Mark 13 - The Time of the End

Mark 13

This chapter begins with one of the disciples pointing out the beauty of the temple. This begins a conversation with about the end times. Jesus tells the disciples that the temple would be completely destroyed, as it was in AD 70.

It is important to note here that Jesus’s words give a mixed description of the destruction of the temple in 70 AD and a description of the end times. This type of dual prophecy fulfilment is common in the bible. See here.

The disciples ask him about this later, specifically about when it will happen and how to recognize it was coming. This leads Jesus in a discourse about the future.

He begins by telling us some of the things that will happen first. He calls these the “birth pains” likening them to the pains experienced in pregnancy during labor. The image he gives is of the messianic age being prepared to be born, and the turmoil as the labor pains necessary to bring it about. 

Jesus describes several signs that he calls the beginning of birth pains. The idea is that before a baby is born a woman goes into labor. The labor may be short or long, but when labor starts you know the baby is coming. They will happen before Jesus returns, but they do not tells us how much time is left.

The first of these signs is the false messiahs. “Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.” We have certainly seen plenty of people who have tried to pass them selves off as a messiah. Here is a list of dozens that is compiled on Wikipedia. Jesus warns to be diligent to make sure we are not carried off by them. We need to make sure that we are not deceived by someone claiming to be him or by false teachers leading us away from him. The only way to do that is to be rooted in the truth. We need a growing relationship with Jesus.

Some other things that will happen during the time we wait for the ends are wars and rumors of wars. This prophecy has been fulfilled in spades. During the last century we experienced two world wars, as well as a myriad of smaller conflicts. Others are earthquakes and famines. Luke’s account adds plagues to this list. Again, these are all things that will happen before the last days. We can see them as bringing his return closer, but they are not an imminent sign of his return like some that we will see described later.

Jesus next warning is that we should expect persecution. This persecution is part of spreading the gospel. Some would go before “governors and kings” like the apostle Paul did. Persecution has been a staple of Christian life periodically throughout its existence. Jesus doesn’t mince words, “you will be hated by all for my names sake” (verse 13). Christianity is experiencing increasing hostility in this country, and we can only expect is to get worse. But Jesus promises us that if we endure to the end will be saved.

“And the gospel must be first preached to all nations”. When the early church began, it was based solely in Jerusalem. It was only after persecution broke out against them that the early Christians began to spread to the surrounding area of Samaria. A second round of persecution caused the believers to spread even further. By the third century A.D., it is said that 90% of the Roman empire was Christian. For the last two thousand years, Christianity has spread like a tide reaching further into the farthest reaches of humanity. Now we are very close to having the Gospel preached to every people group in earth. I believe this is one of the signs that Jesus is returning soon. You can see the state of world missions here at the Joshua Project.

“And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and the children will rise against parents and have them put to death” (verse 12). Here we see a breakdown of familial bonds. This has certainly happened before in history. But I suspect that we will see much more of it soon. There are groups out there who expressly state that they are against the nuclear family. I believe we will see a supplanting of familial bonds with a bond to the state.

In the next section, Jesus opens with the “abomination of desolation”. This is a phrase that contains a lot of history. This is emphasized in the passage by the phrase “let the reader understand”. This phrase tells us something about what’s happening. It comes from the book of Daniel. He prophesied with stunning accuracy what would happen to the nation of Israel after his death, how the gentile nations would rule over them. One of the rulers prophesied was Antiochus Epiphanes. He lived around the time of the Maccabees. He was a terrible ruler over Israel. He was a Greek and tried to force Greek culture on the Jews. This culminated with his takeover of the Jewish temple. He set up a statue of Zeus in the temple, sacrificed a pig to it (an unclean animal), he brought temple prostitutes into the temple of Yahweh. If a woman had her infant son circumcised according to the law of Moses, he would have them crucified, and the baby boy hung around their next. It was a time of terrible tribulation for the Jews. Antiochus also believed that he was a god. That is the source of his surname Epiphanes.

