Introduction

• I Corinthians 6:9
• I Thessalonians 5:2
• Failure to obey God’s law on marriage and divorce will keep us out of heaven!
• This is a very emotional topic, but we must be led by God’s word.
• John 12:48
• Acts 17:11 – This is what we want to do – search the scriptures.

Seven scriptures about marriage

Genesis 2:18, 22-24 – The first marriage

• The word “marriage” is not used here, but that is clearly what is being talked about.
• Deuteronomy 24:2; 7:3
• Ezekiel 16:8
• I Corinthians 7:2
• Romans 7:3 – The phrase “joined to” is the same as is used in Genesis 2.
• In Hebrew and Greek, there was no separate word for “husband” or “wife.” Context must be used to determine if it’s “man” or “husband.”
• Genesis 2:22-3:2
• Words can help refer figuratively to the past or future.
  • Prolepsis:
    • Luke 2:11
    • Deuteronomy 22:23-24
  • Adjournment
    • Exodus 7:10, 12
    • John 9:17
    • II Samuel 11:26; 12:10
    • Mark 6:17

Romans 7:2-3

• The married woman is bound by God’s law while he is alive.
• The phrase “joined to” means marriage here, just as we saw in Genesis 2.
• If the woman is bound to one man, but marriage to another, she is an adulteress.

I Corinthians 7:39

• “Only in the Lord” means “according to God’s marriage law.”

Mark 10:11-12

• Marriage law is the same for men and women.

Luke 16:18

• Divorcing a spouse and marrying another causes one to commit adultery.

Matthew 19:9

• The NASB (1995) uses the word “immorality” here, which is too broad. Other translations make it more specific by using the phrase “sexual immorality.”
• I Corinthians 6:13, 18; 7:2 – Same word used here to mean “sexual immorality.”
• A man who divorces his wife for sexual immorality is no longer bound to her and is free to marry again. The original wife is still bound and not free to marry.

Matthew 5:32

• The man causes his wife to commit adultery because of the situation he put her in.

Conclusion

• Sin and Satan are the problems here, not God or His laws!