Praise for the Virtuous Woman

October 27, 2025 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom’s Praise for the Virtuous, Wise Woman

Book of Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 10-31

Many things have been said throughout the Book of Proverbs about women of folly, foolish women, and wrong women, but the Holy Spirit would not finish this great book without telling us about the virtuous woman.

No matter who we are, as men, we all have a desire for a virtuous woman.

Virtuous means morally good, acting in conformity to moral law, practicing moral duties, and abstaining from vice.

Conforming to Divine Law.

How did a woman come about? Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Only one man can join with one woman and be One Flesh, and this by marriage.

The Lord Jesus said: Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5 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?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

This is the definition of marriage, as defined by Almighty God.

These are the only two humans that God has created!

What does the Holy Spirit say about this virtuous woman?

*Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The most important decision we will ever make is what we will do with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are we going to believe Him and the Gospel, or are we going to ignore Him?

The Bible says we are to submit to Him in complete obedience.

We already know that submitting is far greater than just complying.

Once we have accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the truth of God, then the Holy Spirit will come to live in our hearts, and we can know what it is to “Fear the Lord”.

For most of us, the next great decision we will make is the choice of our spouse.

Pro 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

We can understand from this question in verse ten that it may not be easy to find a virtuous woman.

What we see in this passage is the qualifications of an excellent wife.

What we see in this passage is the embodiment of all the wisdom instructions contained in the previous thirty chapters.

We have a portrait in words of an exceptionally wise woman who has the “Fear of the Lord”.

If we are a Christian male and fear the Lord, then if we are seeking a wife, we should seek a Christian female who also has the fear of the Lord.

We must understand that because family relationships are the most important relationships in life, the character of the wife and mother is of great importance.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 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.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

We may read these words as describing a perfect wife and a perfect marriage, and we know that none of us is perfect, so for the husband to find such a godly wife, then that husband must be a God-fearing man living as close as he can to the Word of God.

A virtuous woman is a woman who is noticed by many of God’s people because she has an excellent character, no matter where she is or what she is doing.

Rth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

A virtuous woman is a rare and precious treasure!

We may think that such a woman does not exist, but she does.

It is a fact that there may not be many of them.

Women would say the same thing about us men.

One thing is true to that man who has found a virtuous woman is richer than any king.

This woman of wisdom is certainly a gift from the Lord.

Pro 19:14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

*Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Pro 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

One of the greatest qualities of this godly wife is the fact that her husband can trust her.

He knows that this woman is devoted first to the Lord, next to him, and then to the family.

He will not question her motives, and he will not question her words.

He understands that such a woman will draw the attention of other men, but he knows she will never betray him.

His heart is secure in her faithfulness!

She has enriched his life and meets his needs, and he has hers.

The one thing the Old Testament is good at is showing us examples.

It spends a lot of time on godly men and things that God will punish us for.

This passage is an example for godly women.

Here we see faithfulness and purity, and these are things God expects from all His children.

A good wife will commit that she will never act in a way that could cause her to lose the trust of her husband, and the husband must make this same commitment to the Lord.

The world we live in today is so full of immorality that any signal from a woman or a man can be seen as saying they are available.

The commandments of God do not even exist in modern society.

Wedding vows are not sacred.

Adultery is glorified and seen as normal behavior.

God’s Word is still the truth: 1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Our commitments to our spouses must be important, and they must be real!

In marriage, both spouses must be attentive to each other’s needs.

The primary need of women is still love and affection!

The primary need of the husband is reverence and respect.

We are to put the needs of our spouses before our own needs.

The husband-and-wife relationship must be a picture of our relationship with Jesus Christ!

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

To gain His bride, the Lord Jesus gave up everything to become a man, so that he could give His life to purchase His bride.

We have no greater example of this for our own marriages!

He gave Himself for us!

Friendship with the world is committing Spiritual adultery.

We are completely secure in the love of our Savior!

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

*Pro 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Pro 31:14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Pro 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Pro 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

This is a woman of good works: 1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

This home is founded on the commitment of a husband and wife and the love they share with their children.

Her first concern is for her family to be well-clothed.

She does not buy the clothes, nor does she buy the fabrics to make those clothes.

She gets the raw materials, wool and flax to make the fabrics herself, and takes the time to get the best materials she can find.

She works with her own hands.

Wool comes from sheep and keeps the body warm when it’s cold.

Flax comes from the land and is used to make linen, which is for warmer days.

In typology, the wool would indicate that the Church is to be a place of warm, loving interest in each member.

Linen would represent righteous deeds of the members: Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

She also provides food for her family, and she seeks out the best foods for them; she even brings it from afar.

She is compared to ships and not a single ship.

She eats the same food she prepares for all who live in her house.

In typology, this is Spiritual food, and it comes from afar because it comes from Heaven, where our Lord Jesus Christ is today.

It is the Lord Jesus who provides for the Church: Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

This is the food she prepares and puts upon the table.

For breakfast, she gets up before all others so the food will be ready when they awaken.

She does not call upon her maidens; she does these things herself.

She makes sure all those in her home start the day with a good breakfast.

She then plans the day’s work for her maidens.

In typology, the Church is to be full of believers who serve each other the food of the Word of God.

Each member has a purpose, and they are to do that task as well as they are able, but they need the nourishment of God’s Word, that Heavenly Manna from on high.

Each member receives their portion that is needed to perform the service God has given him or her.

After taking care of the needs of her family, she is free to do things that will increase the family budget.

She is also a good businesswoman who invests wisely.

She buys the things she needs without going into debt.

After she buys this field, she immediately plants a vineyard.

In typology, that field is an area outside the Church where we can do the work of God.

A vineyard speaks of joy in that work.

That field can represent the family of God because the Church is to be made up of families.

Every family in the Church that lives for God is a great joy to our Heavenly Father.

A strong Church is a blessing in the place where it is located.

*Pro 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Pro 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Pro 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

Laziness is one of those things that God hates, but the virtuous woman is never lazy.

We see her work begins before daylight and continues after all others are in bed.

She is a symbol of strength, and in typology, she represents the Church, which is also to be a symbol of strength.

Most of the churches in America are failing in this issue today, and attacks against the Church have increased because the Church appears to be so weak, and it is a shame.

The Word of God is being twisted and turned till the truth has been removed, and this is another reason God will first judge the Church, and He will accept no excuses!

