that the Church has the name "a house of hypocrites"!

Paul was addressing a church that was full of "Babes in Christ" and they had many questions about marriage and divorce and Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, was addressing these issues!

*****1Co 7:1  Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

The first thing we see here is that Paul was addressing a specific question that he had received in a letter that had been sent to him.

In fact many believe that Paul was quoting the actual words of this letter.

The truth is, that forbidding marriage in the Church is considered "apostasy" in the eyes of God!

1Ti 4:3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1Ti 4:4  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1Ti 4:5  For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

We must forget that it was God Himself who first sanctioned marriage and gave us the guidelines for marriage!

Mar 10:6  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
Mar 10:7  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
Mar 10:8  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
Mar 10:9  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The family was sanctioned before the Church, in order for the Church to understand what it is to be in the family of God!

Mal 2:14  Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Mal 2:15  And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

It is true, that those who can remain single, without sin, can attend to the things of the Lord without distraction but not many can do this thing!

Jesus Christ addressed this with the Apostles and Paul is now addressing this with these Corinthians.

Mat 19:10  His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
Mat 19:11  But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
Mat 19:12  For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

What is the truth?

*****1Co 7:2  Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

The only way to avoid the sin of fornication, is for every man to have "his own wife" and every woman to have "her own husband" or to remain celibate but still have "no" lusts in their hearts!

When we look upon any woman, other than our own wives or in the case of the woman on another man other than her husband with lust in our hearts, we are already in the sin of adultery!

Mat 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

And this would also include the homosexual movement and all those that are unmarried!

Rom 1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

The truth is, being celibate without sin is no more holy than being married and without sin!

We must remember that God Himself said it was not good for most men to be alone!

Gen 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

To solve this problem God made woman!

Only a woman can be a "help meet" to a man "to fulfill his incompleteness" and be his companion.

Adam was only complete, when Eve stood by his side!

Gen 5:2  Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and "called their name Adam", in the day when they were created.

Those that enter into a marriage from lustful impulses, do not really understand the ordinance of marriage!

True marriage is, a mutual spiritual affection of one man to one woman!

True marriage is, each one wishing for the well-being of the other "and causing this to happen"!

*****1Co 7:3  Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

Benevolence, is the desire to do good, to be kind, to be charitable, and a love with a desire to promote happiness in that one you marry!

Benevolence is the trait of God that this world ignores the most!

1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

A marriage that last, knows the love of God and shows that love toward each other!

The wife is due this sort of love as well as the husband!

*****1Co 7:4  The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Most important is the fact that marriage is not just some fanciful union that is subject to change, marriage is a holy bond between one man and one woman!

In the marriage bond, separate ownership of each person ceases because they then own each other!

Even though in the family the man is to be the head, the equal rights of the husband and the wife are to be maintained.

A marriage is to be united in the most intimate union and the most tender ties!

*****1Co 7:5  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Marriage should bring much joy but it also brings many responsibilities!

Each one, husband and wife, have the responsibility to fulfill each other in all things!

Remember benevolence is also a great desire to promote happiness in each other in every way!

Anything less than this, is to defraud one another!

To defraud is to deny!

To defraud is to take something away without the knowledge of the owner and in marriage the two parties own each other!

To defraud is to withhold from another what is due him or her!

There should be times when each party should dedicate some time to the Lord and fasting could include the ability to withhold from each other for a known period of time!

Remember it is Satan's goal to break up every family!

It is Satan's goal, to put an end to all things sanctioned by God!

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

The Marriage is the first thing that God sanctioned in humans after life itself!

*****1Co 7:6  But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

The "permission" to say these things was obviously from the Lord, since no one else was above Paul in "apostolic authority".

The Apostles were all equal in the eyes of God and Jesus told them whatever they bound on earth would be bound in Heaven.

Paul was not denying divine inspiration but was certainly claiming it!

Paul was just saying, that though he did not have an explicit commandment to cite for this teaching, from the Laws of Moses nor from the teachings of Christ, he was certainly led by the Holy Spirit!

