kanakattack
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2013
- Messages
- 9
Marriage in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
In Matthew 22:24-30 we read about the Sadducees asking Christ a question in regards to marriage. Their question was put forth in a hypothetical situation where a man marries a woman then dies, but afterwards his brother marries her. That brother then dies and another brother marries. This continues for seven brothers until all have finally died. Their question was to which brother the woman belonged to since all seven brothers had been married to her at one point. It is at this point that a controversial scripture arises when Christ answers them saying in verse 30, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”
Many believe that these words from the Savior point to a doctrine that there are no marriages or families after we die or even after the resurrection. It would be understandable to come to this conclusion from reading this single verse alone. However I believe it would be a mistake to ignore the other doctrines the Lord has given about the importance of marriage in His eyes and I believe that putting all the pieces together we can paint a clearer picture of the subject of marriage in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
A good place to start would be the verse previous to the scripture we just covered in Matthew 22. In verse 29 Christ also says, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” The key words to focus on are “the power of God.”
Next lets look at a series of scriptures where the doctrine of marriage is spoken of:
“It is not good that man should be alone.” Genesis 2:18. Right before Eve is given as the wife of Adam
“A man shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be as one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
“In the latter days some shall depart from the faith, forbidding to marry.” 1 Timothy 4:1-3
“Marriage is honorable.” Hebrews 13:4
“Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 11:11
“Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.” Matthew 16:19
“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” Matthew 19:5-6
All of these scriptures point to the importance our Heavenly Father has placed in marriage. It is the last two scriptures in Matthew that are the key to understanding what the Savior meant in his words towards the Sadducees. Both of these scriptures speak of the power of God being used here on earth to bind husband and wife together. He gave this power to the apostles before he returned back to his Father after he was resurrected. We read of this very act of giving this authority to his apostles in the same scripture of Matthew 16:19
Taking all these doctrines into account we can begin to paint a larger picture of the eternal principle of marriage and see what the Savior meant by his words. While some may believe he taught that marriage does not exist at all in the resurrection I contend that he was pointing out the Sadducees ignorance in understanding “the power of God.” There can be no marriage of these other brothers to this woman because the power to bind a man and woman together in marriage must be done by the power of God on earth as it is taught in Matthew 16 & 19. It is not a question of which of the brothers the woman belongs to but if the marriage was performed through the authority of God before they had all died.
While some may disagree with this assessment of this scripture I cannot deny the reality of the truth of it in my own life. I know the reality of “neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” in my own marriage. I have come closer to my Savior because of my wife and the strengths she has brought to me through our marriage that I could never have found on my own. I know that God created a man and a woman to compliment one another by creating differences and responsibilities respective to each. Any happily married couple who share a faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ can also attest to this truth. It is because of this reality that I know it is a true principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of the fruits that my marriage has brought forth in helping me more fully live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 22:24-30 we read about the Sadducees asking Christ a question in regards to marriage. Their question was put forth in a hypothetical situation where a man marries a woman then dies, but afterwards his brother marries her. That brother then dies and another brother marries. This continues for seven brothers until all have finally died. Their question was to which brother the woman belonged to since all seven brothers had been married to her at one point. It is at this point that a controversial scripture arises when Christ answers them saying in verse 30, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”
Many believe that these words from the Savior point to a doctrine that there are no marriages or families after we die or even after the resurrection. It would be understandable to come to this conclusion from reading this single verse alone. However I believe it would be a mistake to ignore the other doctrines the Lord has given about the importance of marriage in His eyes and I believe that putting all the pieces together we can paint a clearer picture of the subject of marriage in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
A good place to start would be the verse previous to the scripture we just covered in Matthew 22. In verse 29 Christ also says, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” The key words to focus on are “the power of God.”
Next lets look at a series of scriptures where the doctrine of marriage is spoken of:
“It is not good that man should be alone.” Genesis 2:18. Right before Eve is given as the wife of Adam
“A man shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be as one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
“In the latter days some shall depart from the faith, forbidding to marry.” 1 Timothy 4:1-3
“Marriage is honorable.” Hebrews 13:4
“Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 11:11
“Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.” Matthew 16:19
“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” Matthew 19:5-6
All of these scriptures point to the importance our Heavenly Father has placed in marriage. It is the last two scriptures in Matthew that are the key to understanding what the Savior meant in his words towards the Sadducees. Both of these scriptures speak of the power of God being used here on earth to bind husband and wife together. He gave this power to the apostles before he returned back to his Father after he was resurrected. We read of this very act of giving this authority to his apostles in the same scripture of Matthew 16:19
Taking all these doctrines into account we can begin to paint a larger picture of the eternal principle of marriage and see what the Savior meant by his words. While some may believe he taught that marriage does not exist at all in the resurrection I contend that he was pointing out the Sadducees ignorance in understanding “the power of God.” There can be no marriage of these other brothers to this woman because the power to bind a man and woman together in marriage must be done by the power of God on earth as it is taught in Matthew 16 & 19. It is not a question of which of the brothers the woman belongs to but if the marriage was performed through the authority of God before they had all died.
While some may disagree with this assessment of this scripture I cannot deny the reality of the truth of it in my own life. I know the reality of “neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” in my own marriage. I have come closer to my Savior because of my wife and the strengths she has brought to me through our marriage that I could never have found on my own. I know that God created a man and a woman to compliment one another by creating differences and responsibilities respective to each. Any happily married couple who share a faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ can also attest to this truth. It is because of this reality that I know it is a true principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of the fruits that my marriage has brought forth in helping me more fully live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
