Bible principles of marital relationship

Bible principles of marital relationship

Matthew 1 vs 18-23

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

²⁰ But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

²¹ And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

²² Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 1 used Joseph and Mary as an example to explain the ideal process of relationships in what is now called dating.

• Marriage pledge: The two families must agree to the relationship, and the two intending couples will be engaged with the ‘Mary’ pledging to marry the ‘Joseph’.
• Sexual abstinence: No premarital sex is expected to take place. No live-in lover. No co-habitation. The two must not come together.
• Pregnancy after marriage: No pregnancy before marriage. This implies no abortion from what is commonly called ‘unwanted pregnancies’.
• Obedience to God’s word: The intending couples should abide by church marriage regulations and Bible rules on marriage.
• Public exposure of offenders: Anyone who gets pregnant before marriage or out of wedlock was publicly ridiculed in Mary’s time.
• Virgin-bride: The partners must remain a virgin like Mary and Joseph.
• Marriage consummation: A marriage is consummated by traditional practice, legal, or religious laws before it becomes a marriage. If your relationship was not consummated into marriage through acceptance by traditional, spiritual, or legal processes, you and your partner are not husband and wife. The man can only take his wife after the marriage is consummated.
• A guy is not expected to take the lady home before the wedding day. Mary did not live in the home of Joseph before marriage.

Prayers

• Holy Spirit, help me to conform with your word rather than the world
• I receive the spirit of self-control in Jesus’ name