💍 Whether humorous or romantic, what’s the best marriage advice you’ve ever heard—even if it’s cliché?
Matthew 19:1–15 (NIV) 1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” 4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” 10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” 13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
What stands out to you? Is there anything new for you to believe or obey?
Other Scriptures referenced in message: Proverbs 6:27-29; 2 Samuel 13:12-15; John 2:23-25; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 26:27-28; John 19:28-30
In this message, Paul Durbin explores Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 19 about the beauty of covenant relationships, particularly marriage. Jesus emphasizes that marriage is a union God glues and yokes together, modeled after His relationship with His people through the New Covenant. While humanity often defaults to substitutes like casual, contract-based, or “committed” relationships, these fall short of God’s design and lead to pain and brokenness. True covenant relationships, like marriage, embrace hard work, mutual support, and a commitment rooted in God’s grace rather than conditional love. This passage reminds us of God’s everlasting covenant with His people, offering us a model for grace, forgiveness, and unity in our marriages, church, and community.
(See the bottom of this note for a full sermon outline).