The Marriage Covenant

Genesis 2:24

Genesis 2:24 NKJV

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

This command came before the law of Moses and is to be distinguished from it.

It is the will of God in design from creation.

The man is to leave his parents.

The man is to be joined to his wife.

They are to become one flesh.

This is the marriage covenant.

Jesus directly quoted this passage in Matthew 19:5.

Matthew 19:4–5 NKJV

4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

As you can see, Jesus directly quoted the passage.

Based upon Jesus interpretation, Marriage defined by God is permanent—“one flesh” union. The only basis for divorce, according to the Lord, is a violation of the “one flesh” covenant by fornication.

There is a parallel direct quotation in Mark 10:7—8 by Jesus.

He emphasizes God’s original marital design.

Paul Makes a Direct Quotation in 1 Corinthians 6:16.

1 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV

16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”

In this case, the application is made negatively to sexual immorality.

There is a misuse of the “one flesh” principle.

Paul Makes a Direct Quotation in Ephesians 5:31.

Ephesians 5:31 NKJV

31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

The apostle makes an applied typology to Christ and the Church, considering it a great mystery.

A Conceptual Reference of Genesis 2:24 is Made in Romans 7:2 by Paul.

Romans 7:2 NKJV

2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.

There is a binding nature of marriage assumed from the Genesis foundation.

In 1 Corinthians 7, Conceptual References Are Made.

1 Corinthians 7:2–5 NKJV

2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1 Corinthians 7:10–11 NKJV

10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

Exclusive sexual union and permanence of marriage is presupposed.

The Conceptual Reference in Hebrews 13:4 is Our Final Consideration.

Hebrews 13:4 NKJV

4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

The sanctity of marriage and sexual purity rooted in creation theology is envision in this Hebrews passage.

Summary

Genesis 2:24 NKJV

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

A man shall leave his parents;

He shall be joined to his wife;

They shall become one flesh.

This is the marriage covenant.