Jesus says marriage began “at the beginning” (Matt. 19:4-5). So, marriage law, or the marriage covenant, has seniority over any other covenant. All people are subject to its requirements – God’s marriage law is not just for Christians (Gen. 1:27-28; 2:18 -25). God teaches there are three requirements for successful marriages, reaffirmed in each Bible age (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5; Eph. 5:31 ): [1] separation – “leave father and mother;” [2] permanence – “be joined to his wife,’ [3] unity – “become one flesh.”

There are only four kinds of people who have the right to contract a marriage and be married: [1] Those who have never been married (Gen. 2:18-25; 1 Cor. 7:8-9; Heb. 13:4). [2] Those whose spouse is (Rom. 7:3; 1 Cor. 7:8-9). [3] Those who have divorced a spouse guilty of fornication % ual immorality, Matt. 5:32 ; 19:9). Note: To divorce a spouse you must have the God-approved “cause” or “reason” (they do not have an erous spouse). Note: One can be “married” to someone and yet not be “joined” or “bound” by God (Matt. 19:6; Mk. 6:17 -18). Note: One can be “free from” the binding of God’s marriage law, thus unmarried and unbound and having the right to be married and bound in another marriage (Matt. 19:9), while the erous spouse is not “free from that law,” that is though unmarried and not bound to their former spouse is still bound to “that law” (Rom. 7:1-3); thus, does not have the right to another marriage. [4] Those who are reconciling.

God’s attitude about divorce (Malachi 2:10 -16). It is to “deal treacherously with one another” ( 2:10 ,11,14,15,16). Means to betray a trust, to break faith with your spouse and God. It is “profaning the covenant” ( 2:10 ,11). Means to treat that which is holy (your God-approved marriage) as common, ordinary, repulsive to God. It is “abomination” ( 2:11 ). Means something that is morally disgusting, an abhorrence, loathsome, detestable, repulsive to God. It is that which God “hates” ( 2:16 ). Means to set against; God opposes, rejects as an enemy, despises, abhors, nauseates. It is to cover “one’s garment with ” ( 2:16 ). Means as if you smeared something foul, filthy, offensive on your clothes; as if you could cover your clothes with a harsh, mean beating that injures and harms; the results seen be everyone and cannot be washed away or removed. Finally, note this text describes a marriage as a “covenant” between a husband and wife to which God is “witness” ( 2:14 ). God is involved in, governs, all marriages and unless He releases us from His law we remain bound to His law.

A RIGHT TO MARRIAGE EXAM

Do I have a Biblical right to marry? Does the person I will marry have a Biblical right to marry? Do I have a Biblical right to be married to my spouse? Does my spouse have a Biblical right to be married to me? These are important, necessary questions to ask if we want God’s blessings on our marriage. Yet, few people think about asking them when considering marriage.

Let us make sure we understand that marriage is God’s business. He originated it. He holds to patent on it. He copyrighted it. The trademark is His. State governments may issue their licenses, but He holds the ultimate control over which marriage receives his approval with His license. Without His approval no marriage is a right marriage! Jesus said, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt. 19:4-6). Let's remember this!

Question One: Have you, or your proposed spouse, or your present spouse, been previously married? If both answer no then you have a Biblical right to marry or be married. Obviously, in Genesis 2:18 -25 that is what God did – married two previously unmarried persons.

Question Two: Have you been previously married but now your spouse is ? Is that true of the one you are marrying? Is this the circumstance of your present marriage? If both answer yes, then you have a Biblical right to be marry or be married. “So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an eress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no eress, though she has married another man” (Rom. 7:3).

Question Three: Are you seeking to be reconciled, or are you reconciled, to a former spouse to whom you were scripturally married? If the answer is yes then  you have a Biblical right to marry or be married. “A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife” (1 Cor. 7:10 -11).

Question Four: Did you, or your proposes spouse, divorce a spouse guilty of fornication? If both answer yes then you have a Biblical right to marry or be married. If you did not, then you do not have a Biblical right to marry or be married!! “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except ual immorality causes her to commit ery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery” (Matt. 5:32). “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits ery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits ery” (Matt. 19:9).

Perhaps it is not necessary to say, but for clarity purposes, let me say that any combination of these circumstances, excluding reconciliation, will also give a Biblical right to marriage. For example: If someone who has never married marries, or is married to, someone who divorced a spouse guilty of fornication.

Let me emphasize one other point. The Biblical right of divorce belongs only to the person who has a spouse guilty of the Biblically approved “cause/reason” or “reason” to divorce them (Matt. 5:32 ). If you are guilty of fornication, then understand, you do not have a spouse guilty of fornication and you have no Biblical right to divorce. You do have a “cause;” you are the “cause!”

Some might think these matters are not important; that they do not affect our salvation. Remember, marriage is the first human relationship established by god, and, it was God who established it – arranged it! “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and erers God will judge.” Jesus wants us to understand that He has spoken to all of us about divorce, and what he said is spoken with His full authority. “But I say to you that whoever …” “And I say to you, whoever …” (Matt. 5:32 ; 19:9). I urge you, thoughtfully consider this quiz. Do you have a right to marry? Is your marriage relationship approved of God? Your eternal salvation may rest in the balances. – Ronny Hinds