Marriage in the Scriptures — Keith Daniel

Can we have a moment of prayer, please? Our Father, bless thee from our heart for this moment that we can just bow before God and love thee for all thou hast done for our souls and for our well-being.

Thou art good, and it is amazing grace that brought us safe thus far, and we are so conscious if we're to make it home, it will be nothing but grace. But come, Father, the God of grace, and visit us this evening to enable us to walk with God in the light of this book.

Humanity Made in God's Image

In Jesus the Christ's name, amen. Genesis 1, verse 1. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. Verse 26. And God said, let us make man.

Let us make man. In our image, after our likeness. Verse 27. So God created man. In his own image, in the image of God, created he him, male and female. Created he them, and God blessed them. God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply.

Be fruitful and multiply. Chapter 2, verse 7. And the Lord God formed man. The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. And man became a living spirit.

So, man became a living soul. Verse 18, and the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him, and help meet for him. I will make him, and help meet for him. Verse 21, and the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept.

And he took one of his ribs. He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. And the rib, the rib which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam, Adam said, this is now born of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman. Because she was taken out of man. Therefore, therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife.

And they, they shall be one. They shall be one. Bless, they shall be one flesh. Chapter four, verse one. And Adam knew Eve, his wife. And she conceived, and bear Cain. And said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

And she again bear his brother, Abel. But then, because of the tragic fall, because of the tragic fall of man into sin, God gave commandments, or laws, through Moses, to protect them morally. To protect them morally.

Biblical Laws Protecting Marriage

And in order to protect the moral sanctity of marriage. In order to protect the moral sanctity of marriage. God said in Exodus 20, verse 14. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Verse 17, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. Leviticus 20, verse 10. And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

The adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. But Moses also wrote in the law, in Deuteronomy 24, verse one and two. When a man hath taken a wife and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her.

Because he hath found some uncleanness in her. Then let him write her a bill of divorcement. Let him write her a bill of divorcement and give it in her hand and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.

Jesus' Teaching on Divorce

But now, on this point, on this point, we need to swiftly turn to the pages of the New Testament. On this point, we need to swiftly turn to the pages of the New Testament, where Jesus said in Matthew 5, verse 17, think not that I am come to destroy the law.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. And he immediately demonstrates, he immediately demonstrates what he meant by the statement in verse 31 and 32 of Matthew 5.

It hath been said, referring to the law of Deuteronomy, 24, verse one and two, that we've just listened to. It hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.

But I say unto you, I say unto you that whosoever shall put away his wife, divorce his wife, saving for the cause of fornication. Now, fornication, in the evangelical, conservative, fundamental, theological sense, there's two interpretations.

Widespread, throughout the ages of conservative theologians, fornication to one group, not quite half of the theologians of the ages who we are safe with, refer to it in the light of the rest of the scriptures as to marry someone and then to find out immediately that she is no longer a virgin.

The other interpretation of fornication, of what fornication means is sexual, immoral, betrayal, in marriage. It hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.

But I say unto you that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery. What does that mean? Literally, literally, you are the reason she will sin.

You will drive her by divorcing her. You will drive her to another man because most women won't survive alone. You, not her, are the reason whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery.

And whosoever shall marry her that is divorced, whosoever shall marry her that is divorced, committeth adultery. Now this statement of Christ's staggered and offended many people to this day. This statement of Christ's staggered and offended many people, most especially the religious leaders, the religious teachers of Israel, who were already threatened and incensed by him.

And they strongly challenged him. They strongly challenged him. We read in Matthew 19, verse three to nine, the Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him and saying unto him, is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason? And he answered and said unto them, have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female and said for this cause, shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife?

And they twain shall be one flesh. They too shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

They say unto him, why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement and to put it away? He saith unto them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives.

You suffered to divorce your wives. But from the beginning, it was not so. It was not so. And I say unto you, I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication and shall marry another, committed the adultery.

I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, divorce his wife, except it be for fornication and shall marry another, committed the adultery. And whoso marrieth her, which is put away, doth commit adultery, doth commit adultery.

Now Mark 10, verse 11 and 12 makes the same statement. Mark 10, verse 11 and 12 makes the same statement. And Luke 16, verse 18 says, whosoever putteth away his wife and marrieth another, committed the adultery.

