Marriage - when does God consider a man and a woman 'Married'
It is a debatable topic, and scripture is not explicit regarding the subject. But marriage is a very important topic, it should never been gone into lightly, especially for Christians.
There are I understand, three lines of thought, each having there own positives and negatives. I include this thread for discussion I am sure we all have our own views, but please try keep to scripture as much as is possible
The 3 options considered in the subject of what is marriage in God's eyes.
1 - Marriage - according to the 'law'
2 - Marriage - requires covenant (vows) and a ceremony
3 - Marriage - begins when a man and woman have sex.
Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding, this is very important in a number of ways but let us stay on topic, with marriage'
What was a Jewish wedding like in Galilee at the time of Jesus?
The traditional Jewish Wedding at the times of Jesus.
1 - There is the marriage covenant - The father pays for the bride and establishes the marriage covenant.
Further reading Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 1 Cor 11:25; Eph 5:25-27
2 - The Bridal Chamber is Prepared - The son returns to his father’s house and prepares the bridal chamber.
Further reading John 6:62; John 14:2; Acts 1:9-11
3 - The Bride is Fetched - At a time determined by the father (Matt 24:36), the groom fetches the bride to bring her to his father’s house. “Although the bride was expecting her groom to come for her, she did not know the time of his coming. As a result, the groom’s arrival was preceded by a shout, which forewarned the bride to be prepared for his coming.”
Further reading John 14:3; 1 Thess 4:13-18
4 - The Bride is Cleansed - The bride undergoes ritual cleansing prior to the wedding ceremony.
Further reading 1 Cor 3:12-15; Rev 19:7-8 +
5 - The Wedding Ceremony - The private wedding ceremony.
Further reading Rev 19:7 +
6 - The Consummation - In the privacy of the bridal chamber the bride and groom consummate the marriage.
Further reading Rev 19:7 +
7 - The Marriage Feast - The celebratory marriage feast to which many are invited.
Further reading Matt 22:1-14; Matt 25:1-13; Luke 12:36
Jewish culture, is totally different to the western world.
So lets look again at the three options again.
1 - Marriage - according to the 'law' was the covenant between the couple. In the west it is get into bed first, try before you buy, if they do get married the covenant (vows) came later.
But God requires us to be married by law. Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:17
2 - Marriage - requires covenant (vows) and a ceremony. A man and a woman are married in God’s eyes when they have completed some kind of formal wedding ceremony. The vows are said in public, who act as a witness to them saying the vows.
Jesus was presence at a wedding ceremony at Canaan in Galilee. He accepted the wedding procedure of the day, He did not condemn it, he had plenty to say about divorce. In fact Jesus used the Jewish procedure for a wedding at the time he was on earth as a model of His Church, His beloved Bride.
3 - Marriage - begins when a man and woman have sex. God considers a man and a woman married the moment they engage in sexual intercourse. Some who take this to mean that a couple is not truly “married” in God’s eyes until they have consummated the marriage physically. Others argue that, if any man and woman have sex, God considers the two of them to be married. The basis for this view is the fact that sexual intercourse between a husband and wife is the ultimate fulfilment of the “one flesh” principle (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Eph 5:31). In this sense, sexual intercourse is the final “seal” on a marriage covenant.
We could refer to Isaac and Rebekah, he took her into a tent, she became his wife. But in the NT at the time of Jesus, a wedding was not like that, a wedding ceremony was as listed above. Marriage covenant first, then the Bridal chamber is prepared, the Bride is fetched, the Bride is cleansed, then comes the wedding ceremony, then the consummation, finally the marriage feast which is a very joyous occasion and could last for a full week.
But is this 'marriage' in the eyes of God? We should consider also a disabled person who cannot have sex, or a terminally ill person, they marry according to the law, say their vows in public etc, but either the man or the woman dies and they have not had sex, were they married?
Should the various options be ignored, or shall we choose a little from one and a little from another to suit our situation?