And what did Jesus say?

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Holy Spirit will always lead us in the ways of Christ Jesus!

*****1Co 7:7  For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
1Co 7:8  I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Co 7:9  But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

What is the truth of that day of the Apostle Paul?

Act 11:28  And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and "signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world": which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

During the reign of Claudius, several different famine are known to have occurred.

The first famine during this period was centered around the city of Rome in the years 41 and 42 A.D.

The second famine known to have occurred during the reign of Claudius was in the fourth year of his office (45 A.D.), and was particularly centered in Judea.

It is this famine to which Luke makes reference in Acts 11:28.

The third famine during the time of Claudius was centered in Greece in about A.D. 50.

The fourth famine took place in 52 A.D. and once again, plagued the city of Rome.

The Apostle Paul established the Church at Corinth in 51 AD.

Not only did these things occur but during this same period, the persecution of Christians was on the rise!

Paul mentions these things in verse 26.

**1Co 7:26  I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

With these things in mind we can better understand what Paul is saying in these Scriptures.

The truth is, Paul was not married at this time and because of these conditions that were going on throughout the world, Paul said it may be best for all to remain single that were not at that time married!

Paul was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin and marriage was a requirement and it is probable that Paul was at one time married and was in fact a widower himself as verse 8 leads us to believe!

And even Jesus said it would not be easy to be celibate while we are in these sinful bodies!

Mat 19:10  His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
Mat 19:11  But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
Mat 19:12  For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Paul has only justified celibacy, but in no way is celibacy better than marriage as they are both holy in the eyes of God, one no better than the other!

It is being obedient to the Word of God that remains the example for all of us!

To burn with lust and passion, is a great sin as we have already pointed out!

To lust is to commit fornication in your heart and it is best to find that marriage partner and commit to a biblical marriage rather than live in sin!

Paul having been married and a widower and then saved, had now devoted all his life to serving the Lord!

These are all things that the Holy Spirit led Paul to write but once a marriage takes place it falls under the commandments of the Lord!

*****1Co 7:10  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
1Co 7:11  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

Remember Paul sent this letter to the Church, those who had welcomed Jesus into their heart and were saved. This Scripture refers to Christians that marry!

It is the Lord who said "let not the wife depart from the husband".

Mat 19:4  And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

And Jesus had confirmed that marriage had been ordained of God from the beginning of Creation!

Gen 2:21  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Gen 2:22  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The idea of these things is that God himself had said that the marriage bond of one man and one woman would be until their death!

Adam lived over 800 years and was married to only one wife, who was Eve!

Jesus later said that only for the act of fornication, which includes adultery, should any divorce be granted!

Mat 19:9  And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

There should never be any irreconcilable differences between two Christians!

The Bible plainly states two Christians that know the Lord should be able to work out any differences that come up in their marriage, if they truly love the Lord and love each other!

We should also remember we are all sinners and the Lord took our place on the cross to redeem us from all sin!

We must do the very best to follow the Word of God, and repent of all our sin!

*****1Co 7:12  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1Co 7:13  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

Again Paul is claiming the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on things that were not directly addressed by the Lord.

These things are going to happen where just one in a family may become Christian and not the other.

In the time of Ezra when the Jews were returning from Babylon, God commanded the Jews to put away all wives who were not Jews. These things were under the laws of Moses.

Now in the time of "Grace" there are to be no marriages between a Christian and a non-Christian but those that come to know the Lord after marriage are to remain married it at all possible.

Verse 14 explains the reasons why!

In other words, that bond of marriage is still holy in the eyes of God but is does not mean that salvation can come based on the that Christian!

*****1Co 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
1Co 7:16  For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

If that non-Christian wishes to be separated from that Christian then it is not to be treated as sin and either one, man or woman are free to remarry, but that Christian only to another Christian.

If the unbelieving wife or husband chooses to leave the relationship, there is nothing else that the believer can do!

