What is the Marriage Covenant?

Introduction:

Having completed the theme, The Man and His God, in which we discussed in detail, how to develop Spiritual Disciplines, such as, how we are to pray, how to study God’s word, what it means to be holy, how to handle besetting sins, and how to find help when we need it, we determined that this theme was the foundation of all the rest, and because biblical leadership was designed by God, it would be impossible to lead without him.

We then moved into our next LEAD theme which I believe according to scripture would be the next in our progression toward becoming biblically based spiritual leaders. We’ve entitled this next theme, The Man and His Wife, and beginning with the basics, Where Did Marriage Come From? , we answered that question from Genesis 2:15-25.

We saw that man was created as a steward of God’s creation, caring for and enjoying it with boundaries set for obedience. We also saw that man was created for companionship and therefore he created woman to be his much needed help-meet to partner with him in fulfilling God’s purpose. Finally, we looked at the covenant of marriage, and saw that the relationship between the man and his wife was meant to be and unbreakable covenant between them and God.

This morning we will like more closely at this marriage covenant and to what extant is it binding, as we look at a question posed by the Pharisees in Jesus day regarding the marriage covenant, and Jesus response to that question, which should provide with the answers to our lesson question, What is the Marriage Covenant?, from Matthew 19:1-12.

Text: Matthew 19:1–12

Matthew 19:1–12 ESV

1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” 10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

Main Idea: Faithfulness in marriage mirrors God's covenantal love—a call to live out commitment and stability in a world that often disregards it.

Background:

Matthew was written primarily to the Jews, for the purpose of presenting Jesus as their long awaited Messiah. He does this by making numerous references to the Old Testament law and ceremonies of which the Jews would understand, and by doing so, showed how Jesus fulfilled the law and the predictions of the prophets.

When we come to Matthew 19:1-12, the Pharisees ask Jesus a question on divorce, which stemmed from a flawed interpretation of the Law with God’s original purpose for marriage. This misinterpretation was the opinion of Hillel, a rabbi who allowed divorce for the slightest reasons on the basis of Deut. 24:1–4, but however, he was opposed by another teacher, Shammai, who regarded only gross indecency as proper grounds.

Jesus’ answer transcends this debate about Deuteronomy and returns to the order of creation by God, thus allowing him to confront the cultural acceptance of divorce as a fundamental denial of God’s created order and the nature of marriage.

1. Confronting Cultural Norms

Matthew 19:1–3 ESV

1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”

Perhaps in these verses, you could outline Jesus' initial encounter with the Pharisees, emphasizing that He challenges common cultural norms about divorce. The setting provides a contrast between human legalism and divine intention. This sermon point might encourage listeners to critically evaluate their assumptions about marriage, considering Jesus' perspective over societal customs. It's a call to reorient our lives around God’s original design.

2. Covenantal Commitment

Matthew 19:4–6 ESV

4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

You could use these verses to emphasize Jesus’ reminder of God’s intent for marriage from the beginning, where marriage is a lifelong commitment. This passage might anchor the concept that marriage reflects God’s faithful relationship with His people. It serves as a call for couples to emulate divine fidelity, encouraging them to pursue each other’s hearts continuously and to resist influences that seek to separate what God has joined.

3. Challenge of Justifications

Matthew 19:7–9 ESV

7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

In these verses, you could discuss the Pharisees' testing question, Jesus' response, and His clarification of Moses’ provision for divorce. Perhaps this highlights humanity’s tendency to prioritize self-interest over God’s wisdom. This section might challenge individuals to re-evaluate justifications for divorce in light of God's desires, prompting honesty and repentance where needed. It’s a poignant reminder of the sanctity of marriage as God intended it.

4. Committing to God's Call

Matthew 19:10–12 ESV

10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

Maybe in these concluding verses, focus on the disciples' reaction to Jesus' strict teaching and His explanation about those who are called to remain unmarried. This point might provide a wider perspective on God’s varied plans for His people, urging acceptance of different relational pathways as part of His will. Emphasize that whether married or single, the ultimate purpose is to love and serve God wholeheartedly.