MARRIAGE COVENANT

A covenant is an agreement, and in a marriage, there is a covenant between a man and a woman. In the book of Genesis, the man must cling to his wife as he separates from his parents (Genesis 2:23-24). And it also means he must pursue and overtake her, to woo her and earn her affections.

Reference: Mark 10:7-9 Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) 'For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall join to his wife; and they that were two shall be made one flesh, so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.'

In Mark chapter 10 - from verses one to ten, Jesus confronted the Pharisees by clarifying God's views on marriage and divorce. In Jesus' time, a man could divorce his wife for the slightest offense. So the Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?". The above referenced verses stated Jesus' response about the subject, which He expressed definitely and clearly in His speech.

His first response: 'For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall join to his wife.' The two actions expected from the man is to 'leave', and then 'join'. To leave is to separate from. 'To join' has three Greek expressions: kollao ("to glue or cement together; to unite; to join oneself to, to be joined to"); su(n)zeugnumi ("to yoke together - metaphorically of union in wedlock); proskollao ("to stick to or to cleave to"). So the man must separate from His parents and join to his wife.

His second response: 'and they that were two shall be made one flesh, so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.' God has the power to make two people one. Marriage is not just about a wedding, it is a miracle about a man and a woman entering into a covenant relationship with each other and with God. And God is the greater party in the covenant. In the process, the couple become closely associated romantically or sexually.

His third response: Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.' Jesus wants husbands and wives to understand that breaking a marriage apart is an offense against God because He is the one that makes couples one, and their covenant relationship is primarily with Him as well as with each other. Simply put, to dissolve or disband the bond of marriage is not God's idea. Therefore, honouring God in the way couple treat each other is the key to a lasting marriage as God sees it. When we acknowledge this, it gives us a deeper understanding of what it means to enter into marriage covenant and how to appreciate the covenant relationship that begins when a couple is married.

In a marriage, the man and the woman must give their highest allegiance and commitment to God. However, there will be times when a couple will unfortunately and unexpectedly disappoint each other or let each other down. But no matter what happens or what seems unpleasant, the marriage vow or covenant must be held firmly or remain fast and unbroken. In all, God wants them to remember that their highest priority is not treating their spouse as he or she deserves, but as God would have them be treated.

Scripture Reading - Matthew 19:6; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Peter 4:8; Ephesians 5:25.

Guided prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the miracle of joining two together as one flesh in the place of marriage. Your Word assures that the peace you give passes all understanding. Therefore, I pray that couples receive your peace in their marital homes today and always. By your Spirit, help every couple to be of one spirit and of one mind, value each other and look out for each other's interests. As the love of Christ reigns in our hearts, it will continually extend to marriages such that couples experience higher levels of unity - spiritually, physically, and mentally, in Jesus' Name, Amen!