It is easy to see that this phrase “abomination of desolation” has a lot of background. Antiochus serves as a type or foreshadow of the Antichrist or the man of Lawlessness that Paul speaks about in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. This figure will declare himself God, perform signs and wonders, and deceive most of the world. Jesus warns us that this will be a time of unparalleled tribulation.

The immediate fulfillment of this prophecy is the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. It paints a picture of the trouble of the last days. Jesus said, “if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved.”

Jesus then quotes Isaiah about the “Day of the Lord” (Isaiah 13:9-13, and 34:4). This was a time known to the Jews when the Messiah would come and make the world right. But Isaiah warns that that day would be a day of tribulation and judgement. God is calling into account the sins of the world. Associated with this day are great signs in the heavens, the sun going dark and the moon turning to blood, the sky dissolving and the heavens being rolled up like a scroll. Peter says the elements themselves will be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:10).

Jesus says after the heavenly signs, he will return. Much of the imagery associated with the end times is hard to interpret. There are many people who have interpreted it different ways. One of the most dangerous things I think we can do with this is to predict a date when Jesus swill return. Many have tried and failed to predict the date of his coming. Jesus himself warns us against it. “No one knows the day or the hour.” But one thing we can be certain of: Jesus Christ is returning to this Earth.

So how do we apply all this? Jesus gives the purpose of knowing these things and watching for them. It is to be prepared. Jesus says, “Be on guard! Be alert!” He says we are his servants, each with an assigned task. We need to make sure we are getting the job done, because we don’t know when he will show back up. God has a purpose for your life. Don’t miss it. “If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.”

Mark 12 - Faceoff

Mark 12

This chapter continues the faceoff between Jesus and the temple authorities. Jesus has already upset the regular order of things when he cleared the temple of the people selling and exchanging money. The Pharisees came to question him and he got the better of them. Let’s be perfectly frank here. They want him dead. Jesus takes it a step further. He tells a parable that equates them with rebellious tenants in a vineyard who refuse to pay their rent. The owner sends representative to them time and again, but they beat them and kill them. Finally, he sends his son.

Here is the Son of God, Jesus, facing the rebellious tenants, and they are already contemplating murdering him. But they fear the crowd, so they try to trick him instead. What follows is the attempt of a religious group to entrap Jesus in something he says.

The first attempt: taxes. The imperial tax was a tax paid to the Romans. The crowds who had shouted “save us” as Jesus entered the city may have had in mind save us from Roman domination. If they can get Jesus to say that the tax should be paid, then the crowds would likely sour on him. But if he says not to pay the tax, they could have the Romans arrest him. It looks like the perfect set up.

Jesus’s response is incredible. He asks for a Roman coin.

“Whose image is this? And who’s inscription?”

“Caesar’s” they replied.

Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

And they were amazed at him.

Ravi Zacharias once wrote, “The disingenuousness of the questioner is noticed in the fact that he did not come back with a second question. He should have said, “What belongs to God?” And Jesus would have said, “Whose image is on you?””

In Genesis (verse) the scripture says humans were created in God’s image. Our very selves belong to God.

The first attempt to discredit Jesus fails.

Next the Sadducees come to test him. Their question is about marriage, but it is really about resurrection. They don’t believe in the resurrection, and they think they have the perfect paradox to stump Jesus. A woman marries seven men, one after the other, as each one dies. Whose wife will she be at the resurrection?

Jesus corrects them easily. There will be no marriage at all in the resurrection, therefore no paradox. He further explains that when God said that he is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he is saying that those patriarchs are alive with him. [this needs work].

The next question appears to the be first that is not give as a trap. A teacher of the law asks Jesus, what is the greatest commandment? Jesus quotes the Shema, a section of well-known scripture the Torah. It boils down to love God. And he adds that the second most important is to love your neighbor as yourself.

Mark here says that “no one dared ask him any more questions.” Jesus wisdom was unassailable.

