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Anthropology of Marriage (1) Webster defines anthropology as "the science that deals with the origins, physical and cultural development, racial characteristics, and social customs and beliefs of mankind." In this series of articles I want to cover where marriage originated, what marriage is, who God binds together in marriage, and some of the responsibilities of those entering into a marriage. "In the beginning God created the heavens and earth" (Genesis 1.1). From those words we understand the power and nature of God. In six days God created the universe and all living creatures. On the sixth day man was created. "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1.27). The very first relationship was between man and God. The twenty-eighth verse does not give us much information as to what God specifically required of man, but it does show that God, as man’s creator, established the boundaries of man. Genesis, chapter two, tells us of Adam’s responsibilities and God creating woman as a help meet or help mate for man. Hence, we have the second relationship established by God. Often we speak of marriage as a divine institution, it is the relationship created by God for a man and woman to live together as husband and wife. It is a relationship between God and man. Contrary to what many cultural anthropologists say, marriage did not evolve over thousands and thousands of years. It was not a case of the cave man pairing up with a cave woman and then deciding to stay together. From the very beginning man and woman were united in marriage by God. Jesus refers to this in Matthew 19, "Have you not read that He who made them in the beginning made them male and female, and said ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh" (verses 4-5), This is a quote from Genesis 2.24. It is a divine relationship in that God "joins" them together. Therefore, marriage involves both the man and the woman and God. In order to be joined together one must meet God’s approval. The reason man and woman have the right to be married is because God created the relationship, it is a "covenant relationship." Meaning it is a contractual agreement between man and God. Apparently a common practice of the Jews during the days of Malachi was men divorcing their wives. We see God’s charge against the practice in Malachi 2.14,
The man and woman are bound by God’s law. Genesis 2 gives us more information concerning the relationship between Adam and Eve. Nowhere in Genesis can we read of man divorcing his wife or wives; nor can we find a passage allowing such a practice. God set forth His covenant regarding marriage under the "Law of Moses" in Deuteronomy 22. 24. A person found committing adultery was to be put to death, Deuteronomy 22.22. A woman betrothed to a husband and commits fornication with another man was put to death, Deuteronomy 22.23-24. A man guilty of raping a betrothed woman was put to death, verse 25. In verses 28-29 an unmarried couple caught having sex was to be married. The young man had to pay his father in-law fifty shekels of silver and they could never get a divorce. (We will notice the allowance for divorce a little later.) Leviticus 20 does cover cases of incest, bestiality, and homosexuality; all were forbidden. In Leviticus we read of God’s law on marriage for the priest. It was much stricter. Leviticus 21 addresses Jehovah’s requirements for His Holy Priesthood. A priest could not marry a harlot or a divorced woman, verse 7. He had to marry a virgin, verse 13. I find it interesting that people often refer to the Old Testament to try and justify many divorces today. When one reads God’s covenant under the Law of Moses he sees a strict law concerning who one can marry and what must be done in cases of divorce. When questioned on marriage/divorce in Matthew 19, Jesus did not go to the Law of Moses, but to Genesis to answer their question. It has always been God’s intention for man to have one mate. The only reason for divorce under the Law of Christ is sexual immorality, Matthew 19.9, "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." Man can not change the conditions of the contract, he can only agree to the requirements set forth by God. Over the last number of years, various states have enacted legislation defining marriage as between a man and a woman. While I agree with the definition and understand the reason for states changing their constitutions to define marriage, it has no effect on God’s definition of marriage, nor his responsibilities in that marriage. Some couples have tempted to change the covenant by writing their own marriage vows. Words such as "obey" and "till death do us part" have been replaced by "as long as our love shall last." The traditional marriage vows can not be found in the Bible, but the ideas can be found in God’s word. It is in our best interest to understand the marriage union and fulfill our responsibilities. —more next week— D.T. |