What Constitutes Marriage? Today there is much confusion about marriage, divorce and re-marriage. Before you dive into the deep study, there must be some understanding of how marriage and divorce are defined.

TODAY A lot of “fuzzy” thinking on this subject. Many are living together without a legal liscense or ceremony. Is marriage more than a piece of paper at the court house? What does the Bible teach about marriage?

TODAY Think about these illustrations #1 – Couple is engaged, set the date for their wedding, decide to begin living together. Is this OK because they have made a commitment to each other? Is this fornication?

TODAY Think about these illustrations #2 – Married couple drifts apart, gets a legal divorce, later he marries again, she claims to have “just cause” and is free to marry with God's approval. He is guilty of adultery because they are still married in the eyes of God. The divorce ended the previous marriage and he is no longer her husband.

DEFINITIONS: MARRIAGE is the process by which two people who love each other make their relationship public, official, and permanent. It is the joining of two people in a bond that lasts until death, but in practice is increasingly cut short by divorce. (Psychology Today website) DIVORCE is the leagal and formal dissolution of a marriage, to dissolve legally a marriage - dictionary

BIBLE STUDY: Genesis 2: Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 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." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. This marriage involved – Leaving and Joining

BIBLE STUDY: Patriarchs “took” wives Leviticus 21:14 A widow or a divorced woman or a defiled woman or a harlot--these he shall not marry; but he shall take a virgin of his own people as wife. Marry and Take = Marriage There is a public declaration - “This person is now married.” God does not specify – ceremony, ritual, or custom – but is part of the public declaration

BIBLE STUDY: Wedding includes: Spiritual commitment before God – Matthew 19:6 Compliance with government requirements Public declaration (ceremony, notice in paper, wear wedding rings, follow customs of your culture)

BIBLE STUDY: LATER – Time of Moses and in NT Engagement (betrothal) was considered binding and required a divorce to break off But was NOT marriage. Why was Mary's pregnancy a shame? They were engaged (betrothed) but not married

BIBLE STUDY: DIVORCE – In the Law of Moses Required a “certificate of divorce” - legal document Deuteronomy 24:1 "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house,

BIBLE STUDY: Mark 6: For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. 18 For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Was Herod married to Herodias? Yes. Was it a legal marriage? Yes. Was it approved of God? No.

CONCLUSIONS TO DRAW: Marriage included: Intent, promise, engagement Public acknowledgment Illustration #1 – Living together before marriage is fornication 1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality (fornication), let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

CONCLUSIONS TO DRAW: Marriage included: Intent, promise, engagement Public acknowledgment Legal requirements met A couple is married when they comply with the laws of God and the regulations and laws of the territory where they reside.

CONCLUSIONS TO DRAW: The Example of Herod: Herod and Herodias were married. Did God sanction the marriage? NO. Legal – married; God – not legitimate Meet legal requirement = married Meet legal requirements = divorced It is possible to be married and that marriage not be approved by God.

CONCLUSIONS TO DRAW: Illustration #2 The divorce was not for a scriptural reason Still – they are divorced When he married again – he had a legal marriage – but not approved by God His marriage has NO BEARING on her freedom to marry again.

ROY DEAVER: Marriage is an agreement (a contract) between two eligible parties, to take each other in holy matrimony, according to the laws of God and the land. When I promounce a couple “husband and wife” they are in fact at that time husband and wife.” Your Marriage Can Be Great, edited by Tomas Warren, page 93