JESUS' COMMANDMENT ON MARRIAGE

1 Corinthians 7:10-11 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

These two verses are not marriage counseling advice, but a marriage commandment - a commandment that was given, not by the apostle Paul, but a commandment from God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. Written in this manner, Paul stresses the extreme importance, and diligent consideration, that is required to be given to marriage. Here, God's commandment is made to both the husband and wife regarding their marriage union. To the wife, God says let not the wife depart from her husband, and His commandment to the husband is, let not the husband put away his wife. Marriage, from the beginning, was designed by God to be a lifetime commitment. This commandment of God was spoken by His Son while on earth and recorded in Matthew 5:32; 19:9, Mark 10:11, and Luke 16:18. Once consummated, the bond of marriage is not something that, in the eyes of God, can be dissolved simply at the will, or pleasure, of either party. The wife cannot depart from her husband, and neither can the husband put away his wife for any cause, other than that cause specifically allowed by God, and was spoken by His Son, Jesus Christ (See Matt. 5:31-32).

Marriage was God's design from the beginning of time. He gave this command in Genesis 2:24, Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. However, citing Old Testament law found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Jesus said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. In establishing New Testament law, Jesus amends the law of marriage and divorce to read, whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery (Matt. 5:31-32). Separation between the husband and wife may occur for many reasons. It could be a consensual separation for a period of time, as referred to in verse 5 above. Extreme health conditions could result in the separation of marriage partners. Military service, life endangerment, physical abuse, and neglect by either party to a marriage, would also be valid reasons for separation. However, separation, for any reason, does not dissolve a marriage, because, as Paul cites in the lesson text, that, even though separated, they are to remain unmarried. The other alternative is to be reconciled.

Jesus states God's law regarding marriage in no uncertain terms. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Matt. 19:6b). The only exception found in the New Testament to this law of God, is fornication. This is stated in Matthew 5:32, and 19:9. Fornication is the only basis for a divorce that would allow the faithful spouse to remarry. To the unfaithful spouse, God does not recognize remarriage. Whether it is the husband or the wife that seeks separation or divorce on any ground other than fornication, God's law specifically states that remarriage results in adultery. Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery (Mark 10:11-12).

It was extremely necessary for the church at Corinth to know, understand, and obey these teachings on marriage. Why? First of all, they were young Christians - babes in Christ - and had not gained enough knowledge about the laws of God sufficiently to condemn fornication that was allowed to exist in their midst (See Chapter 5). Secondly, members of this congregation were under the civil law of the Roman government. In times past, some were possibly under Greek rule. The civil governments of both cultures allowed separation of the parties to a marriage, and granted divorcement for practically any reason. Under these social conditions it is important that they fully understood God's law regarding marriage. Indeed, God's law was radically different from the civil law under which they currently were governed.

The third reason, Paul gives, for a husband and wife to avoid divorce and separation is the Christian influence one may have in the life of an unbelieving spouse. This teaching is found in verses 12-17 that follow the lesson text. This is summarized in the form of rhetorical questions found in verse 16: For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband, or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? If only the world knew, and obeyed, Jesus commandment on marriage!