92 – Matrimony
MATRIMONY
§ 92. The divine institution of matrimony, which is the status of union for life1 of one man and one woman,2 established and sustained by their mutual consent,3 for legitimate sexual intercourse,4 the procreation of children,5 and mutual aid and assistance,6 serves as a curb not only to the licentiousness of sexual desires,7 but also to various other depraved inclinations by affording incentives to habits of industry and economy, sobriety, stability, and good fellowship among men.8
1. The divine institution of matrimony, which is the status of union for life
Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the Law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the Law of her husband.
I Corinthians 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.
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
2. of one man and one woman,
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Matthew 19:4–6 And He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.
Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the Law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the Law of her husband.
I Corinthians 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.
3. established and sustained by their mutual consent,
Genesis 2:22–24 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. 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. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Genesis 24:58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
I Corinthians 7:12–13 If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
I Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time.
4. for legitimate sexual intercourse
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Matthew 19:5–6 And they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.
Ephesians 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.
5. the procreation of children,
Genesis 1:28 God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.
6. and mutual aid and assistance,
Genesis 2:18:20 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (20) … but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
Ephesians 5:28–29 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church.
Ephesians 5:33 Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
7. serves as a curb not only to the licentiousness of sexual desires,
I Corinthians 7:2–5 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 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. 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.
8. but also to various other depraved inclinations by affording incentives to habits of industry and economy, sobriety, stability, and good fellowship among men.
I Timothy 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.
Psalm 127:4–5 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Psalm 128:2–3 For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.