Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. - Hebrews 13:4
This morning we will finish the discussion we began last Sunday on Paul’s teachings about marriage. Apparently, the congregation at Corinth had several questions on this particular topic. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 7 and let’s begin…
I. WALK IN THE MANNER YOU WERE CALLED (1 Corinthians 7:17-27)
Paul urged the Corinthians to walk in the manner in which they were called. In other words, if the LORD had called them to marriage, let them be married and if He had called them to be unmarried, let them be unmarried. This was Paul’s teaching in every church he visited - to abide by God’s will and not resist it. Though his main emphasis in this passage was on marriage, Paul provided a few other examples to validate this principle.
He explained that some who had come to faith in Christ were circumcised. These were Jews who had converted to Christianity. Others who had become Christians were uncircumcised. These were Gentile believers. Paul stated that the uncircumcised didn’t need to be circumcised nor the circumcised need to be uncircumcised. It didn’t matter - what God desired was obedience!
Some of the new believers were free while others were slaves. Certainly, if those who were slaves were afforded the opportunity to become free they should take it. Nevertheless, whether free or slave was not the issue. In fact, spiritually speaking those who were slaves had been set free in Christ and those who were free had become slaves of Christ. Either way - as born-again children of God, they had been bought with a price and belonged to the LORD.
The point Paul was making is that someone can be a faithful, obedient Christian whether they are circumcised or uncircumcised, whether you are slave or free, and whether they are married or unmarried. Following this principle, Paul addressed “virgins” - those who had never married and never had sex. He stated that, in his informed opinion, if they were presently betrothed (or engaged), they should go ahead and get married. If not, they shouldn’t be in a rush to get married. Bottom line… be content with and walk in God’s will for your life.
II. BENEFITS OF BEING UNMARRIED (1 Corinthians 7:28-35)
In accordance with the parameters Paul taught previously in this chapter, Paul again wrote that it is not a sin to be married. That said, Paul argued that there were benefits to remaining single. He spoke from personal experience, as he was unmarried (some believe he was never married and others think he was a widower). Paul stated that marriage brings with it certain troubles that being unmarried spares you from. He reasoned that time is short and Christians should make the most of it by focusing on their relationship with and service to God. As such, they must be careful not to become overly distracted or burdened by the passing things of this world like grief, joy, material possessions, and/or even their spouses.
Paul wanted the Corinthians to be free from concern. He suggested that the unmarried men were concerned about the things of God and how to please Him, while the married men had divided interests which included a concern about earthly things and how to please their wife. Furthermore, the unmarried women and virgins were concerned about the things of the LORD and how to remain holy in body and spirit, while the married women were concerned about earthly things and how to please their husbands. Paul declared that he was not opposed to or counseling against marriage, but simply saying that a major benefit of being unmarried is an undistracted and/or undivided devotion to God.
III. FATHERS GIVING DAUGHTERS IN MARRIAGE (1 Corinthians 7:36-38)
In Biblical times, especially within the Jewish culture, marriages were typically arranged by the fathers of the prospective bride and groom. The father of the bride had to give consent before his daughter could be given in marriage and the groom typically paid some sort of dowry for her. There are differing interpretations of this passage, but perhaps the most common associates it with fathers who had daughters.
If a father feels that he is not doing right by his daughter because he is not arranged for her to be married, especially if she is past her youth, he should go ahead and let her marry. This would not be a sin. On the contrary, if he feels otherwise, he may choose to let her remain unmarried. It seems reasonable to believe that the father’s opinion on this issue would be informed to some extent by the feelings of the daughter in question. Thus, the father does well either way, but as stated previously, there are potential benefits to remaining single.
If this is the proper rendering of these verses, they are largely obsolete in modern Western culture. However, at the time they were quite relevant and remain so in certain regions of the world where arranged marriage is still common practice today.