Whosoever putteth away his wife, divorces his wife, and marrieth another, committed the adultery. And whosoever, whosoever marrieth her, that is put away from her husband, that's divorced from her husband, committeth adultery, committeth adultery.

Marriage as a Holy Covenant

Hebrews 13, verse four, marriage. Marriage is honorable in all. I wish I could stop now and for 20 minutes expand on those words, in all. Just quoting the scriptures. Marriage is honorable in all. And the bed, the bed, undefiled, undefiled.

But, but, whoremongers and adulterers, God will judge, God will judge. God will judge. Malachi 2, verse 14, yet ye say, wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness. The Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously.

Against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Did not he make one? God asks, have you forgotten? Covenant breakers, did not he make one?

She is the wife of thy covenant. Did not he make one, God asks? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. Yet had he the residue of the spirit. What does that mean? He made those vows in integrity, God says, who witnessed that moment of the covenant vows of marriage in God's sight and men's, till death.

Yet had he the residue of the spirit, he made those vows with integrity. And wherefore one, God asks, why did God ordain the covenant vows of marriage? Wherefore one, why did God make this covenant of marriage?

That he might seek a godly seed, godly offspring from your union. Therefore, take heed to your spirit and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth for the Lord, the God of Israel saith that he hateth putting away, he hateth divorce.

Why? You see the broader picture of marriage, sir, and this is staggering throughout the whole Bible is not for someone to not be lonely or to fulfill his needs. God sought for marriage, always does he command the saved, his people, Old Testament and New.

Nowhere does he address the unsaved concerning this marriage unless they're to be reached by God through you when you get saved. But he sought from this union, why did God make this godly offspring? And don't lie, don't lie, church of Jesus Christ from the pulpit downward, across the world today by telling me that you don't hurt what God sought in those children from your union if you were saved.

And you rip their hearts apart no matter what you say, sir. And the plan, the blueprint of God initially, the true perspective, the broader picture of marriage was not you, Adam and Eve, not you, godly children.

No wonder God sees as he looks at the hurt across this world because 2 3rds of the world and the West have divorced. No wonder God says that he looks at the bulk of the children in this world what divorce did to them.

He hateth what you've done of his plan and purpose for marriage when you just moved on like you were going to another cinema. One else, he hateth divorce. Romans 7 verse one to three. Know ye not brethren, for I speak to them that know the law how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth.

For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth. But if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law. If the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

So then if while her husband liveth she be married to another man, if while her husband liveth she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress. But if her husband be dead, she is free from that law so that she is no adulteress though she be married to another man.

If her husband be dead, she is free from that law. So that she is no adulteress though she be married to another man. Romans 7 one to three. 1 Corinthians 7 verse 39. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth.

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth. But if her husband be dead, if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will. If her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will.

Only in the Lord. I wish I had 10 minutes to expound on that. If it's God's will. Just the scriptures. What can we say? Be not unequally yoked to unbelievers. It isn't God's will because God's will is never against his word.

If her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will. Only in the Lord's will. In the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7 verse 39. 1 Corinthians 7 verse 10 to 16. 1 Corinthians 7 verse 10 to 16.

And unto the married, unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord. Let not the wife depart from her husband. Let not the wife depart from her husband. But, and if she depart, let her remain unmarried.

But, and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife. Let not the husband divorce his wife. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord.

Is that in the Bible? Something that's not divinely inspired? No. Oh no, don't let's get that liberal. Theologians. Don't join the unsaved trying to find excuses for what doesn't make any difference to their damnable state anyway.

As theologians and the unsaved say, no, no God didn't let something slip in here in this sovereign God when this book was canonized. Don't doubt it. Not one word was not weighed by God and the devil and man could never interfere with this book.

And the day you believe it, then you're finished. No one will trust you again. So what is it? But to the rest speak I, not the Lord. How can he say that? Then what does he mean? Oh, a babe in Christ if he's honest and doesn't want all twisting things and apologizing for what God says right through the Bible.

A babe in Christ knows. But listen, because for some reason we need it to be explained again. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord. In other words, in this particular situation and circumstance, this particular that he's about to speak, nothing else.

This particular circumstance that you might find yourself certain of you. I addressed the whole lot concerning this, but now in this particular circumstance you may find yourself. I give my advice. I give my instruction and careful advice and compassionate advice, but it is not a legal commandment from God.