Now Jesus turns is around. It is his turn to question them. He asks them this question: “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:

                “The Lord said to my Lord:

                “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?””

He is given no response. The people are delighted. But no one can answer him. In retrospect it is easy to see that Jesus, being a descendent of David, is his son by human descent, but he is also god. He is fully man, and fully God. Only in this way is the paradox solved.

Jesus then proceeds to warn the people about the teachers of the law. He essentially calls them hypocrites. This very likely infuriated the teachers of the law.

The chapter finishes with Jesus sitting down people watching. He is watching the people put their offerings into the temple treasury. Jesus points out to his disciples the gift of a poor widow. She gives only two very small copper coins. It would be easy to dismiss such an offering. But Jesus says that is worth more than any of the other offerings. It is because the offering was costly. The woman gave all she had to live on. For her, that was everything. God doesn’t judge us based on what we don’t have, but what we do have.

We need to see with God’s eyes. We need spiritual vision, and not earthly vision.

Mark Chapter 11 - Prophecy

The eleventh chapter of Mark is full of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. The events from here to the crucifixion occur in less than a week. He is on his way to Jerusalem passing the nearby cities of Bethany and Bethphage. This was the time of the Passover, when observant Jews from all over the world would come to worship and sacrifice at the temple. The city would have been bursting at the seams. From John’s account of the Gospel, we know that Jesus had only just recently raised Lazarus from the dead, a miracle that so convinced the people that the Pharisees were considering killing Lazarus too.

Jesus sends his disciples for a colt, the foal of a donkey. This is an odd request. An unridden donkey would not have been broken; it should have bucked him off immediately. Donkeys have a reputation of being obstinate animals. But Jesus has no problem with it. He shows his authority over nature. But why suddenly does he need a mount? He has walked all over the nation of Israel, why now does he want to ride?

The answer is found in prophecy. Jesus whole life was about fulfilled prophecy, but in the last week there are a lot. It is important to understand the reason for prophecy. Prophecy proves Jesus is who he says he is. There were hundreds of things promised about the Messiah, which Jesus fulfilled in his lifetime and others which he is going to fulfill when he returns. Prophecy gives us a way to determine if Jesus truly is who he said he was.

In Zech 9:9, it was foretold that the messiah would come to Jerusalem riding a donkey. “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout Daughter Jerusalem. See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus was entering the city as the Messiah.

The people love him. The shout “Hosanna”, which means “save us”. What an odd thing to say. What exactly were they wanting him to save them from?

The phrase comes from Psalm 118. Verse 25: “Lord, save us…” Verse 26: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”, another thing the people shouted. We know this is relating to the Messiah because in verse 22: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone”. Jesus is the capstone. Later in the chapter, Jesus faces down the religious leaders at the temple. They, the builders, reject him and start looking for a way to kill him.

The disciples covered the colt with their cloaks and people lay them over the road. This was something that had been done for the coronation of kings (2 Kings 9:13).

But Jesus is no ordinary king. After he rides in the city like a conquering king, he goes to the temple looks around and goes home. After all the fanfare, he does nothing. He doesn’t start an insurrection. He doesn’t lead a mob to the governor’s house. He doesn’t kill his enemy and set up an autonomous state for Israel. He looks around and goes home. You can almost feel the disappointment of the crowds. Indeed, in less than a week they will be calling for his crucifixion. As we have seen time and again in this study, Jesus never gave himself to the crowds.

The next day Jesus returns to the temple and starts flipping over tables and driving out the money changers. He quotes the scriptures: “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” He quotes Isaiah 56:7 and Jerimiah 7:11. This was prophesied as well. Psalm 69:9 says, “zeal for your house consumes me”. In the same psalm it is written: “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” This was fulfilled when Jesus was on the cross. They offered him gall to ease the pain of crucifixion and vinegar when he was thirsty.

The prophecies that Jesus fulfilled run into the hundreds. Combined with the scientific, philosophical, historical, and experiential evidence, the truth of the Gospels is overwhelming.

