Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Holy and righteous Father, please strengthen the commitment to marriage in my friends, in my family, in your church, and in myself. It seems marriages are in trouble everywhere. Pour out your Spirit upon us as we commit our lives to your gracious covenant of marriage. Make our relationships a light to the world and a blessing to our children. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

After Jesus said all these things, he left Galilee. Jesus went into the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. Many people followed Jesus. Jesus healed the sick people there. Some Pharisees came to Jesus. They tried to make Jesus say something wrong. They asked Jesus, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for any reason he chooses?" Jesus answered, "Surely you have read this {in the Scriptures }: When God made the world, 'he made people male and female.' And God said, 'So a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two people will become one.' So the two people are not two, but one. God joined those two people together. So no person should separate them." The Pharisees asked, "So why did Moses give a command allowing a man to divorce his wife by writing a certificate of divorce ?" Jesus answered, "Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you refused to accept God's teaching. But divorce was not allowed in the beginning. I tell you that any person that divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of the sin of adultery. The only reason for a person to divorce and marry again is if his first wife had sexual relations with another man." The followers said to Jesus, "If that is the only reason a man can divorce his wife, then it is better not to marry." Jesus answered, "Not every person can accept this truth {about marriage}. But God has made some people able to accept it. There are different reasons why some men cannot marry. Some men were born without the ability to make children. Other men were made that way later in life by other people. And other men have given up marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. But the person that can {marry} should accept this teaching {about marriage}. "

Related Scripture Readings

And husbands should love their wives like that. They should love their wives like they love their own bodies. The man who loves his wife loves himself. Why? Because no person ever hates his own body. Every person feeds and takes care of his body. And that is what Christ does for the church, because we are parts of his body. {The Scriptures say,} "So a man will leave his father and mother and join his wife. And the two people will become one." That secret truth is very important—I am talking about Christ and the church. But each one of you must love his wife like he loves himself. And a wife must respect her husband.

The husband should give his wife all that she should have as his wife. And the wife should give her husband all that he should have as her husband. The wife does not have power over her own body. Her husband has the power over her body. And the husband does not have power over his own body. His wife has the power over his body. Don't refuse to give your bodies to each other. But you might both agree to stay away {from sex} for a time. You might do this so that you can give your time to prayer. Then come together again. This is so that Satan (the Devil) cannot tempt you in your weakness.

"It was also said, 'Any person that divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.' But I tell you that any person that divorces his wife is causing his wife to be guilty of the sin of adultery. The only reason for a person to divorce his wife is if his wife had sexual relations with another man. And any person that marries that divorced woman is guilty of the sin of adultery.