Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Hebrews 13:4
God is looking for us to be faithful to our spouse. A while ago, my wife went to a doctor's appointment, and the nurse who checked my wife in asked her a series of questions. To her surprise, she asked her, "Do you have a boyfriend on the side?" My wife blushed and said, "No!" Unfortunately, our society has become a place that does not often take commitments seriously. The nurse asked this question because people often don't value or understand the idea of being faithful.
This is particularly true in marriage. Society tells us it is okay to break our marriage commitments if we are tired, unhappy, or simply want something different. We live in a world of broken promises and relationships. This, however, wasn't God's plan for humanity. When we study the Bible, we learn something entirely different: God takes marriage vows very seriously.
The book of Hebrews provides a poignant reminder that marriage vows are to be taken very seriously. In Hebrews 13, the writer begins to make his concluding remarks. In verse 4, he writes, "give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery" (Hebrews 13:4). In other words, God honors marriage vows that are made, and we, too, are called to show honor to marriages. In fact, for those who do not honor their marriage vows, we know that God disciplines. We are called to be honorable and faithful in our marriages.
Maybe you are reading these verses, thinking about the frustrations and hardships in your marriage. These verses in Hebrews are a reminder to take your marriage vows seriously rather than giving up easily. Perhaps you have been unfaithful in your marriage. This study is not meant to make you feel guilt It is intended to call you to ask God to forgive you for your sin and then move on and live your life differently. Let's be people who take marriage vows very seriously and live our lives, including our marriages, to honor Him.
Andrew PoeRiverside Campus Pastor
Go back and re-read Hebrews 13:4. In your notebook or journal, write out this verse. If you are married, what steps can you take to take to honor your marriage today? Write out these steps in your notebook or journal. If you are single, answer this question: How do these verses in Hebrews 13 shape your understanding of marriage?
Read Hebrews 13:1-6 (NLT)
Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
©2024 Sagebrush Church