The Christian spouse may remain unmarried as long as there be any possibility of reconciliation but they are not under bondage, no longer bound by God's law to remain with that one who left!

This is similar to the law that when one partner dies the other is no longer bound by the marriage vows!

Rom 7:2  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Rom 7:3  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

*****1Co 7:17  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

The Christian life is a divine calling of God! We are to live according to the Word of God. Only then can we be true witnesses for the Lord!

God has a purpose for each of us and He calls on us to fulfill that purpose!

Unless God calls us specifically to do other wise, we should remain in the same calling as our previous life was spent.

There is a reason we live where we live and work where we work and that is our missionary field unless God tells us to change or opens a door to another ministry.

The only difference is, that we are to stay in our calling with God the Holy Spirit living within us and following His lead!

Our life is to be for Christ Jesus, in Him, with Him, and for Him!

If we are single we are to work for God!

If we are married we are to work for God!

If we are divorced we are to work for God!

If we remarry we are to work for God!

We are where we are, because God has chosen to place us in that position!

Christianity was never intended to introduce a violent revolutionary element into society but certainly to bring peace to a violent world!

Some examples are:

*****1Co 7:18  Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
1Co 7:19  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
1Co 7:20  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

Many Jews who became Christians became ashamed of Judaism and desired to remove the outward signs of it.

The Apostle Paul taught that once a Jew converted to Christianity he should not abandon the customs of his nation.

There is no shame in being a Jew! In Fact There is no shame for a Christian in any nationality!

Red, yellow, black and white, we are all precious in His sight!

We are all to keep the written Word of God as our guide of life!

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

If you are a Christian then you are the true children of Abraham!

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

When we are Christian, then we need to act like Christians rather than act like the world acts!

*****1Co 7:21  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
1Co 7:22  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

A Christian is someone who after salvation succeeds in applying the principles of the Word of God to his daily life, and uses his place in society, no matter what it is, in a Christ-like spirit.

We should not consider slavery as we know it but look at slavery at the time of Paul!

Slaves abounded in Greece and in every part of the pagan world!

Grecians did not care for manual labor and had slaves to do that work!

Many slaves who had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ then also felt they should no longer submit to their masters.

It is true that slavery in most cases is very cruel, oppressive, and unjust but in that day many slaves had sold themselves into slavery in order to better themselves!

Christians should do their best to preserve the peace and not become disorderly.

God simply says be content where God has placed you, use your position to reach out to those that do not know the Lord.

We must never allow our circumstances to diminish our Christian spirit!

If freedom is to happen, God will make a way but we are already God's freemen because we have been redeemed from the bondage of Satan!

We are all to suffer persecution and it still does not make the oppression of a master right or just, but we are all justified in the eyes of God that know the Lord!

This does not mean that a slave should not desire freedom if it can be obtained in a legal fashion, keeping in mind we are never to dishonor Jesus Christ under any conditions!

Slavery is certainly evil but each man or woman of God must be patient and allow God to do what He does best, as He will provide all our needs in every circumstance!

For those who do not know, slavery is even more rampant today than it has ever been throughout known history but you do not ever see this fact in the news or mentioned by governments.

Even the United Nations does not mention this fact!

In the eyes of God, all that are called and accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior are already God's freemen!

We are all made free from "condemnation"!

Remember the "wages of sin" are death!

We were all once slaves to sin but are now liberated!

Freedom from the bondage of sin, is the greatest blessing we can receive at the hand of God!

We are Christ Jesus servants only to the extent that we are to obey the Word of God!

He is now our Master and He has given us all the same commands to follow!

We all stand on level ground at the cross of Jesus no matter the conditions of our past life!

*****1Co 7:23  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1Co 7:24  Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

The price for all our freedom was the precious "blood of Jesus Christ"!

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

There is no other price that can purchase our freedom from Satan's bondage other than the blood of Jesus!

No matter our position in life we are to be servants of God!

Even in what the world calls slavery, the Christian slave has absolute liberty in the eyes of God!