CONCLUSION
I want to conclude this morning with a recap of the major teachings given in this chapter on marriage, divorce, remarriage, and so forth. This will include content from both this week’s and last week’s messages. For starters, let’s remember that Biblical marriage is a covenant relationship between 1 man and 1 woman in which God supernaturally makes the 2 spouses into 1 flesh. This unison, and thus the marriage itself, remains intact until the physical death of either the husband or the wife.
To those who are married - stay married if possible. Develop and maintain a healthy and mutually satisfying sexual relationship within your marriage so that you will not be tempted to cheat on your spouse. Even if your spouse is not a Christian, don’t just leave them - especially if you have children! Divorce should only be considered in the most serious of circumstances.
To those who have never been married - if you can control your sexual desires and can remain single without committing sexual immorality, then stay single. There are benefits to remaining unmarried, as it frees you from certain troubles and concerns and allows you to be more wholly devoted to the LORD. However, if you can’t control these desires, then by all means get married.
To widows and widowers - you are free to remarry if you want to, so long as you marry a Christian. However, it might be better to remain unmarried, if you can do so without committing sexual immorality. Again, there are advantages to being unmarried.
To those who are divorced - if your spouse is still living, you are still bound to them. Therefore, either remain unmarried or be reconciled to them. Otherwise, you and the person you wed in a subsequent marriage may be committing adultery - this teaching is disputed by some.
To those who are engaged - unless there is a compelling reason to call it off, go through with your marriage. Don’t walk away from someone you’ve already made a commitment to just because you now recognize the benefits of being single.
And I would add, though not taught explicitly in this chapter, to those in an unbiblical marriage - you are free to divorce and, if desired, seek out a biblical marriage. In this specific instance, remarriage to another person while your original spouse or spouses are still living is not an act of adultery - because your “first marriage” was no marriage at all; it was illegitimate and not sanctioned by God.
Whichever of these scenarios describes you, be content with God’s will for your life and follow His lead. Be faithful and obedient to Him. Walk in accordance with your calling, for this is the priority.
This morning we will finish the discussion we began last Sunday on Paul’s teachings about marriage. Apparently, the congregation at Corinth had several questions on this particular topic. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 7 and let’s begin…
I. WALK IN THE MANNER YOU WERE CALLED (1 Corinthians 7:17-27)
Paul urged the Corinthians to walk in the manner in which they were called. In other words, if the LORD had called them to marriage, let them be married and if He had called them to be unmarried, let them be unmarried. This was Paul’s teaching in every church he visited - to abide by God’s will and not resist it. Though his main emphasis in this passage was on marriage, Paul provided a few other examples to validate this principle.
He explained that some who had come to faith in Christ were circumcised. These were Jews who had converted to Christianity. Others who had become Christians were uncircumcised. These were Gentile believers. Paul stated that the uncircumcised didn’t need to be circumcised nor the circumcised need to be uncircumcised. It didn’t matter - what God desired was obedience!
Some of the new believers were free while others were slaves. Certainly, if those who were slaves were afforded the opportunity to become free they should take it. Nevertheless, whether free or slave was not the issue. In fact, spiritually speaking those who were slaves had been set free in Christ and those who were free had become slaves of Christ. Either way - as born-again children of God, they had been bought with a price and belonged to the LORD.
The point Paul was making is that someone can be a faithful, obedient Christian whether they are circumcised or uncircumcised, whether you are slave or free, and whether they are married or unmarried. Following this principle, Paul addressed “virgins” - those who had never married and never had sex. He stated that, in his informed opinion, if they were presently betrothed (or engaged), they should go ahead and get married. If not, they shouldn’t be in a rush to get married. Bottom line… be content with and walk in God’s will for your life.