The strength of the Church is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is no longer relevant in much of the Church of today.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

The Lord Jesus says: Rev_3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

We see this wise woman is always evaluating the work she has done, and it must be the same for the Church.

There is only one way that will work for the Church!

Jer_6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Much of the Church will no longer walk in the ways that work and have teamed up with the world in ways that are destroying much of the Church.

We see the candle of this wise woman does not go out at night, and her house is spared from the disasters of the wicked.

The Church must always be alert to the wickedness of the world and the wiles of the Devil.

This wise woman sees that her clothes are in demand from others, and she sells some of them along with her produce that she grows.

It is the same for the Church; the Gospel message is still in high demand from those who have never heard it, and the same Gospel that worked in the days of the Apostles will still work today.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Just as this wise woman will be blessed the Bride of Christ will be blessed if it remains diligent in the work the Lord has given us to do.

The Lord Jesus promises a reward for our labors!

We will all stand before the Lord and give an account for what we have done, good or bad.

1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

*Pro 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

We have seen that this wise woman cares much for her family, but she does not forget those who are poor and needy.

She is compassionate and caring.

We must understand that the Church must never be seen as standoffish and must share with the less fortunate.

There are far too many people in our area who are spiritually poor and needy.

The Church should extend its hand and help with spiritual blessings.

There all always people who are in need, and there may be some inside the Church that we just have not noticed, but we should.

It is not just the poor but also those members who have become too old to get out and those who, through sickness, can no longer get out.

If we truly love the Lord, we will be compassionate and help others when we are able, and this includes the Church.

In fact, this should be a ministry of the Church.

Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

*Pro 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She does not just think of today, but she prepares for the future.

This cold, dead world does not bother her because she shows the warmth of love in her home.

No matter what is going on outside, she has prepared her family for it.

That word scarlet describes the quality of the things this wise woman has prepared for those times of uncertainty.

The Church, full of love and warmth, will attract those who are seeking a place of rest.

The Church must be prepared to face this cold and worsening world.

The Bible tells us that this world will never improve, but there will always be souls that need saving.

Life is far shorter than we realize, and we cannot predict the future except for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Psalms 22, which refers to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, He says: Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

That worm refers to a crimson worm that had to die to produce a dye used for the color scarlet.

*Pro 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

This noble wife takes great pride in her appearance and in being attractive and appealing to her husband.

She could buy anything she needed, but she prefers to make them herself.

She uses the skills God has given to her, and she lives according to the Word of God.

The Lord Jesus clothes His bride in the very best: Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 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.

The Bride of Christ is clothed in fine linen: Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

As husbands, we should provide nice things for our wives if we are to be like Jesus Christ.

*Pro 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

This husband was known in the community, and part of the reason was that his wife was so diligent and supportive of Him.

A noble wife will help her husband, and many wives contribute to their husbands’ success.

It is the same for the Bride of Christ.

A diligent, hardworking Church will brag on the Lord Jesus.

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The Church has a high calling: Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

He sits among the elders: Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

*Pro 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

This wise woman provides for her family.
She cares for the poor.
She encourages her husband and his position as head of the family.

Now we see she wants to serve her family with her abilities but charges a price for her services.

What she delivers is quality!

We see there is nothing in Scripture that says a woman cannot work to help provide for her family.

We know that her priority is for her family, and everything else is secondary to this first thing.

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

We know that there is a price to be paid to be a Christian.

We are to be Born Again into a godly life as much like Jesus Christ as we are able.

The truth must be bought: Pro 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Truth is not some doctrine, but it consists of wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

These things are more valuable in life than any material riches and are necessary to make life on earth have any value.

This value is eternal and is connected to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The purchase price is the time we invest in the Word of God.

Learning the truth of God takes time and effort, and the Holy Spirit.

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

We know that a sinner cannot pay anything to be saved.

We can be saved only by grace: Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

*Pro 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Pro 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Pro 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Pro 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Pro 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

We have already seen where this wise woman is adorned in elegance and modesty, but her true beauty is inside her.

1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

She possesses strength, honor, and dignity.

She is esteemed and honored by others as a woman with a strong character.

This is a product of the wisdom of God, our Heavenly Father.

She is ready for her future and does not fear the unexpected.

She stands upon a firm foundation.

She has sown righteousness in her life and in her family, and God promises she will reap the same.

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Living in the fear of the Lord brings great benefits.

Psa_103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

The Church owes all strength and dignity to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strength and dignity are the attributes of our Heavenly Father, and the Church should exhibit them.

The Church must always be the Lamb’s wife who has made herself ready, dressed in fine linen for the Bridegroom.

She offers helpful and reliable counsel.

When she opens her mouth, only wisdom comes from it.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

She is always watchful for anything or anyone who would harm her family and never passive in this area.

Nothing escapes her attention!

Her children want the world to know how precious their mother is to them.

Today, not many children honor their parents, but they should know that there is nothing more precious than loving parents.

Her husband praises her and expresses great appreciation for the support she has always given him.

Her husband knows he could not have chosen a better spouse for himself and his family.

Her driving force has always been the “fear of the Lord”.

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

It is no different for the Church!

Only through the reverence of our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is it able to express itself in a way that will reap the praise of God.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

*Pro 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Pro 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

This last passage should strike a note with us because the Lord Jesus said deceit is the main ingredient in these last days.

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

This wise woman does not focus on deception.

She knows that personality and popularity do not always reveal a person’s true character.

People are not always genuine.

Many people today are masters at deceit, trying to get what they want from others, and the world is full of them at this time.

She can stand her ground because of her relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is our fear of the Lord who will lead us in the right direction.

She has given her life to raising her family and being a good wife to her husband.

No reward in this world can be given for the work she has done, for there is no work more important than the work she has done every day.

It is the same for the Church that remains the Bride of Christ.

There is no more important work than that of the Church that remains with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

It is the “fear of the Lord” that is the secret to a successful, satisfying, and blessed life here and then the great rewards of our Heavenly Home.

The Church has one job, and it is to remain close to Jesus Christ and do the work He has given us to do.

There is no greater work than this!

Amen

Biblical Marriage

June 30, 2025 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Godly Instructions for Marriage

1 Corinthians Chapter 7

We know that marriage was instituted while Adam and Eve were still in the Garden of Eden.

At this time, the human race was in that period of life described as innocence.

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Gen 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Gen 2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

A Biblical marriage can only be between one man and one woman.

