Day 311

Of Marriage.

Chapter 25, Paragraph 3.

“It is lawful for all sorts of people to Marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent;…”

Scripture Lookup

Hebrews 13:4

1 Timothy 4:3

Reflection

Who should be allowed to marry? That question has been particularly prominent in recent years, as nations have accepted same-sex unions as valid. The Bible is clear that marriage is to be between one man and one woman. Beyond that, there is a great amount of liberty in who you may choose as a spouse. Marriage is for all humanity, and the regulations concerning it are few. Geographic location, ethnicity, and culture have no bearing on whether or not marriage is biblical. Socio-economic status does not affect whether a marriage is pleasing to God. While there are matches that may be unwise when such categories are considered, they are not sinful.

Marriage is to be held in honor, as it is an institution that was ordained by God at creation. It is to be entered into after some careful thought. As such, those who cannot reasonably give their consent to a marriage should not wed. Those who do have sound judgement, though, ought to be careful not to spend so much time considering all the variables of a potential husband that they fall into sin: “…it is better to marry than to burn.” (1 Corinthians 7:9) The restrictions upon whom one may marry, while crucial, are not endless.

Questions to Consider

• What kinds of marriages are not biblical?