It's advice in this unique and particular circumstance. What is he saying? But to the rest speak I, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, that's unsaved. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, to remain with him, let him not put her away.

Let him not divorce her. And the woman which hath a husband that believeth not, that's unsaved. And if he be pleased to dwell with her, to remain with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband.

Else were your children unclean, but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. Let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases.

Not bound by God's law to remain with this person, who will not tolerate your holiness of life, your transformed life and values and perspectives. And he cannot, and you will suffer. You will suffer under the abuse of a man who hates what you've become.

If the unbelieving depart, tragic as it is, let him go, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases to remain with that man. It doesn't stop there, but, I love Paul, but God hath called us to peace.

Why would he say that? For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? If the unbelieving depart, let him depart. If it has to be, but God hath called us to peace.

You see Romans 12 verse 18 says, if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men, most especially to seek God for grace, to remain with a man, as cruel as he may be, as abusive as he may be, that God, by your seeking grace to remain with him, grace not to be angry with him, or to hate him, because you came to God before him.

God hath called us to seek grace, to reveal peace and not war, at his not being right with God when you are before him, in order to win him. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?

Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? Don't leave him, win him. Don't leave him, win him, by God's grace. But, Paul says, it's not a legal commandment I'm giving you here. If he is unbearable, and you are in danger.

If he becomes that angry and hating God in you, because of his choice not to follow you. But be careful, 99 .999 of those people who seem to find a reason to leave shouldn't have left. I believe with my whole heart.

They could have won if they had stayed true to the vow, to death us two parted. Which they made, be careful, perhaps in ignorance of the full revelation of God's word. But they did become one flesh, you know.

And at no point does God cancel out 99 .999 of the New Testament statements that you do not get married. You go and be reconciled to him if you leave him. In the very context. And only a liar in the pulpit would say otherwise.

That isn't cruel. It's cruel to not tell the truth. Because men will destroy everything. Oh, for what knowest thou, wife? If a man is a psychopath, I'll be the first to run and take your hand and run with you and the children.

And say, never let him near you again. But 99 of the people, they don't get saved fast enough because it's not exactly nice. My wife's grandmother stayed with a godless, unsaved man for 40 years and won him.

And though they begged him to leave, not to endure this, she said, I said to God, and even if I was unsaved when I said it, till death us two parted. And I'm not taking it. And she won him! For heaven!

He would have been in hell had she left him. Don't doubt that. God hath called us to Peter. What knowest thou, wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

A Wife's Conduct and Witness

Paul cries, Peter, Peter gives careful instruction, careful, compassionate instruction to the saved woman of how God, through her, can reach her unsaved husband. Through her life, of how God, through her life, can reach her unsaved husband.

Now that she's saved, what does he say? In one Peter, chapter three, verse one to seven. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection. The most horrific word in the vocabulary of the English dictionary. In the church, not the world, today, they don't like it.

Even if God's word is true, this word, to win anyone. Just ask God for grace and live it. For God has the only obligation to give you the grace to fulfill his commandments the moment you desire to fulfill them.

And he will, or he's unjust, which he isn't. Likewise, Peter says, ye wives, be in subjection. Can I win him this way, God? Well, you show me another verse in the entire Bible that tells you how you're gonna win him.

And I'll say it another way, but for some reason, God says, this will win him. I hope you trust God. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the word, they also may, without the word, be won.

That if any obey not the word, they also may, without the word, be won by the conversation of the wives, by the lives of the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation, your holy life. Coupled with fear that results in fear as they look at this woman they knew like the back of their hand, it's like staying with a stranger suddenly in their house that they knew you through and through, but you're strange, you're so strange.

Oh, while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear, whose adorning, whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart and that which is not corruptible.

Even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price, or after this manner in the old time, the holy woman also who trusted in God adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.

Even as Sarah, even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, Master, whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement, as long as you do the same, literally.

Husbands as Protectors and Fellow Heirs

Doesn't stop there, now he suddenly in the next verse addresses the husbands, the saved husbands. You mean I've got something to do that it isn't just up to my wife to be in subjection so that I can survive spiritually?

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife. Giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge.

You know what that means literally in the Greek? Remain with them. There's something about don't give up on them if they're not perfect, if they're weaker than you and can't do everything you can do. According to knowledge, using your common sense in the Greek.