The key is, to abide in God and doing service as to the Lord!

Eph 6:5  Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Eph 6:6  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7  With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Eph 6:8  Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

*****1Co 7:25  Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
1Co 7:26  I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

Again we should not forget Paul is answering questions that were sent to him in a letter from these church members.

It is true that the Lord Jesus did not directly address virgins but the Bible is specific when it says we are to avoid "fornication"!

Virgins used in this verse mean both the male and the female.

Here we are reminded that in the days of the Apostle Paul, there where great famines everywhere and it was simply not a good time to start a marriage.

Most of us parents and grandparents today know how evil this world is getting, and we know it is simply hard for a newly wed couple to survive in a relationship at this time while the future of this world looks so bleak!

This is the same thing that Paul was saying!

In fact Jesus said these things as we approach the end times:

Luk 23:28  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Luk 23:29  For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

And Paul continues:

*****1Co 7:27  Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Paul was simply saying that in that day with all those famines, and the Christian persecution was on the rise, there was enough turmoil in the lives of these people there was no sense in adding to it.

Jesus said:

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

BUT, Biblical marriage is never a sin!

*****1Co 7:28  But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

Again Paul is just saying under the political conditions of that day, it would be even harder to have a Christian marriage.

Paul said "I only desire to spare you from adding great distress into your life that could cause a marriage to fail through no fault of your own!

*****1Co 7:29  But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
1Co 7:30  And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
1Co 7:31  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

First, our time is so short that we have to serve the Lord, we need to put off all things that are simply a waste of that precious time!

Second, Christian persecution was on the rise in the days of the Apostle Paul as it is now!

Third, The time is short before the Second Coming of Christ!

Peter preached the same message:

1Pe 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

It is a fact at the Rapture of the Church there will be no such thing as husbands and wives, for we will all be as the Angels!

We must understand the Scriptures!

Mar 12:24  And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
Mar 12:25  For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
Mar 12:26  And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Mar 12:27  He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

We should be rejoicing that the time is so short and not be agonizing about it!

2Co 6:10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

And we should all remember the words of our Lord!

Luk 17:26  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Luk 17:27  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk 17:29  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:30  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

We would be blind not see how the world is getting more like the days of Noah every moment that passes!

We must spiritually detach our selves from this world, because the fashion of this world is passing away every tick of the clock!

Paul points out that every decision we make in this time that is so short, should relate to our service in the work of the Lord!

And then Paul returns to answering those questions on marriage because marriage is a big step to take for everyone to consider!

*****1Co 7:32  But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
1Co 7:33  But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

Paul is simply saying that when we allow the cares of this world overwhelm us, we will take our eyes off of the Lord!

Jesus put it like this:

Luk 21:32  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luk 21:33  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Jesus says to the generation who sees all these things happening, that generation will not pass away until all that He has said will be fulfilled!

We should understand that the Apostle Paul is not discouraging marriage!

Paul is just saying that there times when things are so bad, and the coming of the Lord is so imminent, and our time spent in the service of the Lord is so valuable, that maybe we should concentrate on those things!

Some can without sin and some cannot and they marry, but all without sin!

Paul has already stated that one is no holier than the other!

What is the greatest difference between the single person and the married person?

*****1Co 7:34  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

If we remember the story of Mary and Martha, then Paul is suggesting that the married wife would be more like Martha than like Mary.

Luk 10:38  Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
Luk 10:39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Luk 10:40  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luk 10:41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Luk 10:42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

The most important thing in all our lives should be to be sitting at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****1Co 7:35  And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
1Co 7:36  But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

One of the biggest problems in lasting marriages, is that neither the husband nor the wife really took the time to get to know each other!

It is also a fact that we should never make major decisions until we are firm in our relation with the Lord!

Paul has been speaking to "babes in Christ" throughout this epistle and Paul is saying slow down, get right with God first, then these other decisions will be easier to make!

Paul said he was not trying to put a stumbling block in front of any of them!