For some further reading on biblical prophecy check out this article at reasons.org.

Mark Chapter 10 - Wealth

Mark chapter 10

I want to focus this post on an interaction Jesus had with a particular young man, verses 17-31. The man comes to Jesus and kneels before him. He obviously believes Jesus to be a holy man. He asks him his burning question. “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus stops him there. He challenges the assumptions the man brought with him. “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” This statement serves two purposes. First, it brings into question the who the man thought he was. Did he think he was merely a teacher, a human like himself? Or was he divine?

The second question is if no one is good except God, then how do you expect to ever do enough to inherit eternal life? He had kept the commandments, but Jesus had already told him, that was not enough to make him good. The man must have understood that keeping the law would not be enough to get him eternal life, otherwise why ask the question? Romans 3:23 says, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law”. We are made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ alone.

The scripture at this point says Jesus loved him. This was a man who pursued God. What did Jesus do for him in his love? He challenged him. He went to the root of the man’s issue and spoke to it. Jesus tells the man to sell everything he had and give it to the poor and come and follow him. Wow. Can you imagine leaving everything and following a Rabbi you just met? There was no safety net here. If things didn’t work out, there would be nothing to go back to. He knew that it would be difficult for the man. Jesus asks us to make costly choices for him. He does this in love. There is a buy-in to be a disciple. There are things that must be given up. Jesus said we must count the cost of following him (Luke 14:28-30). He said that whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it (John 12:25).

The man goes away disheartened. Instead of being commended for his holy life, he was asked for even more. Jesus correctly points out the man’s issue. His wealth was more than he could give up. Jesus will not allow us to keep anything that vies for his affection. We cannot serve God and money (Matt. 6:24). This man had to get rid of the power his possessions held over him.

Is this a rule for all Christians? Do we have to sell everything and give it to the poor to follow Jesus?

Peter claims here that is what he and the other disciples had done. The early church was known for having everything in common. People would go sell lands as needed to provide for the church. Jesus said that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Does this imply that Christians must live in a commune to be true followers? What is God’s position on wealth and believers?

While the communes that the early believers in Jerusalem may have been wonderful, there is no reason to think that it is required for Christians. Paul stayed with people in their houses at various times (. He said in his instructions about communions that each of you have your own house (1 Cor. 11:22). This implies that the communes had not become widespread. More importantly, when he collects money to give to the poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem, he instructs the gentile believers to set aside a sum in keeping with their income and save it up as a gift (1 Cor. 16:2). He also told them to “give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7)

The key here for the believer is generosity. God is more concerned with our hearts than our possessions. He already promised us that he would take care of us. “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear… your heavenly Father knows you need them” (Matt. 6:25-32). God wants his people to be able to live without worry for their needs. With this freedom comes a responsibility. We were made to give. Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

I want to look at the book of James here, because he has strong words about wealth. In chapter 5 verses 1-6 he blasts the wealthy. He says your wealth will “eat your flesh like fire”, and “You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.”

These words should give us pause. It would not do to simply sweep those away and say, “that’s not me.” We live in the wealthiest nation on the planet. To be poor in the United States means you are incredibly rich in many nations of the world. We need to examine these warnings and take heed that we do not end up condemned.

James’s warnings basically have two parts as you read through the section. He warns about how you got your wealth, and he warns about how you use your wealth.

There are two ways he warns us of condemnation in how we get our wealth. One of those is by cheating. He says, “the wages of the laborers who have mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you”. Another way is by murder. “You have condemned and murdered the righteous person”. If your wealth is made dishonestly, then it does nothing but testify against you. As Christians we need to be above reproach in our business dealings. We represent not only ourselves, but Christ, at all times, in our lives. We are supposed to work as unto the Lord (Col. 3:23). Cheating in business shows a lack of trust in God. We don’t believe that God will come through for us, so we try to make our own way. This is fear or greed acting in our lives. It is antithetical to faith.