Imagine God saying that to a man. Using the common sense God gave you. Remain with them. Keep the testimony of that home and of your life by using the common sense God gave you. Quickened by the Holy Ghost in the light of the rest of the scriptures because you have a hundred mile start on the unsaved.

You have to just use common sense and books on psychology and marriage counseling. You don't. You don't. The only counsel book you need, sir, is that if you're saved and if you're right with God. This is your life, not just a moment.

According to Psalm 1, Psalm 119 and many other passages in the Bible. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them. Remain with them according to knowledge. Using your common sense. How to diffuse things and not always be at war or defensive.

Why? Because she's the weaker vessel. Giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel. In other words, she's not as strong as you. She's the weaker vessel, but God made it that way. Do you want me to show you an unhappy man?

A miserable man? Show me a man whose wife is not the weaker vessel. He's the weaker vessel. Oh, brother, then you'll know misery. Don't be angry that she can't cope, that she needs you to survive when you walk through that door after a hard day's work and goodness me, the food's not ready, the children not in bed, the house isn't perfect.

What sort of a wife are you? How do you treat your wife if everything isn't perfect? She's the weaker vessel, she needs you. Brother, you need to know that sort of a thing. You get in your wife's shoes for one week.

And, no, sorry, one day. I guarantee you, you'll be on your knees, most of you, begging her, give me back my shoes. I can't survive. Take these children and take the washing and take the food and take the, let me get out of here.

Oh, do you honestly believe that's not so? Oh, be careful, she's the weaker vessel, brother. A man pulls up his cleaves and washes that this is for her so that she doesn't have to be up till 12 o 'clock after you've eaten with her pots and pans.

A man helps with the children, helps picking things up and says, look, you need a bit of help because she's weaker on her that way. It's not saying I honor you, it's do it because she's weaker, help her.

Don't get bitter against her. And as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. How can you pray for your children if you defy this book, if you wanton subjection, if you don't honor her, if you're bitter and angry and don't use your common sense?

Your children just hear war all the time because your wife doesn't want to be in sex addiction and you don't want to in any way forgive her. You become bitter all the time against her being not perfect.

How can you pray your hairs are canceled out for your children when you pray together and what mother and father don't pray more for their children than anything else on earth if they're right with God?

As being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. You do these things or your prayers are canceled out and you're the reason your children go to hell because they won't want this religion.

Christian Household Duties in Colossians

If it doesn't work, sir, how can your prayers even be heard? Let alone answer. Now Paul goes even further than Peter and he addresses all the members of a Christian home in a staggering way. Colossians 3, verse 18 to 21.

Colossians 3, verse 18 to 21. Wives, strange he always starts with the wives through the New Testament. I think because he knows she's got grace a man won't be willing to do things, to keep the testimony, to even keep the marriage.

He somehow looks to the wives first. That's my own supposition, sorry, supposition. Forgive me, but that's throwing it in after having read through this book many, many times and way prayerfully for God to give me answers that will make people's lives come into right relationship with God himself and this book.

Wives, he says in Colossians 3, verse 18 to 21. Submit yourselves, Peter says, likewise ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands. Paul says, wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord.

It is fit, it is right in the Lord. Doesn't stop there. Husbands, love your wives, Paul says. Not someone else's wife. Oh, he didn't say that, I'm just throwing that in. Husbands, love your wives. And be not bitter against them.

He had nothing more to say, husbands. 99 of the breakdown of Christian marriages is men becoming bitter against imperfect wives, seeking God for grace to begin. Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them.

That takes grace, by the way, but it's grace God has a holy obligation to give you because he's asked that in the moment you seek grace to live it, no matter how trying the circumstances, God will give you that grace or he's not righteous in telling you this, to live it.

Doesn't stop there. Children, obey your parents in all things. For this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Children, it's no good saying I was saved back there, daddy, mommy, or when the preacher asked you, I was saved back there, and that mean I gave my heart to Jesus next to daddy.

Oh, do you know what it is to love God? This is the love of God that we keep his commandments, John says. To say I love God is obnoxious. This is what it means to love God, the Bible says, if we keep his commandments.

That is, I love God. Until then, you don't. Now, children, God says to you, no good just having a testimony, no good. Go to church and say, that's it. Have a Bible next to my bed. Obey your parents in all things.

For this is well pleasing unto the Lord. No matter how trying it is, you need grace, but God is obliged to give you, if you're saved, seeking him for grace. To obey him, you obey your mother and father.