We can profit more in the Lord, than from any situation that this world has to offer!

In the days of the Apostle Paul, most marriages were arranged by the father of the bride and most of those daughters were wedded by a certain age usually before the age 0f 20, in order to insure her virginity.

If a father held his daughter out of marriage it could create scandal and sin for that daughter.

It is always hard for most fathers to approve of the one who is to wed that daughter but as we know, young lovers do things that parents do not approve of, and it may be best to allow the marriage, to avoid sin in their lives and turn them away from the Lord!

*****1Co 7:37  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
1Co 7:38  So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

If that daughter simply did not want to marry and remain a virgin, then that parent was to have no cause to force the issue.

The authority of the parent in that day was great but parents certainly have no right to force a marriage that benefits the family more than it was a benefit to that child!

The freedom to wed, must remain with the child and follow the Word of God as best they can!

To give her in marriage would be good, but Paul says in the distresses of that time it may better if she remained free from marriage.

What is the truth of Scriptures?

*****1Co 7:39  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
1Co 7:40  But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

The Bible is specific, the second marriage of a Christian widow if it happens at all, should be to another Christian.

Rom 7:2  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Those that remain single after the death of their husband can still be happy in the Lord.

Paul said we all have our opinions, but these he has spoken about were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.

We must know that all Scripture was inspired by God through the Holy Spirit!

Those that despise what Paul has written about marriage, then despise the God that gave Paul these words!

1Th 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1Th 4:8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Questions?

Let's Pray!

The Precepts Of The Lord Jesus Christ

The Precepts Of God's Servant

"Marriage and Divorce"

Book of Mark Chapter 10:1-16

When The Lord Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration, Our Father in Heaven had warned the disciples to listen to the Words of Jesus.

And we know the Word of God will never contradict itself!

Also in our last lesson Jesus confirmed, at least in my mind, that the "Burning Lake of Fire", and Hell are real places.

Eternal torment in a place where the fire is never quenched and eternal damnation means it is a never ending thing.

If we are to believe Jesus, and we are commanded to do so, Jesus will now speak to us on another touchy subject, marriage and divorce.

Let's begin:

*****Mar 10:1 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.

We should ask ourselves, "why are we so slow to accept the truth"?

Jesus left Capernaum and the home of Andrew and Peter for the last time and He was committed to be in Jerusalem at His appointed time but He would still take the time to teach and show His mercy.

Matthew wrote that Jesus departed from Galilee and had a great following:

Mat 19:1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
Mat 19:2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

Luke wrote that Jesus passed through Samaria as he left Galilee.

John wrote that Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews.

Joh 11:54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

Many months had passed while Jesus taught around and about Galilee but not many weeks are left between this time and the appointed time of the cross.

Jesus would begin his last journey to Jerusalem.

In the places He stopped, Jesus had to reteach many of the things He had previously taught and as He taught, the religious world tried their best to hinder the Word of God, as they still do today.

*****Mar 10:2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?
"tempting him".

This seems to be a simple enough question so why does our scripture say "tempting Him"?

In other words, that word "lawful" meant, what are the obstacles or barriers in the Word of God that would prevent a divorce!

During this time period in Israel there were two thoughts on divorce which came from two opposing rabbis.

Each one interpreted the Word of God differently!

One said divorce should be approved for any reason.

The other said that divorce should almost never be granted.

So, is it lawful, in the eyes of God, to get a divorce or not?

We must first realize that the family is a Divine institution!

We are never to look upon the family as a chance arrangement!

The family was the first thing ordained by Our Creator, even before the Church, and even before the Laws of Moses to the Jews!

So Jesus ask these Pharisees what had Moses commanded.

*****Mar 10:3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

So what had Moses written?

Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Deu 24:2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.
Deu 24:3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
Deu 24:4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

What was the intent of Moses with these words?

Divorce was just as common in the days of Moses as it is in our day and it was the same in this day of these Pharisees.

They used Deu 24:1 as their authorization for divorce.