When is a man and a woman married in God's eyes?
It is a debatable topic, and scripture is not explicit regarding the subject. But marriage is a very important topic, it should never been gone into lightly, especially for Christians.
There are I understand, three lines of thought, each having there own positives and negatives. I include this thread for discussion I am sure we all have our own views, but please try keep to scripture as much as is possible
The 3 options considered in the subject of what is marriage in God's eyes.
1 - Marriage - according to the 'law'
2 - Marriage - requires covenant (vows) and a ceremony
3 - Marriage - begins when a man and woman have sex.
Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding, this is very important in a number of ways but let us stay on topic, with marriage'
What was a Jewish wedding like in Galilee at the time of Jesus?
The traditional Jewish Wedding at the times of Jesus.
1 - There is the marriage covenant - The father pays for the bride and establishes the marriage covenant.
Further reading Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 1 Cor 11:25; Eph 5:25-27
2 - The Bridal Chamber is Prepared - The son returns to his father’s house and prepares the bridal chamber.
Further reading John 6:62; John 14:2; Acts 1:9-11
3 - The Bride is Fetched - At a time determined by the father (Matt 24:36), the groom fetches the bride to bring her to his father’s house. “Although the bride was expecting her groom to come for her, she did not know the time of his coming. As a result, the groom’s arrival was preceded by a shout, which forewarned the bride to be prepared for his coming.”
Further reading John 14:3; 1 Thess 4:13-18
4 - The Bride is Cleansed - The bride undergoes ritual cleansing prior to the wedding ceremony.
Further reading 1 Cor 3:12-15; Rev 19:7-8 +
5 - The Wedding Ceremony - The private wedding ceremony.
Further reading Rev 19:7 +
6 - The Consummation - In the privacy of the bridal chamber the bride and groom consummate the marriage.
Further reading Rev 19:7 +
7 - The Marriage Feast - The celebratory marriage feast to which many are invited.
Further reading Matt 22:1-14; Matt 25:1-13; Luke 12:36
Jewish culture, is totally different to the western world.
So lets look again at the three options again.
1 - Marriage - according to the 'law' was the covenant between the couple. In the west it is get into bed first, try before you buy, if they do get married the covenant (vows) came later.
But God requires us to be married by law. Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:17
2 - Marriage - requires covenant (vows) and a ceremony. A man and a woman are married in God’s eyes when they have completed some kind of formal wedding ceremony. The vows are said in public, who act as a witness to them saying the vows.
Jesus was presence at a wedding ceremony at Canaan in Galilee. He accepted the wedding procedure of the day, He did not condemn it, he had plenty to say about divorce. In fact Jesus used the Jewish procedure for a wedding at the time he was on earth as a model of His Church, His beloved Bride.
3 - Marriage - begins when a man and woman have sex. God considers a man and a woman married the moment they engage in sexual intercourse. Some who take this to mean that a couple is not truly “married” in God’s eyes until they have consummated the marriage physically. Others argue that, if any man and woman have sex, God considers the two of them to be married. The basis for this view is the fact that sexual intercourse between a husband and wife is the ultimate fulfilment of the “one flesh” principle (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Eph 5:31). In this sense, sexual intercourse is the final “seal” on a marriage covenant.
We could refer to Isaac and Rebekah, he took her into a tent, she became his wife. But in the NT at the time of Jesus, a wedding was not like that, a wedding ceremony was as listed above. Marriage covenant first, then the Bridal chamber is prepared, the Bride is fetched, the Bride is cleansed, then comes the wedding ceremony, then the consummation, finally the marriage feast which is a very joyous occasion and could last for a full week.
But is this 'marriage' in the eyes of God? We should consider also a disabled person who cannot have sex, or a terminally ill person, they marry according to the law, say their vows in public etc, but either the man or the woman dies and they have not had sex, were they married?
Should the various options be ignored, or shall we choose a little from one and a little from another to suit our situation?
When is a man and a woman married in God's eyes?