One man, born a man, lives as a man, and one woman, born a woman, has lived her life as a woman.

God does not recognize the marriage of two homosexuals
God does not recognize the marriage of the LGBTQ movement.
God does not recognize the marriage of two people who are confused about their gender.
God will never recognize the marriage of more than one wife.
God will never recognize the marriage of a man and some animal.

God will only recognize a marriage that is in obedience to the Word of God, and the Church should do the same, or be in defiance of the Word of God and living in sin.

We know these things have divided many so-called churches today, just as they divided the Church at Corinth.

The Church at Corinth was a cesspool of immorality, just as the City of Corinth was immoral.

Many churches of today have rejected the Word of God and have allowed all sorts of immorality into the church.

Every church of today needs to be concerned about marriage.

Believers must understand the concept of marriage because it was Jehovah who instituted the concept of marriage to begin with.

Chapter 7 and verse 1

*1Co 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Even if society is falling apart, which it is, in the divorce courts of this world and immorality and cohabitation run rampant, and it is, the Church that Jesus Christ built must hold high the truth of Biblical marriage.

Marriage is ordained of God, and God never changes.

Mal_3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not;

It is a fact that God said it is not good for man to live alone, but here Paul says it is good for a man not to touch a woman, but this is not a contradiction.

There are special situations for not marrying!

That word “good” means advisable. Which can mean that it is open to advice.

Let’s look at the words of Jesus Christ: Mat 19:5 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?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mat 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Mat 19:10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
**Mat 19:11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
Mat 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

There are times that unmarried persons should remain unmarried because of situations happening in this world by unbelievers, such as Christian persecution, but we can also include wars, economic collapse, disease, obligations, and some other things.

We should also consider what God has called us to do.

We know that most men would not be able to live in this because of the sin of lust.

Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

What is a virgin?

Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

A man could remain pure because there is no immoral sin between the singles in the Lord’s Church.

Of course, it is the same for women.

Notice next the command of the Holy Spirit.

*1Co 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

This Scripture should be the rule of the Church!

This marriage is done to avoid fornication.

We are sexual beings, but we are to follow the Word of God to avoid sin.

Without marriage, there would be no human race!

Without marriage, there would be no foundation for the family.

Notice this verse eliminates polygamy.
This verse eliminates the marriage of two lesbians.
This verse eliminates the marriage of two men.
This verse eliminates the marriage of two people who do not know if they are a man or a woman.
This verse eliminates the marriage of a human and an animal.

A good marriage is a type of the design of the Church that Jesus Christ has built.

Many groups of the human race will no longer exist simply because they have neglected true marriage, and this may be why some have already disappeared.

Jer 29:6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

Some countries, like Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, are already experiencing noticeable population declines.
The U.S. and many countries in western Europe have below-replacement fertility rates but have not yet seen significant population decline.
China, for many years, allowed only one child, and the parents chose boys over girls, but now China is begging for families to have three children.
Our President said we should pay families to have children.

God said to Israel Get married and have enough children so that their population would not go down while they were in captivity.

God blesses the good marriage.
God blesses those who keep themselves pure.
God blesses those who give themselves to the work of the Lord and remain single.
God blesses those who live a life that avoids sin!

*1Co 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

We must understand that there are mutual duties within a marriage.

That word benevolence used here means debt.

Both the husband and the wife have rights in a Biblical marriage. Each one can expect to receive some things from the other.

Both have a responsibility to pay the other exactly what is due to them.

If we go back to the very first marriage of Adam and Eve, we know that in typology, this first marriage was a type of the Church.

It was God who said that a man should not be left alone.

It was the Church that the Lord God formed.

Jesus Christ has but one wife, and it is the Church. Jesus Christ did not have a wife when He walked upon this earth, and He did not lust for any woman, and He certainly was not gay.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who has made the Church happy by His “Grace”.

The Church has but one husband, and it is Jesus Christ, and comes by “Faith”.

Hos 3:3 And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.

The marriage of one man to one woman is special and is to be eternal, and is to be based on love!

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 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.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

The word “render” used here is a continuous action.

The rights and the duties of the man and the woman are to be continually fulfilled.

Some say this verse means sexual rights, but it pertains to all the rights and the duties of the husband and the wife.

To the husbands:

1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

To the wives:

1Pe 3:1 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 by the conversation of the wives;
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

Marriage is mutual ownership.

*1Co 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

We must understand that a good marriage comes because these two people will put comfort, well-being, and happiness before their own.

Every married couple has made obligations to each other that they must keep.

It is not a matter of giving and taking; it is just a matter of giving to each other.

God knows we have sexual needs, and He gives us the outlet of marriage to satisfy those needs.

Heb_13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Just as God is in everything, He is clear and forceful in His instructions for a good marriage.

Both husbands and wives have equal rights over the other’s body. This is part of the marriage union.
Both the husband and the wife belong to each other so fully that to withhold is an act of fraud, cheating the other of what he is due.
Both the husband and the wife must agree to abstain, but only for fasting and prayer. This is the only exception given in Scripture.
We know that the health of each other is also important.

These things are the beginning of an intimate family structure that has disappeared in this sinful world, but must take place with God’s people.

Neither the husband nor the wife will stay apart from their spouse for too long a period of time because of temptation.

We have to give Satan his due; he is strong in temptation, especially in this sex crazed society.

The stronger the bond of marriage between two Christians, the stronger the loyalty and the security of the family.

A good marriage begins when both husband and wife have surrendered their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Only His presence and power can keep marriages according to the Word of God, along with much prayer and, yes, some fasting.

It is not good for us to believe that every marriage would work out just because we are obedient to the things mentioned by Paul, when we know that without prayer, nothing will work in this world.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

We are all created differently from each other, and we will do things differently, but Jesus Christ is always the same, and He will guide us in His ways in all things, even marriage.

*1Co 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
1Co 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

Marriage is God’s gift to society.
Being single is also God’s gift.

Because persecution was coming to the Church, Paul said it might be best to remain single to those people who had already lived much of their lives in wickedness.

The fact is, everyone must do as God’s gifts call them to do.

Corinth was an immoral city, so many of these church members had already been married and divorced and remarried, and many of these second marriages were any better than those first marriages because of wickedness.

Paul said it might be better for them to stay as they were when they were saved.

It was time for wickedness to end in the Church.