They were "twisting" God's Word to change the intent of God's Word!

And we should believe that Jesus was not condemning anyone as He confronted these Pharisees.

These were supposed religious men and it would have been better for them to have asked "how can we preserve our marriages" but they did not ask this.

Beginning a marriage for the right reasons was not so important to them!

How was a marriage to take place in the eyes of God?

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

God said we must love our future wife enough to leave our family behind for her!

To understand these times better, we should not forget that John the Baptist had lost his life because he took a stand on marriage and divorce.

First law of God for a marriage: A marriage, in the eyes of God, was never to be for convenience between two parties.

A marriage was to be between a man and a woman who loved each other enough to begin there own family by the Word of God!

Second law of God for a marriage: After a marriage, there is not to be a man with his rights, desires or needs, nor a woman with her rights, desires, and needs.

But submitting to each other in the fear of God!

Third law of God for a marriage: After marriage there was to be one family made up of two parts!

The man as the head of the family, by God's Word, and the woman as the heart of the family by God's Word.

Death of a marriage or divorce could only come if either of these three things failed.

The fourth law of marriage: There can be no question, but that the married state, from the beginning of Creation, was intended as a beautiful representation of the union between Christ and His Church!

Eph 5:21 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God".
Eph 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord".
Eph 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife", even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, "so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing".
Eph 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives", even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself".

We can be sure that Jesus Christ will never divorce His church, The Bride of Christ!

So what was the interpretation by these Pharisees?

*****Mar 10:4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

FIRST: Moses did not give a command for anyone to divorce their wives!

God will never go against His own word!

SECOND: Moses allowed the divorce to protect the other party.

There will always be consequences in every divorce!

In the Jewish way for a marriage of that day, a man would make a choice of a woman. He would then obtain the consent of her parents. He would then take her to his own home and consummate the marriage. If he then had no delight in her, nor pleasure and therefore no affection for her and could not bear the sight of her, then he wanted the option for divorce and divorce was permitted because of his bad heart toward her.

They used the law of Moses to get that divorce!

If that man could not bear to live with his wife any longer, then that man had to give that woman a "bill of divorcement" which certified that it was not she that had caused any problem, and she was divorced and free to marry again.

She was no longer a virgin and considered defiled to most other men.

This was not any law of Moses nor any law of God but only permission because of the hardness of these men's hearts.

It is easy to see where men could abuse this arrangement and they did!

A wife could be obtained in many other ways than this in those days, but there was to be only one way to dismiss a wife and it was by a "bill of divorcement".

This "bill of divorcement" was to protect that wife from an angry husband who would otherwise just kick her out the door with no resolution to her situation.

So Jesus responded:

*****Mar 10:5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

Why had Moses written this down for them?

1) 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2) "Hardness of the heart", is being blind to the "intent" of the Word of God!

Compare these words:

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; "that blindness in part is happened to Israel", until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

2Co 3:14 "But their minds were blinded": for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

Hardness of the heart is then not receiving the Word of God the way it was intended!

Sadly, these Pharisees had no intention of changing their ways!

Joh 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
Joh 12:40 "He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart"; that they should not see with their eyes, nor "understand with their heart", and be converted, and I should heal them".

Jesus knew all this was true so He explained to all those listening the true intent of the marriage from the Word of God.

*****Mar 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

It is very important for us to understand these words of Jesus for more than one reason.

1) Jesus quotes from the Genesis account of creation.

God had made Adam and Eve right at the beginning!

Not some millions and certainly not some 4.5 billion of years after the beginning as the evolutionist teach of the beginning of mankind.

There is absolutely no room in scripture for any such thing as "Geological Ages"!

Christians who compromise on this issue, for the sake of scientist falsely called, are undermining God's Word!

We can see that Jesus Christ accepted the creation record in the Book of Genesis just as it was written!

2) Marriage and family are the most important of all human institutions!

We should make every effort in picking a wife we can live with forever.

