Before we leave Christ's treatise on marriage and move on to what the rest of God's Word has to say, we need to see one final truth that He imparts here. He tells us that in the context of a marriage relationship, a husband and wife "are no longer two but one flesh."
Now notice the logical conclusion to this, "Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate." We have two people who have entered into a union, a bond, where they actually become one. And in light of this, God decrees that they should never be divided.
Catch how He says "let not man separate." Why single out "man" here? Because it's only going to be through human influence, independent of God's will, that this bond would ever be broken.
God so values and esteems the marriage bond that He will never arbitrarily seek to break it. His heart for marriage is for it to be as permanent as anything in this life. He wants marriage to prevail over the forces in this world that would seek to pull it apart. And when a husband and wife make the decision to honor the institution of marriage the same way He does, it will be permanent and it will prevail.
This doesn't downplay the fact that we live in a world that falls short of this ideal, a world where there's death and even divorce. But it does draw our attention to the understanding that God's ideal will for marriage is for it to be a lasting union that not only stands the test of time, but actually grows stronger and deeper over the years. And because that's His heart for marriage, it ought to be our heart, as well.
We have two people who have entered into a union, a bond, where they actually become one. And in light of this, God decrees that they should never be divided.
Think about it...
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
Matthew 19:6
"Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
Now notice the logical conclusion to this, "Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate." We have two people who have entered into a union, a bond, where they actually become one. And in light of this, God decrees that they should never be divided.
Catch how He says "let not man separate." Why single out "man" here? Because it's only going to be through human influence, independent of God's will, that this bond would ever be broken.
God so values and esteems the marriage bond that He will never arbitrarily seek to break it. His heart for marriage is for it to be as permanent as anything in this life. He wants marriage to prevail over the forces in this world that would seek to pull it apart. And when a husband and wife make the decision to honor the institution of marriage the same way He does, it will be permanent and it will prevail.
This doesn't downplay the fact that we live in a world that falls short of this ideal, a world where there's death and even divorce. But it does draw our attention to the understanding that God's ideal will for marriage is for it to be a lasting union that not only stands the test of time, but actually grows stronger and deeper over the years. And because that's His heart for marriage, it ought to be our heart, as well.
We have two people who have entered into a union, a bond, where they actually become one. And in light of this, God decrees that they should never be divided.
Think about it...
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
Matthew 19:6
"Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”