The Lord Jesus has given us the one rule for divorce: Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

No doubt some women were saved without their husbands, and some men were saved without their wives, and the Lord Jesus said this was not a good reason for divorce.

If that unbeliever decides to depart from the marriage, then they should remain unmarried or be reconciled back together.

The Lord Jesus explains this to every Pharisee: Mat 19:3 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?
Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5 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?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mat 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

As the Lord Jesus explains, why would we ever want to live in sin and call ourselves Christians?

We would be no different from the world.

Paul said to these Corinthians it would be better to remain single than to live in sin.

We should understand that God hates divorce!

Mal 2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

To God, divorce is not just a wrong choice; it is a destruction of His work, a violent act He abhors.

There are three groups of people in this Church at Corinth.

1) The unmarried.
2) The married.
3) The rest of them.

There were mixed marriages of believers with non-believers.

*1Co 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1Co 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14 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.

What do we do on those occasions when we cannot find the answer we are seeking from the Word of God?

The Lord Jesus gives us this answer: Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

When those times come that we just do not know what to do, we must not forget we have the Holy Spirit living within us, and we must trust Him to lead us.

We may also have to do some fasting and praying.

God will not leave us in the dark, and we know the Lord Jesus is the Light in all things of God!

These were those church members who gave themselves to the Lord, but their spouse did not.

God has already warned us against marrying someone who is lost.

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Sometimes people have enough love to stay together under all circumstances, and sometimes they don’t.

We must understand that we are living under “Grace”, and we must show that “Grace” to the unbelieving spouse.
We must also show forgiveness to that person the same forgiveness we have received from Christ.
We must show the love that Christ has shown us.

The bond of this marriage is still holy in the eyes of God.

Any children that are born from this relationship are just as children born from any Christian marriage.

Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

But they choose to depart from marriage, the believer is under no obligation to try to stop them from leaving.

*1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
1Co 7:16 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 you are married to an unbeliever, you are not under bond to that unbeliever if they choose to depart for that reason.

We do not know if this is true if you choose to marry an unbeliever after your salvation, because God commands us not to do this.

2Co_6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Remember what God says are commands and not suggestions.

If one person in the marriage of one man and one woman gets saved and the other rejects the Gospel, then that person should try to keep the marriage functioning, but this may not be possible.

If that unbeliever decides to depart, then that marriage bond is broken, and that person is free to marry again, but only to a believer.

We can see that “peace” in each believer’s life is important to God!

1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Some saints would even try to keep that marriage together in the hope of leading that spouse to the Lord, but there is no way of knowing this.

In fact, in most cases, it is the unbeliever who would try to lead the saved spouse back into the world.

In every portion of our lives, God has called us to live in peace!

One more important thing we should see is that the believer is not to initiate this divorce, but it is the unbeliever who has decided to get a divorce.

This was a problem in the early church.

One of the great heathen complaints against early Christians was that Christianity broke up families.

This is something that the Lord Jesus said would happen, and it will get worse.

Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

God is never caught by surprise.

God tells us to abide in the same calling wherein He has called us.

We are bought with the price of the blood of Jesus Christ; we are to serve Him rather than serve mankind.

If we are married when God calls us, then we should not seek to be loosed.

If we are single, it may be best that we do not marry, but we must beware of the sin of lust.

It is very hard for a young person to remain single because this wicked world is so full of immorality and peer pressure.

Every wife is bound by law!

*1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
1Co 7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Every Christian widow has the right to remarry, but a Christian widow is only free to remarry another Christian.

This commandment of the Lord is as plain as can be written.

She may be happier if she remains single, if God is calling her to remain single.

Remaining unmarried may offer this widow more opportunity to serve the Lord.

It is always more important to remain in the will of God for our lives!

We must remember that every word we have from the Apostle Paul came by the Holy Spirit.

Every word we have in our possession is a word that came from our Heavenly Father.

Psa 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Amen

Seeking A Wife

December 27, 2020 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Finding A Wife for Isaac

Book of Genesis Chapters 24 Through 26

The one thing Abraham realized and we to are to realize is, that it is just a great thing to be involved in the plan of God.

It is a great thing to be in the family of God and being left upon this earth to do the work He has assigned to us.

We must make the will of God for us to be our own will!

We should understand that God takes these little things that are so important in life and with them, teaches us the great mysteries of the Bible and the truth of His Word.

A marriage is of great concern to our Heavenly Father.
A marriage that follows the Biblical design will be a lasting marriage and also teaches us the relationship of the Lord Jesus Christ to His Church.

Yes, the Church belongs to Jesus Christ.

It astounds me that so many so-called churches have removed the Lord Jesus Christ and are no longer a part of God’s Church and no longer married to the Lord Jesus Christ though they still claim to be and their members who have rejected the Word of God.

They reject the truth of Jesus.
They reject that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
They reject the truth of the Scriptures allowing man’s law to take priority.
They reject the Virgin birth.
They reject the Cross.

Yet they claim to know the way to Heaven.

God cares who we marry and to marry is one of the great decisions we make in our lifetime.

A good marriage will be filled with love, joy, and peace just as our relationship with our Savior will be.

A marriage will be between one man and one woman and God decided their sex at birth.

A marriage to the wrong person will only bring heartache!

It was time for Isaac to get married.

*Gen 24:1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
Gen 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
Gen 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
Gen 24:4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

In the day of Abraham it was common for the parents to arrange the marriage of their children.

Abraham was 140 years old and Isaac was now 40 years old and mature.

Sarah, Isaac’s mother had been dead for 3 years and Isaac still mourned for his mother.

We should understand that God has a time for us to think about marriage!

God is not involved but only in part, in the marriage of unbelievers.

Remember unbelievers do not know the Word of God nor do they respect the Word of God.

They are best described as those people who lived in the day of Noah before the flood destroyed them.

No doubt that Abraham had discussed these things of marriage with his son Isaac.

Abraham was insisting that Isaac would not marry a maid of the Canaanites.

We already know the Canaanites worshiped false gods and had wicked and immoral beliefs.

God had already destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and three more cities of the plain, and there had been no survivors.

It is probable that the remaining Canaanites did not realize why such a thing would happen and brushed it off as something natural.

This still happens today!

The world does not see the acts of God nor the miracles of God and brush them off as accidents or blame them on nature or other people, such as this Climate Change hoax that is blamed on humanity rather than the promises of God.