From the Book of Ruth we have these words:

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Roth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

These are some similar feelings we should have for that special spouse that we accept into our lives!

And Jesus continues to quote from the Book of Genesis.

*****Mar 10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
Mar 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

Too many critics of the Word of God imply that the first two chapters of Genesis are two separate accounts of creation and contradict each other but Jesus does not say that!

What did Jesus say?

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Jesus Christ uses both of these verses in the same sentence!

We can also believe that there is no gap between these two chapters as some try to use a"gap theory" in order to say that God used evolution in creation. All lies!

There should be no doubt that the original intent of God was for one man to have just one woman as wife throughout his entire life time!

That binding to that wife should be more closer and more stronger than that to the father or mother!

That union was to be so close that nothing could separate or break that bond!

That these two, with mutual feelings toward each other, should be united as though they were just one being!

Jesus says when the selection of a wife is made under these guidelines, then it is only God that should be able to break this bond!

*****Mar 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

To know the Lord Jesus Christ is to have eternal life:

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Why would we ever think that while we are living for the Lord, that God would place turmoil in our lives.

If we have followed the guidelines for choosing a wife, someone that is second only to Jesus Christ in our lives, then why would we not be subject to God's Law?

A marriage must be a mutual contract between two people who have placed The Lord first, and then and only then, placed each other above all others including each one's family.

This mutual agreement to wed, must come above the rights of each individual or Satan will begin to tear this marriage down:

1Co 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

This marriage must be based on affection and not lust!

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (also death of the marriage)

To avoid lust and have affection we must base that love on the things of God!

Col 3:2 "Set your affection on things above", not on things on the earth.

Love is then the marriage of affections!

There can be only one heart between the two bodies!

In a godly marriage there must be a mutual promise to live together "faithfully and according to the Word of God"!

Marriage must be a solemn moment when two immortal beings are traveling together through the storms of this life with the help of God!

Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh": she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

It is the creation account in the Book of Genesis that must be the foundation of all marriages!

A marriage is between one man and one woman and should be a life long commitment and it is only under these conditions that God will bless this marriage!

Gen 1:28 "And God blessed them", and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

We know that some of the disciples were married so they still had some questions.

*****Mar 10:10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
Mar 10:11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

According to Matthew, Jesus said it this way.

Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

The Pharisees had twisted the Word of God given to Moses around to make it sound like God had given permission for easy divorce but that had never been the intent of this law!

In the days of Moses, men would just kick a wife out of the house where they would be mocked and ridiculed and left to take care of themselves, being shunned from society.

The bill of divorcement was issued for the protection of the woman. The bill of divorcement not only allowed the woman to remarry but in most cases her needs had to be provided for her remaining days by that husband who had used any excuse to get rid of her.

So then a "bill of divorcement" was intended as a deterrent to divorce rather than to make divorce an easy thing!

The Greek word "pornea" is used for the English word "fornication" in this verse from Matthew.

"Pornea" does not only mean fornication, but also harlotry, adultery, and spiritually idolatry.

"Fornication" in every form was condemned by the Laws of Moses!

"Fornication" then, was not only forsaking the marriage vows but was also forsaking the Word of God!

This is why fornication was considered grounds for divorce!

BUT, on the other hand Jesus did not allow this exception in the Book of Luke when He was teaching the disciples about "things of the heart".

Luk 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

We can only conclude that, though fornication was grounds for divorce and remarriage, it is sometimes still better to salvage the marriage, if there is heartfelt repentance followed by heartfelt forgiveness!

1Co 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

The Apostle Paul added these words.

1Co 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
1Co 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1Co 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

We should never think that God expects His children to stay in an abusive marriage an live in misery!

God does not expect a godly man to remain married to an ungodly woman if they are unable to do so and the same for the godly woman with an ungodly man, when they are unable to do so.

God does not expect anyone to stay in an abusive situation!

But God will never intend for divorce to be easy and "there will always be consequences"!

But also with a godly divorce there is always permission to remarry and in some cases it is best to remarry!