The second issue with wealth that James warns us of is what we do with it. And this breaks down into two points as well. The first problem is when we make wealth our security. When we trust in it. “You have laid up treasure in the last days.” Why store up wealth? It is for security. We believe that is we have enough stored away we will no longer have to worry about anything. But that is not who God wants us to deal with our worry. He told us instead of worrying to pray (Philippians 4). We are supposed to find our security in him. In his promises. This is faith.

Jesus told a parable about a man who had particularly good year of crops (Luke 12:13-21). He decided to tear down all his barns and build bigger ones to store it. Then he could relax for many years. But that night he died. Jesus said, “This is how it will be to those who store up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21) Again, we are led to the answer for how we are to deal with the issue of wealth. It is all about generosity. Giving.

The other problem that arises with how we deal with wealth is what we do with it. If we are not storing it up, we are spending it. James says: “You have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence.” Now this should hit home. How much of our income is spent on making our lives more comfortable? When we stand before the judgement, will this statement that James makes be true of you? You lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence?

So much of our lives is the search for creature comforts or entertainment. We are a consumer culture. Frankly, we need to hear this. 

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianly said, “I am afraid that the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc, is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little.”

Our comfort does nothing to build up our spirits. Our entertainment does not have eternal value. If our focus is on these things, we are likely to miss what really matters.

 James also ties both of the issues in with the time we live in. He says you have laid up treasure in the “last days”. You have fattened yours heart in the “day of slaughter”. We need to understand that Jesus is returning soon. We have one chance to make a difference in the kingdom of God. How would you feel if Jesus came back and you had a huge pile of money? It would be worthless. And it could have been used to build the kingdom in the last hours. If we really believe he is returning, let’s live like it.

I need to say here, I don’t think that Jesus is totally against saving. I think the problem is wealth building/using that is in exclusion to giving. Starting a 401K is a wise thing, particularly the younger you do it. But God must be your top priority, and that should be evident with your finances.

When I was younger, I was broke. I thought that it was good to be broke. “Blessed are the poor” (Luke 6:20). I believed that Jesus loved poor people (which he does) and that being poor somehow made me more holy (not so much). It came to a head for me one time when I had to go to the doctor but couldn’t afford to. A pastor friend helped me pay the bill. It was a blessing and I was really grateful. I realized at that time that if I kept on the path I was going, then I would always be the one who needed help, never the one giving help. That realization totally changed my outlook. Wealth doesn’t have to be a curse. Jesus addresses this. After describing how difficult it is for a rich man to be saved, he says, “all things are possible with God”. It is possible to have wealth and not hoard it and not waste it on yourself but to use it to build his kingdom and bless people.

I believe God is looking for people he can entrust with wealth. Not for them to hoard or spend on luxuries, but to pour into his kingdom. He wants us to be a conduit of blessing. But you can’t be a conduit if you hang on to want you’ve got. God can’t put anything into your hands if they are full already.  We need to recognize that we are stewards of everything he has given us on this Earth. Not just our money, but our time and talent as well. Let’s remember that we are responsible to God for how we used the gifts he has given us.

Mark 10: God's blueprint for marraige

In Mark 10, Jesus lays out God’s plan for marriage. It comes in response to a question the Pharisees bring about divorce. We know from other episodes that this was probably not in good faith, but a pretense to trap him in something he would say. Mark says that they were testing him. They ask him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

Jesus responds as he usually does, by pointing to the scripture. He asks them what Moses said. The Jews considered Moses the most authoritative voice about the things of God. This is a good place to consider authority. What has authority in your life? What decides how you live? What determines your path? What shapes your worldview?

For Christians, the bible has authority over our lives. Because the bible is the inspired word of God. We cannot consider ourselves disciples (or followers of Jesus) unless we are willing to let the word of God shape our lives. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). We have determined to live our lives for God. Remember Jesus said only shortly before this episode that we must lay down our lives to follow him. He must become the Lord of our lives, not just in name, but in truth.