Certainly, the climate is changing and if people are worried about heat, they had better learn how to avoid Hell!

God has said things will get worse and we see it in plagues, in the climate, in wickedness, corruption, and immorality and the wickedness in high places.

We know Jehovah is righteous and it is the right thing to do to destroy unrighteousness, but only God has this knowledge to do so.

The Canaanites were a cursed people.

Gen 9:25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

Abraham would never have chosen a daughter of the Canaanites!

To Abraham there was only one choice for Isaac this wife was to be chosen from Abraham’s home country, the descendants of Noah’s son Shem.

We used to have a tradition to swear an oath by laying our hand on the Holy Bible.

In the day of Abraham and oath was sworn by a hand upon the thigh.

It was a sacred thing and was not to be broken.

In our father’s day a handshake was as good as an oath!

Today you have to sign your name a hundred times just to get a loan.

As we follow the journey of this eldest servant, we will see another lesson in typology.

We will see this eldest servant as the Holy Spirit.

Isaac as the Messiah.

Abraham as Jehovah.

Rebekah as the Church, the gentile bride of Christ.

Abraham said to his servant that Jehovah would send His angel to guide him.

Abraham knew if his son was in the lineage to the Messiah, then Jehovah would be involved in his marriage!

One thing we should clearly understand, it is better not to marry than to enter into a bad marriage!

As Abraham instructed his servant, if the woman does not come willingly then Isaac will not marry her.

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Remember to be saved we must willingly give ourselves to the truth of God and repent from the ways of the world.

Believers should marry true believers or not marry at all!

*Gen 24:10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

Notice just as the Holy Spirit is God, just as God the Father and God the Son, this eldest servant had control of all the goods of Abraham.

The journey to Mesopotamia was as much as a 500-mile trip and it would take a lot of supplies to go and return from such a trip.

It is the will of God that we marry a true believer, and we may have trouble finding one. It may take some time and we must be prepared for the journey.

If we are to find our soul mate, we must trust the Word of God and the Will of God and that He will lead us to that person who He has chosen for us.

In reality, it would be wise to not even date someone who does not meet these qualifications given by the Lord.

This servant came to the end of his journey, and he prayed for guidance.

*Gen 24:11 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
Gen 24:12 And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

We must always pray for the guidance of the Lord!

I fail in this myself and usually just dart off on my own.

What is God’s promise?

Psa 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

What is our prayer?

Psa 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Psa 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

What should I clearly understand? The promises of God.

Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

And why not pray for good speed, remembering we must understand that God’s timing is the best timing!

And why not pray before for specific things before we meet anyone who might be that perfect mate!

*Gen 24:14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

This servant prayed to God for a sign.

We make huge mistakes when we do not pray before we choose a mate.

If God is not involved with us before our marriage, how do we expect to have a good marriage?

Notice how specific this prayer was.

This precious lady would be the one God had chosen for Isaac.
This precious lady would approach this servant of Abraham and ask him if he wanted a drink of water.
This precious lady would then draw water for his camels. This was in itself no easy task. A camel can easily drink 20 to 30 of more gallons of water and there were 10 camels.

It would be almost impossible to find a precious soul willing to do these things for a stranger, but nothing is too hard for God.

Her name was Rebekah, which means “she could ensnare you with her beauty”.

*Gen 24:15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

Rebekah was one who, when she walked into the room, you could not take your eyes off of her.

Not just her beauty but her work ethic and friendliness.

Even before this servant said Amen, his prayer was answered!

Rebekah was God’s choice to be the bride of Isaac!

I believe when we are men of sincere prayer, God will provide that soul mate for life.

It is not our custom today to send someone else to find us a wife, we must do this ourselves, but God must be involved!

We should still listen to our parents if they are godly parents.

We still need God and we still need prayer and God does not mind providing a wife for godly men!

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Pro 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

Ecc 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Ecc 4:10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Ecc 4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
Ecc 4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

And Rebekah was certainly beautiful.

*Gen 24:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

What is a virgin according to the Bible, a lady that has never been with a man in a sexual encounter!

Even though Rebekah was very fair to look upon, she did not stand still and allow this man she had just met to just gaze upon her.

Many today blessed with beauty take advantage of it in not so godly ways.

It is also very true, that beauty is only skin deep, and inner beauty is more important than outer beauty.

Being humble, courteous, with a charitable disposition will make us more pleasant to the eyes of those watching us and there is always someone watching us including the Lord.

These are the things that bring a reward from our Heavenly Father.

Mat 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
Mat 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Not part of our lesson but verse 21

Gen 24:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

Notice this servant was amazed at the things he was seeing as he had prayed.

As this servant questioned Rebekah, he found that she was from the family that Abraham had sent him seeking a wife for Isaac.

He then bowed his head and worshiped again amazed at the ways of God.

The only thing he did not know then was “if she were willing”.

Like the Holy Spirit this servant showed Rebekah some of the treasures of choosing the truth of God.

Gen 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

We also see the secular side of this family.

Gen 24:30 And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

It is the lust of the eyes that got the attention of Laban, Rebekah’s brother.

This servant of Abraham knew God had prospered his journey and it was not time to linger.

*Gen 24:56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

When our prayers our answered such as this one from Abraham’s servant it was not time to linger with unbelievers.

It was very clear, that God was involved in the things going on with this marriage of Rebekah to Isaac.

When we accept the gift of salvation then we must understand this is a new life, a living life.

We live in a dyeing world, but Heaven is a place of Glory.

The servant showed Rebekah and her family the riches of Abraham.

Gen 24:53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

When we give our dead life to the Living Savior, we obtain a new life!

Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

We begin to prosper as we begin our journey with the Lord.

We must give ourselves willingly.

*Gen 24:57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
Gen 24:58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

What are some great lessons we can learn from this simple story of seeking a wife for Isaac?

We must saturate our work for the Lord with prayer.
We must wait on the Lord for direction.
We must praise our Heavenly Father.

If we see Rebekah as that lost soul, then we must imagine her as someone who hears the Gospel.

She had to realize there was a great father reaching out to her.

He had only one son, His only begotten son and He was well beloved.

He was in search of a Gentile Bride amongst all of the world.

She would be the bride of His dear Son, forever and forever.

She was not worthy of such blessings.

This in typology is the way God calls us all.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

*Gen 24:59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.
Gen 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

What we see is that the journey home has begun.