1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: "for it is better to marry than to burn".

Burn in this verse is "burn with lust", which in itself is a great sin!

Lustful eyes have already committed "fornication" without performing the act itself!

There are no commandments to remarry or not to remarry!

But if there is a new marriage, God says to marry a believer and then His same laws will apply to the new marriage that were given in the Creation record!

1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; "only in the Lord".

What was the reaction by the disciples to these things that Jesus was saying?

Mat 19:10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

A man must be willing to commit to the Word of God!

Marriage must be a lifelong commitment for it to be a joyful experience!

In our world today, divorce is so rampant that most people just shack up or just live with each other, unmarried, refusing to make a commitment but that is not the way of God!

Pro 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: "but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long".
Pro 23:18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Pro 23:19 "Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way".

By this time of Jesus, there were some women who had risen to great authority in the Hebrew society and along with that, some of them would also kick the man out of the house, also for lack of any real reason.

*****Mar 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Jesus said the woman would then be held under the same standards as the man was held!

God does not expect His children to live in misery but God does expect us to be very careful when we are choosing a helpmate because it should be for life!

After all, we are the "Bride of Christ" and The Lord Jesus will never divorce His Bride!

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

The "Bride of Christ" will make it to Heaven to spend eternity with her Husband!

*****Mar 10:13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

Now we can believe that it was just an accident that the topic in this chapter goes from marriage and divorce to children but that cannot be true.

It is a fact that children are involved when it comes to marriage and divorce and those parents have an obligation not only to those children but also to God in behalf of those children.

The family is extremely important in the eyes of God.

If the marriage is blessed, the children will also be blessed.

These children were brought to Jesus for His blessing and prayers and we should notice there is no mention of baptism or salvation.

Luke said these were just children who wanted to see Jesus:

Luk 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

This is why the disciples were rebuked by the Lord and another great lesson for them to learn.

Little children can never be looked on as a disturbance in the eyes of God and Jesus forbade His disciples to stop the children from coming to Him.

Why?

Jesus explains.

*****Mar 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

God will never goes against His own will or His own Word!

We are duty bound as parents to bring our children to Christ, also a commandment!

And, Jesus is always watching to see what His disciples are doing!

We displease the Lord Jesus in many of the things we do, especially when it comes to our children!

There is no such thing as an innocent child, but children do provide a picture of innocence.

Small children are usually, teachable, humble, free from prejudice, and obstinate!

Children are never to be discouraged from seeking Christ but should be encouraged at every age!

The disciples had forbidden these parents from bringing their children.

These disciples had already forgotten that the family must be protected at all cost!

Jesus had just been teaching that divorce is the terrible destroyer of children because divorce separates the parents of children in a negative way!

We must all, like babes, approach Jesus with simplicity, sincerity, and eagerness.

This is how a child goes about the things they do daily!

So, those mothers were not sent away empty.

*****Mar 10:16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

One after another the Lord Jesus took each child up into His arms, placing His hands on them and blessed each and every child that came.

Every child, before the age of accountability, are incapable of moral obligation and are there therefore innocent.

Small children are free from personal guilt and have a free conscience.

They are not and cannot be saved because they have nothing to be saved from, that they know about!

Compare:

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Until children reach this point in their lives they are all innocent in the eyes of God.

Every child that dies before they reach the age of accountability will go straight to the arms of Jesus.

This includes those that never reach that mental state and live to be adults!

So as we teach children we must teach the simplicity of Jesus Christ!

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Satan is subtle, but Jesus Christ is simple!

We must not ever make the "Gospel" complex for children!

Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ can be understood at any age!

And we must all come to the Lord Jesus Christ the same way that a child does!

Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Righteousness.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Servant to Our Father in Heaven.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Substitute.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Surety.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Savior of the guilty.

There is nothing here that cannot be understood at any age!

Jesus Christ came into this world as a Babe, to save babes!

We can only be complete in Jesus!

Questions?

Let's Pray!