This must be absolutely settled in your heart. Because it is going to be tested. There will come a time when you must choose between follow Jesus and going your own way. He will not accept you sitting on the fence. He will not accept you following him some of the time, and the rest of the time going your own way. He will not allow you to pick and choose which of His directives you will follow. There can’t be partial surrender.

I cannot emphasize this enough. I want you to understand that you can’t pick and choose which things you are going to follow God about. We saw last week that the kingdom of God is upside down. It is counter cultural. He teaches things that are not popular. By being a disciple, you are going to be going against the crowd most of the time. It’s not easy, but it is the only way to follow him.

If you won’t accept his authority, you are not his disciple.

So, Jesus references the scriptures. He derives his authority from the revealed word of God. “What does Moses command?” The Pharisees answer by quoting Deuteronomy 24: Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce.

But this is a matter of the heart. Jesus said Moses permitted divorce “because of the hardness of your hearts…” But this was not God’s plan. Jesus lays out God’s plan for marriage.

“But from the beginning ‘God created them male and female.”

Jesus explains that marriage is something that came from God. It is His institution. He started it in the beginning with Adam and Eve. When he created humans, he created marriage. He has the authority to say how it is to be done. And Jesus ‘s way is not the way of the world. Now we are going to get a taste of this “laying down our lives”.

“God created them male and female.”

Today this is highly controversial. According to Jesus, God did not create 32 genders. He made them male and female. He designed marriage to be between one man and one woman. No other circumstances will fulfill His directive. Jesus is claiming that is both natural and God’s plan that marriage should be between one man and one woman. Hetreosexual, gender binary. These are the teachings of Jesus.

Verse 7: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall be one flesh’. So they are no longer two but one flesh.”

Jesus establishes the family unit here. It is often called the nuclear family. It is God’s design. The man is to hold fast to his wife. This involves commitment. A relationship cannot be built without commitment. God did not make us to sleep around, to go from one partner to the next.

Let’s look at 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 9.  I don’t want to put too fine a point on it, but I feel that we need to be clear about what the bible teaches, especially in the confused culture we live in. We talked about the kingdom of God last week. You are either in the kingdom of God or the kingdom of darkness. Here it says: the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul lists what it is to be unrighteous. Sexual immorality and adultery are on the list.

Paul goes on to discuss how we should not use the grace and freedom that God has bought for us to indulge in sin. The body is not meant to sexual immorality. God designed it for marriage. Because ultimately, he designed us for communion with Him. This life, these relationships, marriage, is for a lifetime; “until death do us part”. But we will spend eternity in communion with him. In fact, marriage is a symbol for the ultimate communion that is to come. The church is called the “bride” of Christ. Here Paul speaks of us as the body of Christ. We are one in spirit with him.  

Then he describes how wrong sexual immorality is. You are already one Spirit with the Lord, now you are going to take your body and make it one flesh with someone else. Paul says we are like a temple that the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in. And we would take His temple and give it to another? It would defile his temple. We are taking what was set aside to be holy and desecrating it. Making it filthy.

Do you see God’s heart here? He is not trying to deny you fun or take away anything good from you. He has reserved the greatest, most fulfilling relationship for us. Our earthly relationships are just a shadow of it.

C. S. Lewis once said, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” ¹

He made us for love. He made us for him. He created sex and he created it to be kept within the bounds of lifelong commitment to one person, our husband or wife. And this relationship is meant to be sealed with a covenant.

A covenant is a vow before God and witnesses that you will hold fast to your wife. This is where marriage begins.

I need to say a couple things because of the culture we live in. Your fiancé is not your wife. An engagement is not a wedding. There is no vow in place. It is very easy to rationalize and say, we are getting married, we are practically married, but you are not. Marriage means something. It is a covenant between you and God, that he designed to build a family under.

Verse 8: “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

References

1.       Lewis, C. S. (1949), The weight of glory: And other essays. New York: Macmillan.