As Rebekah has willingly given herself to Isaac even at a distance, she has consented to be his wife.

Each of us who have given ourselves to the Lord are now on our journey home.

Rebekah, a Gentile Bride, espoused to God’s chosen son Isaac.

From Isaac would one day come the Messiah.

Rebekah, thou art also our sister!

Now that she was going to be a wife they prayed along the lines of God’s blessings.

She would certainly be the mother of millions as every “Born Again” child of God adds to this number.

Without a doubt many of her seed will possess the gate of those who hate them as Israel entered into Canaan Land and forward into the Millennial Kingdom.

What had God promised Abraham?

Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

*Gen 24:61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

As the bride to be began her journey, the servant began his journey home.

You see as we are the Bride of Christ, the Holy Spirit will lead us to Jesus.

It may not always be a pleasant trip because we live in the world of our enemies, but we have no excuse for not enjoying it.

After all we are not going to Canaan Land, but we are going to Heaven, the true Promised Land.

The same land that Abraham was seeking and never found because he knew it was not of this earth.

Those who think Heaven will be upon this earth are wrong and foolish to believe that God would say He is giving us the best and then stop short of doing so.

1Co_2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

As Rebekah rode upon a camel, we ride upon the “Grace” of God.

2Co_12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2Co_13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

The Holy Spirit will only lead us to the Bridegroom!

Joh_15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

*Gen 24:62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
Gen 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
Lahairoi means “the well of the Living God”.

Jesus said

Joh_Psa_42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

If we are not craving the water from the Living God, then we had better check our salvation.

Psa_84:2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Psa_42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Isaac was dwelling near this well at this time waiting upon his wife to be and the Lord Jesus Christ is that well of “Living Water” and He will soon be coming to take us home to present His Bride to His heavenly Father.

Where is the best place to meditate? Near the well of Living Water.

What did Jesus teach the Samaritan woman?

Joh_4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Isaac could not have known the camels would be returning on this day.

Isaac was alone, still mourning the death of his mother who loved him so much.

Isaac had been the only begotten son of Abraham and Sarah.

Isaac was the promised son!

Jesus said:

Mat_6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

On this day, this field in the evening time, near the well of Living Water, was the place where Isaac felt closest to the Lord.

We all need a place where we can meditate on our relationship with our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

No doubt one of the thoughts of Isaac was this wife his father had sent for and we can be sure he prayed over this matter and lo and behold to Isaac his prayer was answered.

Rebekah knew this thing also.

*Gen 24:64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
Gen 24:65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

In those days it would have been unmannerly for Rebekah to remain seated when she saw Isaac walking. There was no exception even made for a woman.

Rebekah would not even wait until the camel she was riding came to rest, but she lighted off the camel. She simply jumped off the camel which is taller than a horse in her excitement.

She quickly recovered her composure and covered herself with a veil.

I ask myself what will I be like when I first see Jesus?

Will I lose my composure as did Rebekah?

Will I regain my composure and show respect?

Will I fall on my face before the glory of the Living God?

In reality, I believe I will be in great fear until the Lord says, “peace be with you”.

To be honest I believe the Lord God of this Universe will be waiting with open arms.

If we cannot be excited about going to Heaven, then something is wrong with us!

If we cannot be excited about being saved, then maybe we are not thinking right.

When we recover, we will remember we stand before a Holy God, who has loved us into His Own Home, and we will forever be welcome in His House!

Heaven will be a happy place, not solemn and gloomy!

Isaac wanted to know all the details of the journey of his bride.

Jesus will want to hear us describe our journey to Him for He will be just as excited as we will be.

*Gen 24:66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
Gen 24:67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

The Holy Spirit would not have saved all these details if they were not important!

It is love that filled the tent of Isaac.

It will be love that will fill the Temple of God in Heaven.

God will never love us less then He loves us now and he cannot love us more because He has that true love.

We are not lured into Heaven. Heaven is a place desired by both parties.

The Lord Jesus went back to Heaven to build us a mansion in His Father’s House.

This is the truth of salvation!

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Jesus has given us the instructions on how to get to Heaven.

Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

With the love of his wife, Isaac was comforted from the death of his mother Sarah.

As we live upon this earth there may be many of our loved ones who have gone on before us.

When we see all those in Heaven it will be a great comfort to see them again and then knowing we will never be separated from them again.

There will also be some that we loved who will not be there and we will be comforted by our Savior for those we will never see again.

Those who are married in a Christian home have a little taste of the relationship of the Bride of Christ to the Bridegroom Christ Himself, but we that know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior will experience the greatest life that exist when we get to Heaven.

I love you Jesus!

It has been worth every mile of the trip.

Amen.

The Precepts Of God’s Servant

December 8, 2013 / Bobby Mayfield / 6 Comments

The Precepts Of God’s Servant

"Marriage and Divorce"

Book of Mark Chapter 10:1-16

When The Lord Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration, Our Father in Heaven had warned the disciples to listen to the Words of Jesus.

And we know the Word of God will never contradict itself!

Also in our last lesson Jesus confirmed, at least in my mind, that the "Burning Lake of Fire", and Hell are real places.

Eternal torment in a place where the fire is never quenched and eternal damnation means it is a never ending thing.

If we are to believe Jesus, and we are commanded to do so, Jesus will now speak to us on another touchy subject, marriage and divorce.

Let’s begin:

*****Mar 10:1 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.

We should ask ourselves, "why are we so slow to accept the truth"?

Jesus left Capernaum and the home of Andrew and Peter for the last time and He was committed to be in Jerusalem at His appointed time but He would still take the time to teach and show His mercy.

Matthew wrote that Jesus departed from Galilee and had a great following:

Mat 19:1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
Mat 19:2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

Luke wrote that Jesus passed through Samaria as he left Galilee.

John wrote that Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews.

Joh 11:54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

Many months had passed while Jesus taught around and about Galilee but not many weeks are left between this time and the appointed time of the cross.

Jesus would begin his last journey to Jerusalem.

In the places He stopped, Jesus had to reteach many of the things He had previously taught and as He taught, the religious world tried their best to hinder the Word of God, as they still do today.

*****Mar 10:2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?
"tempting him".

This seems to be a simple enough question so why does our scripture say "tempting Him"?

In other words, that word "lawful" meant, what are the obstacles or barriers in the Word of God that would prevent a divorce!

