Free Bible Commentary
“1 Corinthians 7:8-11”
Categories: 1 Corinthians“But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.”
---End of Scripture verses---
It is very interesting that in 1 Timothy 5:14, the Apostle Paul advised the “younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach.” In verse 8 of today’s passage he recommends that the unmarried and widows remain unmarried. According to verse 26, Paul strongly suggested that Christians remain in whatever state that they presently found themselves in order to avoid as much difficulty as possible (verse 26).
“It is better to marry than to burn with passion” (verse 9). To remain unmarried was “good” at that time, but to enter into the union of marriage is “better” than to constantly battle against the lust of the flesh. The union of marriage between a man and a woman is the only way that God has sanctioned to satisfy this very legitimate need. We read Hebrews 13:4 yesterday: “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” And it’s a shame that we would even need to specify that God condemns “same sex” marriage (chapter 6 verses 9-11).
In verse 8 Paul gave an “authoritative opinion,” but in verse 10 he issued an “instruction” or “command”. A husband and wife (who have the right to be married) should not divorce. According to God’s design, marriage is a union that binds a man and woman together until death causes them to part ways (Matthew 18:8). Of course, Jesus gave us one exception to that rule. If either spouse is sexually unfaithful and betrays the trust of their sacred bond, the innocent party may divorce the offender (Matthew 19:9). But even then, God does not mandate the separation of that which He has joined together (Matthew 19:5-6). But He does give the option.
Paul was not suggesting that he did not have the authority to make this command when he said, “I give instructions, not I, but the Lord” (verse 10). He was merely drawing our attention to the fact that Jesus himself had spoken often of the sanctity and permanency of marriage. We already referenced Matthew 19:1-9. Jesus said, again in Matthew, in the Sermon on the Mount: “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 5:31-32). Consider also what Jesus said in Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18.
“But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband” (verse 11). Paul must have known that some would choose to divorce their spouses even though they have been commanded not to. In such cases God has given us two options: Either stay unmarried or reconcile with the covenant spouse. There is no third option, even though many Christians try to justify divorce and remarriage for any reason, by what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:15, 27-28. We will cover that in detail a little later, Lord willing. But I will just say today that Paul is not contradicting in those verses what clearly commands in verse 11.
“And the husband should not divorce his wife” (verse 11). There are no double standards with the Lord. What God requires of the wife, He also requires of the husband. Even in a culture that sometimes viewed the wife as the “property” of the husband, God did not originate or share that view. Men and women stand on equal footing before God in the kingdom of the Lord, even though they have been given some differing roles and responsibilities.
Please read 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 for tomorrow.
Have a super day!
- Louie Taylor
