Marriage -Its Origin and Purpose

MARRIAGE AMONG CHRISTIANS 

Israel was under the Mosaic Law for more than 1, 500 years. The Law helped God's people in many ways.  For example, it gave the people principles to help them solve family problems, and it guided them to the Messiah.  (Galatians 3:23, 24)  When Jesus died, the Law ended and God made a new arrangement.  (Hebrews 8:6) However, some things that had been allowed under the Mosaic Law were no longer allowed for Christians. 

One day the Pharisees asked Jesus a question about marriage. Jesus replied that God had  allowed the Israelites  to get divorced under the Mosaic Law even though this was not what He wanted from the beginning.  (Matthew 19:6-8) Jesus' answer showed that God's original standard for marriage would now be the standard for Christians.  ( 1 Timothy 3:2, 12) As "one flesh," marriage mates were meant to stay together.  Their love for God and their love for each other would keep them united. Marriage mates who divorce when there is no sexual immorality are not free to remarry. (Matthew 19:9) A person may choose to forgive an immoral but repentant mate. This was the case when the prophet Hosea forgave is immoral wife, Gomer, and when Jehovah forgave the repentant Israel. (Hosea 3:1-5)  In addition, if a person knows that his or her mate was immoral and chooses to resume sexual relations with the guilty mate, this means that he or she has forgiven the mate. There is no longer a Scriptural reason for divorce. 

Jesus said that for true Christians, sexual immorality is the only reason for divorce.  Then he mentioned "those who have the gift" of living a single life. Jesus said:  "Let the one who can make room for it make room for it."  (Matthew 19:10-12) Many choose  to remain unmarried because they want to serve Jehovah without distraction, and they should be commended for their decision!  

What can help a person decided whether to stay single or get married?  A person needs to decide if he or she can cultivate the gift of singleness.  The apostle Paul recommended singleness.  But also said:  "Because of the prevalence of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife and each woman have her own husband."   Paul added:  "If they do not have self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be inflamed with passion."   So a person may decide  to get married in order to avoid letting strong sexual desires to lead him or her to a practice of masturbation or sexual immorality.  However, single ones need to consider whether they are really old enough to get married.  Paul said:  "If anyone thinks he is behaving improperly by remaining unmarried, and if he is past the bloom of youth, then this is what should take place: Let him do what he wants; he does not sin. Let them marry." (1 Corinthians 7:2, 9, 36;  1 Timothy 4:1-3)   A person should not be encouraged to get married just because he or she  has the strong sexual desires that many experience during their youth.  that person may not be mature enough for the responsibilities of marriage. 

Next time: Marriage - Its Origin and Purpose/Conclusion of MARRIAGE AMONG CHRISTIANS 

From The Watchtower magazine