The only time you don't obey your mother and father is when they tell you to disobey God. And believe me, even morally, that happens worldwide. Don't you judge me for saying it. Someone has to. Someone has to let the trumpet be clear.

Children, obey your parents in all things. For this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Now, I'm not saying, oh, it doesn't stop there. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

That's a double-barrel mission for the man. Husbands, now I'm a father. Oh, yes, you have a great commission, father. Not only to seek God for grace daily, not to become bitter, but to forgive, no matter how she fails.

And can't cope in life without you. No matter how tired you are, God will give you that grace. But you also have to seek God for grace as a father when you come home weary, because the devil wears out the saints in this wicked, wicked age.

What man comes home without being weary? Weary by all the blasphemy and profanity and the anti-God and the hatred of Christians and the undermining, and also all the responsibilities a father has. Oh, it's possible for you to walk in there, whether it's the moral responsibilities and longing for their protection, whether it's the financial in the world, its economy's going, a father can be worn out.

And it's possible, father, you could fail God in your treatment of those children if they're not perfect. Be careful that they don't become bitter. Be careful, provoke not your children to anger, to your sin.

The way you treat them, the way you discipline can be so unjust, you're so out of touch with God and your weariness, you have to seek God daily for grace, to be so in touch with God, you will not discipline them wrongly.

You will not treat them in the wrong way, in circumstances because of tiredness, mental tiredness. You will be Christ-like, and God, no matter how tired you are, sir, will give you that grace if you seek it.

Fathers, provoke not your children, you can, to anger, lest they be discouraged. The word there is marred. I like to use the word destroyed. It's a bit far from the Greek, but marred means pretty well close to destroying what they could have been, sir.

And you did it through your failure while you told them about heaven and hell because you didn't seek God for grace, not to provoke your children to anger through your misjudgments of circumstances. And remember, Father, how long God took you to get to be what you are and where you are spiritually before you come down on your children who haven't had the years or the grace or the mercy or the patience of God and man.

Marriage and Family in Ephesians

Be careful how long you give them before you come down on them unjustly and provoke them to anger. Now, these four statements, these four statements in Colossians 3, verse 18 to 21, to the wives, the husbands, the children, and the fathers are elaborated and expounded upon by Paul in Ephesians chapter five, verse 22 to chapter six, verse four Ephesians chapter five, verse 22 to chapter six, verse four, where he starts again, perfect order, but he elaborates, he expounds as if those were just the points of his sermon and now comes the exposition.

Ephesians five, verse 22, he says, wives always start to the one. Word perfect, submit yourselves unto your own husbands. But this time he doesn't say, as it is fit in the Lord, he says, as unto the Lord, as you would to Christ, as you would in obedience, submit yourself in obedience to Jesus, the Lord himself.

Now, that isn't reading in something, don't be angry with me and if God asks it of you, he'll give you the grace to live this or he can't ask it of you, justly. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord, as though it was Jesus.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church and he is the savior of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

That's God's word, not me. Don't be angry with me, be angry with God, if you dare. While you carry the book that you won't love or accept, don't be angry with me if I give it. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

In everything, doesn't stop there. Husbands, husbands, love your wives. Now, in Colossians, be not bitter against them. What does he do in Ephesians five? Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it.

That's beyond comprehension, that God's asking a man to love his wife in the same way that he loved the church and died to be willing to die. Written across your life through your children to always remember that you were willing to die for her well-being is what God is asking.

Husbands, love, agape love. Not human, it's only possible to the degree you're yielded and controlled by God, the Holy Spirit, that the fruit of the Spirit will be spontaneously seen in your reaction, Christ-likeness.

No man can live this, but God can live it through you. He can love your wife through you, make every faculty of your being, emotionally and mentally, love, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it from the sting of water by the word, that he might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself, for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.

He that loveth his wife loveth himself. What does that mean? It means this. If a man treats his wife wrongly and he says he's saved, he is saved, otherwise God's not addressing him yet. He speaks about him, but never to him in this book.

Everything from the beginning to the end, apart from the judgments of God, but in marriage, God addresses only the saved, Old Testament and New. To his people, every command is to his people, not the unsaved concerning marriage and the New Testament, only to the saved as God addressed these things, apart from how to win the unsaved partner if he's still unsaved.