II. BENEFITS OF BEING UNMARRIED (1 Corinthians 7:28-35)
In accordance with the parameters Paul taught previously in this chapter, Paul again wrote that it is not a sin to be married. That said, Paul argued that there were benefits to remaining single. He spoke from personal experience, as he was unmarried (some believe he was never married and others think he was a widower). Paul stated that marriage brings with it certain troubles that being unmarried spares you from. He reasoned that time is short and Christians should make the most of it by focusing on their relationship with and service to God. As such, they must be careful not to become overly distracted or burdened by the passing things of this world like grief, joy, material possessions, and/or even their spouses.
Paul wanted the Corinthians to be free from concern. He suggested that the unmarried men were concerned about the things of God and how to please Him, while the married men had divided interests which included a concern about earthly things and how to please their wife. Furthermore, the unmarried women and virgins were concerned about the things of the LORD and how to remain holy in body and spirit, while the married women were concerned about earthly things and how to please their husbands. Paul declared that he was not opposed to or counseling against marriage, but simply saying that a major benefit of being unmarried is an undistracted and/or undivided devotion to God.
III. FATHERS GIVING DAUGHTERS IN MARRIAGE (1 Corinthians 7:36-38)
In Biblical times, especially within the Jewish culture, marriages were typically arranged by the fathers of the prospective bride and groom. The father of the bride had to give consent before his daughter could be given in marriage and the groom typically paid some sort of dowry for her. There are differing interpretations of this passage, but perhaps the most common associates it with fathers who had daughters.
If a father feels that he is not doing right by his daughter because he is not arranged for her to be married, especially if she is past her youth, he should go ahead and let her marry. This would not be a sin. On the contrary, if he feels otherwise, he may choose to let her remain unmarried. It seems reasonable to believe that the father’s opinion on this issue would be informed to some extent by the feelings of the daughter in question. Thus, the father does well either way, but as stated previously, there are potential benefits to remaining single.
If this is the proper rendering of these verses, they are largely obsolete in modern Western culture. However, at the time they were quite relevant and remain so in certain regions of the world where arranged marriage is still common practice today.
CONCLUSION
I want to conclude this morning with a recap of the major teachings given in this chapter on marriage, divorce, remarriage, and so forth. This will include content from both this week’s and last week’s messages. For starters, let’s remember that Biblical marriage is a covenant relationship between 1 man and 1 woman in which God supernaturally makes the 2 spouses into 1 flesh. This unison, and thus the marriage itself, remains intact until the physical death of either the husband or the wife.
To those who are married - stay married if possible. Develop and maintain a healthy and mutually satisfying sexual relationship within your marriage so that you will not be tempted to cheat on your spouse. Even if your spouse is not a Christian, don’t just leave them - especially if you have children! Divorce should only be considered in the most serious of circumstances.
To those who have never been married - if you can control your sexual desires and can remain single without committing sexual immorality, then stay single. There are benefits to remaining unmarried, as it frees you from certain troubles and concerns and allows you to be more wholly devoted to the LORD. However, if you can’t control these desires, then by all means get married.
To widows and widowers - you are free to remarry if you want to, so long as you marry a Christian. However, it might be better to remain unmarried, if you can do so without committing sexual immorality. Again, there are advantages to being unmarried.
To those who are divorced - if your spouse is still living, you are still bound to them. Therefore, either remain unmarried or be reconciled to them. Otherwise, you and the person you wed in a subsequent marriage may be committing adultery - this teaching is disputed by some.
To those who are engaged - unless there is a compelling reason to call it off, go through with your marriage. Don’t walk away from someone you’ve already made a commitment to just because you now recognize the benefits of being single.
And I would add, though not taught explicitly in this chapter, to those in an unbiblical marriage - you are free to divorce and, if desired, seek out a biblical marriage. In this specific instance, remarriage to another person while your original spouse or spouses are still living is not an act of adultery - because your “first marriage” was no marriage at all; it was illegitimate and not sanctioned by God.
Whichever of these scenarios describes you, be content with God’s will for your life and follow His lead. Be faithful and obedient to Him. Walk in accordance with your calling, for this is the priority.