WODC

 

  James Murray

      Marriage Enrichment

What the Bible says about Marriage

 What does the Bible teach about marriage?
Marriage is a permanent, committed partnership between a man and a woman.

"And that a man should leave his father and mother, and be forever united to his wife. The two shall become one—no longer two, but one! And no man may divorce what God has joined together. Matthew 19:5-6, TLB

 How should husbands relate to their wives?
"And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the church when He died for her…That is how husbands should treat their wives, loving them as parts of themselves. For since a man and his wife are now one, a man is really doing himself a favour and loving himself when he loves his wife! Ephesians 5:25-28, TLB

 Husbands should honour their wives.
"You husbands must be careful of your wives, being thoughtful of their needs and honouring them as the weaker sex. Remember that you and your wife are partners in receiving God's blessings, and if you don't treat her as you should, your prayers will not get ready answers." I Peter 3:7, TLB

How should the wife relate to her husband? 
"You wives must submit to your husbands' leadership in the same way you submit to the Lord. For a husband is in charge of his wife in the same way Christ is in charge of His body the church. (He gave His very life to take care of it and be its Saviour!) So you wives must willingly obey your husbands in everything, just as the church obeys Christ." Ephesians 5:22-24, TLB

Does that mean the wife must do all the "give and take"? No! Marriage requires submission by both partners.
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21, NIV

 What counsel forbids physical or verbal spouse abuse?
"Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." Colossians 3:19, NIV

For a successful marriage, determine to settle misunderstanding at once. 
"If you are angry, don't sin by nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun go down with you still angry—get over it quickly." Ephesians 4:26, TLB

Keep the relationship growing in unity and understanding. 
"Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Try always to be led along together by the Holy Spirit, and so be at peace with one another." Ephesians 4:2-3, TLB

How should society view marriage? 
"Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." Hebrews 13:4, NIV

By what commandments has God guarded marriage? The seventh and the tenth.
"You shall not commit adultery." and "You shall not covet your neighbour's wife." Exodus 20:14,17, NIV

What is the only acceptable reason that Jesus gave for ending a marriage? 
"But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a woman so divorced commits adultery." Matthew 5:32, NIV