Matthew 19:1-12; Gen. 1:26-28, Marriage

Before working our way through Jesus’ teaching let us again quote Edersheim:

Incomparably as these principles differ from the teaching of Christ, it must again be repeated, that no real comparison is possible between Christ and even the strictest of the Rabbis, since none of them actually prohibited divorce, except in the case of adultery, nor yet laid down those high eternal principles which Jesus enunciated.  But we can understand how, from the Jewish point of view, 'tempting Him,' they would put the question, whether it was lawful to divorce a wife 'for every cause.'  Avoiding their cavils, the Lord appealed straight to the highest authority -- God's institution of marriage.  He, who at the beginning had made them male and female, had in the marriage-relation 'joined them together,' to the breaking of every other, even the nearest, relationship, to be 'one flesh' -- that is, to a union which was unity.

·        Have you not read?  The issue is Scripture, not the Rabbis.  If we press Scripture to fit our systematic approach then our systematics are honored above Scripture.

·        He who made them at the beginning.  God’s authority (the authority of Scripture) is based in the fact that marriage is His creation.  He alone speaks with authority.

·        Made them male and female.  God made both in His image (Gen. 1:27; 5:2).  They are equals with inherent differences.  Gay marriage is not only an attack on common sense but on the intention of the Creator.

·        And said.  God’s word is essential to the beginning of the marriage but also to the direction of marriage.  Jesus is still speaking as the Creator.

·        For this reason.  This is from Gen. 2:24.  Genesis 1 and 2 tell two stories of the creation of the man and the woman.  They are not contradictory stories.  They teach fundamental truth.  First, both in God’s image (Gen. 1).  Second, they are different.  The fact that the Male was created first is significant to his leadership.  The fact that the Woman was taken from his side is significant to her submission.  The Male’s response (this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh) is fundamental to the relationship of the two.  They are deeply and inseparably related.  Mutual respect is built in to the very act of the Creator.  Thus they must leave and cleave. 

·        A man.  A special responsibility is on the man.  He is created first and must lead.

·        Shall leave his father and mother.  The closest relationship the man has ever had gives way to a new, much deeper relationship.  Note that he is to leave his parents, and he is not to separate from his wife.

·        And be joined to his wife.  This stresses the inseparableness of the two.  They are to stick close, to stay with, and to pursue this closeness.  It is not just a rule; it goes to the heart, especially of the man.

Let us pick this up in our next post.