During this time period in Israel there were two thoughts on divorce which came from two opposing rabbis.

Each one interpreted the Word of God differently!

One said divorce should be approved for any reason.

The other said that divorce should almost never be granted.

So, is it lawful, in the eyes of God, to get a divorce or not?

We must first realize that the family is a Divine institution!

We are never to look upon the family as a chance arrangement!

The family was the first thing ordained by Our Creator, even before the Church, and even before the Laws of Moses to the Jews!

So Jesus ask these Pharisees what had Moses commanded.

*****Mar 10:3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

So what had Moses written?

Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Deu 24:2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
Deu 24:3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
Deu 24:4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

What was the intent of Moses with these words?

Divorce was just as common in the days of Moses as it is in our day and it was the same in this day of these Pharisees.

They used Deu 24:1 as their authorization for divorce.

They were "twisting" God’s Word to change the intent of God’s Word!

And we should believe that Jesus was not condemning anyone as He confronted these Pharisees.

These were supposed religious men and it would have been better for them to have asked "how can we preserve our marriages" but they did not ask this.

Beginning a marriage for the right reasons was not so important to them!

How was a marriage to take place in the eyes of God?

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

God said we must love our future wife enough to leave our family behind for her!

To understand these times better, we should not forget that John the Baptist had lost his life because he took a stand on marriage and divorce.

First law of God for a marriage: A marriage, in the eyes of God, was never to be for convenience between two parties.

A marriage was to be between a man and a woman who loved each other enough to begin there own family by the Word of God!

Second law of God for a marriage: After a marriage, there is not to be a man with his rights, desires or needs, nor a woman with her rights, desires, and needs.

But submitting to each other in the fear of God!

Third law of God for a marriage: After marriage there was to be one family made up of two parts!

The man as the head of the family, by God’s Word, and the woman as the heart of the family by God’s Word.

Death of a marriage or divorce could only come if either of these three things failed.

The fourth law of marriage: There can be no question, but that the married state, from the beginning of Creation, was intended as a beautiful representation of the union between Christ and His Church!

Eph 5:21 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God".
Eph 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord".
Eph 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife", even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, "so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing".
Eph 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives", even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 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.
Eph 5:28 "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself".

We can be sure that Jesus Christ will never divorce His church, The Bride of Christ!

So what was the interpretation by these Pharisees?

*****Mar 10:4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

FIRST: Moses did not give a command for anyone to divorce their wives!

God will never go against His own word!

SECOND: Moses allowed the divorce to protect the other party.

There will always be consequences in every divorce!

In the Jewish way for a marriage of that day, a man would make a choice of a woman. He would then obtain the consent of her parents. He would then take her to his own home and consummate the marriage. If he then had no delight in her, nor pleasure and therefore no affection for her and could not bear the sight of her, then he wanted the option for divorce and divorce was permitted because of his bad heart toward her.

They used the law of Moses to get that divorce!

If that man could not bear to live with his wife any longer, then that man had to give that woman a "bill of divorcement" which certified that it was not she that had caused any problem, and she was divorced and free to marry again.

She was no longer a virgin and considered defiled to most other men.

This was not any law of Moses nor any law of God but only permission because of the hardness of these men’s hearts.

It is easy to see where men could abuse this arrangement and they did!

A wife could be obtained in many other ways than this in those days, but there was to be only one way to dismiss a wife and it was by a "bill of divorcement".

This "bill of divorcement" was to protect that wife from an angry husband who would otherwise just kick her out the door with no resolution to her situation.

So Jesus responded:

*****Mar 10:5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

Why had Moses written this down for them?

1) 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2) "Hardness of the heart", is being blind to the "intent" of the Word of God!

Compare these words:

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; "that blindness in part is happened to Israel", until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

2Co 3:14 "But their minds were blinded": for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

Hardness of the heart is then not receiving the Word of God the way it was intended!

Sadly, these Pharisees had no intention of changing their ways!

Joh 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
Joh 12:40 "He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart"; that they should not see with their eyes, nor "understand with their heart", and be converted, and I should heal them".

Jesus knew all this was true so He explained to all those listening the true intent of the marriage from the Word of God.

*****Mar 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

It is very important for us to understand these words of Jesus for more than one reason.

1) Jesus quotes from the Genesis account of creation.

God had made Adam and Eve right at the beginning!

Not some millions and certainly not some 4.5 billion of years after the beginning as the evolutionist teach of the beginning of mankind.

There is absolutely no room in scripture for any such thing as "Geological Ages"!

Christians who compromise on this issue, for the sake of scientist falsely called, are undermining God’s Word!

We can see that Jesus Christ accepted the creation record in the Book of Genesis just as it was written!

2) Marriage and family are the most important of all human institutions!

We should make every effort in picking a wife we can live with forever.

From the Book of Ruth we have these words:

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Roth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

These are some similar feelings we should have for that special spouse that we accept into our lives!

And Jesus continues to quote from the Book of Genesis.

*****Mar 10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
Mar 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

Too many critics of the Word of God imply that the first two chapters of Genesis are two separate accounts of creation and contradict each other but Jesus does not say that!

What did Jesus say?

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Jesus Christ uses both of these verses in the same sentence!

We can also believe that there is no gap between these two chapters as some try to use a"gap theory" in order to say that God used evolution in creation. All lies!

There should be no doubt that the original intent of God was for one man to have just one woman as wife throughout his entire life time!

That binding to that wife should be more closer and more stronger than that to the father or mother!

That union was to be so close that nothing could separate or break that bond!

That these two, with mutual feelings toward each other, should be united as though they were just one being!

Jesus says when the selection of a wife is made under these guidelines, then it is only God that should be able to break this bond!

*****Mar 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

To know the Lord Jesus Christ is to have eternal life:

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Why would we ever think that while we are living for the Lord, that God would place turmoil in our lives.

If we have followed the guidelines for choosing a wife, someone that is second only to Jesus Christ in our lives, then why would we not be subject to God’s Law?

A marriage must be a mutual contract between two people who have placed The Lord first, and then and only then, placed each other above all others including each one’s family.

This mutual agreement to wed, must come above the rights of each individual or Satan will begin to tear this marriage down:

1Co 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

This marriage must be based on affection and not lust!

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (also death of the marriage)

To avoid lust and have affection we must base that love on the things of God!

Col 3:2 "Set your affection on things above", not on things on the earth.

