Lessons from Matthew 19: Marriage

Proverbs 28:13: “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

For those of us who have fallen short of these commands might we find freedom in the words of Romans 8:1-4:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

And:

Psalm 32:5: Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

To fall short of these is to fall short of God’s commands, yes. But there is forgiveness for the repentant heart to be found in Christ Jesus. I pray that you not only know His forgiveness but that you have also experienced the freedom He brings as He delivers us from such sins as these!

There is one more area of marriage that I think we must talk about before we move on. And that is the area of abuse–abusive behavior, drugs, alcohol, gambling, physical abuse, and/or mental or verbal abuse. God doesn’t expect anyone to remain in harm’s way and neither does He expect that we would keep our children (His children) in such a place either.

Separation might need to take place. It would be a separation for safety’s sake. Our safety, the safety of our children, and also the safety of the perpetrator. This time is given with the hopes and prayers of restoration and reconciliation.

We are by no means to go and seek divorce. But rather, seek the counsel of God and maybe another professional in the hope that that person turns away from their sin and turns to Christ. And then, safety and peace restored, and reconciliation won!

Now these words of Jesus brought up questions in the hearts and minds of His disciples and they said, “If this is the situation between a husband and a wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied by stating that some have given themselves fully to the ministry of God by choosing to remain single-minded and sold out for Christ.

This, like marriage, is a gift!

It would do us all some good if we would stay out of the way of those who are single. Single and happy! Who are we to determine the will of God for their lives?

Could we be getting in the way and pushing our plans for their lives and not God’s?

Yikes! God can use these people and their singleness to His advantage. They are not bound like we who are married. They are free in other ways and we as God’s people need to honor and support such godly living.

And so the principle here is this:

Christians honor God by obeying His commands and keeping their covenants.

We as God’s people are to take His commands and our covenants seriously. We are not to fall into the traps and lies of the world around us!

Whether you are married or single, how can God use your marital status to show God’s love to others?

What will you do differently as a result of this lesson? How will you advise or encourage another person to follow in the ways of the Lord regarding marriage, divorce, marital faithfulness or singleness? Whose ideas will you project? Your own, or will you convey the words of God as Jesus did?

And please, those of you who are single be sure to prayerfully seek God’s will before you plunge into a lifelong commitment of marriage!

Terri Hamman

Faith & Fitness Coach