5 Surprising Facts About Marriage in the Bible

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The biblical concept of marriage involves oneness between a husband and wife that mirrors the oneness of Christ with His church. The Bible records the creation of marriage in the second chapter of Genesis, “The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.’ For this reason, a man will leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:23-24). God created man and then made woman to compliment him. We know from Scripture that biblical marriage is God’s fix for the fact that it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). Here are five surprising facts about marriage in the Bible. There are many truths we can learn about marriage from Scripture.

Unselfish Love Holds the Marriage Together

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We often hear the term “unconditional love” when it comes to relationships, but “unselfish love” is another term that we should know. Unselfish love is the glue that holds marriages together. The Apostle Paul states, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). It’s important that we subdue our own egos and selfish pride for the sake of our family. True Christian love is not a feeling; it is something we must make the effort to practice every day.

Sex is Important

Let’s talk about sex. It is a wholesome and natural part of a marriage relationship, and it is for pleasure as well as for reproduction. Sex should be a priority for both partners. Paul said neither husband nor wife should deny sexual pleasure to each other: “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). God’s marriage union is where the Bible says a man and a woman become “of one flesh.” It is where the love of God is revealed through parents, to their children and many generations to come. As believers, we need to understand that sex is one of the divine gifts that God has provided for our happiness.The Bible does not give any rules for how sex should be practiced between husband and wife except for a prohibition against sex during menstruation – a woman’s period of “uncleanness” (Leviticus 18:19).

Divorce is a Tragedy in God’s Eyes

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Because God is love, He has great love for the institution of marriage. His heart breaks over the pain of divorce. Jesus saw the injustice of divorce and said that neither husband nor wife should separate from each other. He said, “Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 5:31-32). The New Testament teaches that marriage should be a lifelong commitment. While some marriages can’t be saved, divorce shouldn’t be your first option. It should only be a last resort. We must make an effort each day to keep our marriages strong and not let them drift towards divorce.