Love is then the marriage of affections!

There can be only one heart between the two bodies!

In a godly marriage there must be a mutual promise to live together "faithfully and according to the Word of God"!

Marriage must be a solemn moment when two immortal beings are traveling together through the storms of this life with the help of God!

Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh": she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

It is the creation account in the Book of Genesis that must be the foundation of all marriages!

A marriage is between one man and one woman and should be a life long commitment and it is only under these conditions that God will bless this marriage!

Gen 1:28 "And God blessed them", and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

We know that some of the disciples were married so they still had some questions.

*****Mar 10:10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
Mar 10:11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

According to Matthew, Jesus said it this way.

Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

The Pharisees had twisted the Word of God given to Moses around to make it sound like God had given permission for easy divorce but that had never been the intent of this law!

In the days of Moses, men would just kick a wife out of the house where they would be mocked and ridiculed and left to take care of themselves, being shunned from society.

The bill of divorcement was issued for the protection of the woman. The bill of divorcement not only allowed the woman to remarry but in most cases her needs had to be provided for her remaining days by that husband who had used any excuse to get rid of her.

So then a "bill of divorcement" was intended as a deterrent to divorce rather than to make divorce an easy thing!

The Greek word "pornea" is used for the English word "fornication" in this verse from Matthew.

"Pornea" does not only mean fornication, but also harlotry, adultery, and spiritually idolatry.

"Fornication" in every form was condemned by the Laws of Moses!

"Fornication" then, was not only forsaking the marriage vows but was also forsaking the Word of God!

This is why fornication was considered grounds for divorce!

BUT, on the other hand Jesus did not allow this exception in the Book of Luke when He was teaching the disciples about "things of the heart".

Luk 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

We can only conclude that, though fornication was grounds for divorce and remarriage, it is sometimes still better to salvage the marriage, if there is heartfelt repentance followed by heartfelt forgiveness!

1Co 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

The Apostle Paul added these words.

1Co 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
1Co 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1Co 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14 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.
1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

We should never think that God expects His children to stay in an abusive marriage an live in misery!

God does not expect a godly man to remain married to an ungodly woman if they are unable to do so and the same for the godly woman with an ungodly man, when they are unable to do so.

God does not expect anyone to stay in an abusive situation!

But God will never intend for divorce to be easy and "there will always be consequences"!

But also with a godly divorce there is always permission to remarry and in some cases it is best to remarry!

1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: "for it is better to marry than to burn".

Burn in this verse is "burn with lust", which in itself is a great sin!

Lustful eyes have already committed "fornication" without performing the act itself!

There are no commandments to remarry or not to remarry!

But if there is a new marriage, God says to marry a believer and then His same laws will apply to the new marriage that were given in the Creation record!

1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; "only in the Lord".

What was the reaction by the disciples to these things that Jesus was saying?

Mat 19:10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

A man must be willing to commit to the Word of God!

Marriage must be a lifelong commitment for it to be a joyful experience!

In our world today, divorce is so rampant that most people just shack up or just live with each other, unmarried, refusing to make a commitment but that is not the way of God!

Pro 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: "but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long".
Pro 23:18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Pro 23:19 "Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way".

By this time of Jesus, there were some women who had risen to great authority in the Hebrew society and along with that, some of them would also kick the man out of the house, also for lack of any real reason.

*****Mar 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Jesus said the woman would then be held under the same standards as the man was held!

God does not expect His children to live in misery but God does expect us to be very careful when we are choosing a helpmate because it should be for life!

After all, we are the "Bride of Christ" and The Lord Jesus will never divorce His Bride!

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

The "Bride of Christ" will make it to Heaven to spend eternity with her Husband!

*****Mar 10:13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

Now we can believe that it was just an accident that the topic in this chapter goes from marriage and divorce to children but that cannot be true.

It is a fact that children are involved when it comes to marriage and divorce and those parents have an obligation not only to those children but also to God in behalf of those children.

The family is extremely important in the eyes of God.

If the marriage is blessed, the children will also be blessed.

These children were brought to Jesus for His blessing and prayers and we should notice there is no mention of baptism or salvation.

Luke said these were just children who wanted to see Jesus:

Luk 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

This is why the disciples were rebuked by the Lord and another great lesson for them to learn.

Little children can never be looked on as a disturbance in the eyes of God and Jesus forbade His disciples to stop the children from coming to Him.

Why?

Jesus explains.

*****Mar 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

God will never goes against His own will or His own Word!

We are duty bound as parents to bring our children to Christ, also a commandment!

And, Jesus is always watching to see what His disciples are doing!

We displease the Lord Jesus in many of the things we do, especially when it comes to our children!

There is no such thing as an innocent child, but children do provide a picture of innocence.

Small children are usually, teachable, humble, free from prejudice, and obstinate!

Children are never to be discouraged from seeking Christ but should be encouraged at every age!

The disciples had forbidden these parents from bringing their children.

These disciples had already forgotten that the family must be protected at all cost!

Jesus had just been teaching that divorce is the terrible destroyer of children because divorce separates the parents of children in a negative way!

We must all, like babes, approach Jesus with simplicity, sincerity, and eagerness.

This is how a child goes about the things they do daily!

So, those mothers were not sent away empty.

*****Mar 10:16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

One after another the Lord Jesus took each child up into His arms, placing His hands on them and blessed each and every child that came.

Every child, before the age of accountability, are incapable of moral obligation and are there therefore innocent.

Small children are free from personal guilt and have a free conscience.

They are not and cannot be saved because they have nothing to be saved from, that they know about!

Compare:

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Until children reach this point in their lives they are all innocent in the eyes of God.

Every child that dies before they reach the age of accountability will go straight to the arms of Jesus.

This includes those that never reach that mental state and live to be adults!

So as we teach children we must teach the simplicity of Jesus Christ!

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Satan is subtle, but Jesus Christ is simple!

We must not ever make the "Gospel" complex for children!

Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ can be understood at any age!

And we must all come to the Lord Jesus Christ the same way that a child does!

Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Righteousness.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Servant to Our Father in Heaven.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Substitute.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Surety.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Savior of the guilty.

There is nothing here that cannot be understood at any age!

Jesus Christ came into this world as a Babe, to save babes!

We can only be complete in Jesus!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Precepts Of God’s Servant

December 8, 2013 / Bobby Mayfield / 7 Comments