Marriage as God Established It
Pastor Tan Thai
This sermon focuses on God's original purpose for marriage according to Scripture, particularly from Matthew 5:31-32 and 19:3-9. The pastor emphasizes that marriage is the union of two people to live together for life, not a custom that can be changed according to modern society's desires. Divorce is not part of God's plan but is a consequence of hardened hearts and sin.
The sermon begins by presenting a contrast between marriage and divorce. Marriage brings union, joy, and happiness as two people live together, sharing both good times and hardship, wealth and poverty, health and sickness. Conversely, divorce is a collapse, disintegration, and separation that brings loss and deep psychological wounds. The pastor recognizes the pain of those who experience unhappy marriages but emphasizes that the sermon's purpose is not to induce guilt but to help the congregation understand God's original intention when He established marriage.
The second section develops three primary purposes of marriage according to Scripture. First is the continuation of the human race, as taught in Genesis 1:28. Second is to have a helper and companion for support and comfort, as in Genesis 2:18. Third is to demonstrate pledged love through physical union to become "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). God's design is for two people to live together for life through joy and sorrow, wealth and poverty, strength and weakness, so they may encourage, support, protect, comfort, and strengthen each other through marital love and the joy of children.
The third section explains the distinction between God's original intention and Moses' permission regarding divorce. When the Pharisees asked about grounds for divorce, Jesus did not answer their question about conditions but instead pointed to the original purpose of lifelong marriage. Jesus said that Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of human hearts and sin, not God's original design. The Greek word "porneia" (sexual immorality) is the only grounds for divorce and remarriage, not any reason whatsoever. The sermon emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between God's intention and human action when reading Scripture.
The final section applies the message to practical living. The pastor suggests that instead of discussing grounds for divorce, we should focus on strengthening marriage and learning forgiveness as God has forgiven us. The book of Hosea illustrates God's love and forgiveness toward His unfaithful people. The pastor does not advocate prolonging unhappy marriages but believes in Christ's teaching to honor marriage for life. Since no one is perfect, people need to learn forgiveness, change, acknowledge their mistakes, and seek forgiveness. Every day in life requires God's Word as a mirror to examine oneself, one's attitudes, words, and actions toward one's spouse with the purpose of change.