Christian Marriage
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24
It is very evident for anyone who wants to know God’s design for marriage, that it is a union between one man and one woman for life. They are to “leave” their father and mother. You, of course, ought to still love and honor your parents according to the Fourth commandment and care for them, but you are now beginning a new family unit. Your first commitment is to your spouse.
You are to be “joined” to your spouse, or as the old King James Version translated it, “cleave” to your spouse. That seems like a stronger term. To cleave to your spouse means to be inseparable. You are not to let other family or friends come between the two of you. Marriage is a beautiful, close-knit relationship. Some couples seem to live parallel lives. They are not hostile to each other, but they each live their own lives. Others do everything they can together. This is the kind of companionship God intends for a close-knit marriage.
This closeness is emphasized even more by the last phrase, “and they shall become ONE FLESH.” What could be closer than that? To be “one flesh” means that you no longer think and act for yourself. Now you live for your spouse because they are literally a part of you. As Paul says, “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.” (Ephesians 5:28) Our selfish human nature that thinks about our own feelings, hurts, and desires is the greatest enemy to the oneness of marriage. For any marriage to succeed, we must learn to love and forgive the way Christ loves and forgives us. Therefore, being one flesh spiritually is of the greatest importance.
O Lord, thank you for the close bond of marriage. Forgive me for all the times my own selfishness has broken down the unity and teach me to love and forgive as you have done to me. Amen