Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
1+1=1?
Matthew 19:3-6
Rev. V. M. Mathew
6 So
they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Henry Ford, the great automotive industrialist, was interviewed by a reporter one day and asked these questions; what is the reason behind your success in the car industry? Do you have a single formula of success? His answer was ‘stick on to the same model!!’
God’s intention for the marriage and family is clearly explained in the above verses. God created man and woman in His image and wanted them to be united in a marriage relationship. But the Bible clearly explains what this relationship all about is. This formula for Christian marriage is above human comprehension. The Bible is telling us when two persons are together in marriage they will become one. This is against the principles of mathematics and this will be understood only in spiritual terms. I believe this is the difference between a secular marriage and Christian marriage. There are three basic processes behind this union:
Process of leaving
Verse 5 says “ .., ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother..” Before making this union there will be a leaving process. Many of us understand this process of leaving wrongly and think that their relationship and responsibility with their parents end eternally. That is not the meaning of this verse. But this leaving is very important in a married relationship. The man and woman who were the son and daughter will receive a new phase in their lives by this leaving process, but they still have a responsible relationship with their parents. This is a ‘positive leaving’. So the man and woman will leave their parents to enter into the second stage.
Process of cleaving
Verse 5 continues to say that after this leaving there will be a cleaving process. ‘Cleaving’ is a rich word and the meanings are "to adhere closely, stick, cling etc." It also says to remain faithfully. This is a biblical union in a marriage. God wants man and woman to be one in a faithful married relationship. In many marriage relationships this union is lacking and even after the marriage people are thinking that they are two but married. The two individuals will not lose their individual identity but will be cleaved together to become one.
Process of weaving
This is the third process in a marriage relationship. Verse 5 and 6 clearly says after this two stages the man and woman will be woven together to become one in their marriage relationship. This oneness is to be achieved only by weaving together a relationship with the Lord. Jesus is saying God has united and let man not separate. It may be impossible in human eyes but is possible by the help and grace of God. Being one, even though the man and woman are two is what God wants us to be in a married relationship.
Henry Ford, the great automotive industrialist, was interviewed by a reporter one day and asked these questions; what is the reason behind your success in the car industry? Do you have a single formula of success? His answer was ‘stick on to the same model!!’
God’s intention for the marriage and family is clearly explained in the above verses. God created man and woman in His image and wanted them to be united in a marriage relationship. But the Bible clearly explains what this relationship all about is. This formula for Christian marriage is above human comprehension. The Bible is telling us when two persons are together in marriage they will become one. This is against the principles of mathematics and this will be understood only in spiritual terms. I believe this is the difference between a secular marriage and Christian marriage. There are three basic processes behind this union:
Process of leaving
Verse 5 says “ .., ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother..” Before making this union there will be a leaving process. Many of us understand this process of leaving wrongly and think that their relationship and responsibility with their parents end eternally. That is not the meaning of this verse. But this leaving is very important in a married relationship. The man and woman who were the son and daughter will receive a new phase in their lives by this leaving process, but they still have a responsible relationship with their parents. This is a ‘positive leaving’. So the man and woman will leave their parents to enter into the second stage.
Process of cleaving
Verse 5 continues to say that after this leaving there will be a cleaving process. ‘Cleaving’ is a rich word and the meanings are "to adhere closely, stick, cling etc." It also says to remain faithfully. This is a biblical union in a marriage. God wants man and woman to be one in a faithful married relationship. In many marriage relationships this union is lacking and even after the marriage people are thinking that they are two but married. The two individuals will not lose their individual identity but will be cleaved together to become one.
Process of weaving
This is the third process in a marriage relationship. Verse 5 and 6 clearly says after this two stages the man and woman will be woven together to become one in their marriage relationship. This oneness is to be achieved only by weaving together a relationship with the Lord. Jesus is saying God has united and let man not separate. It may be impossible in human eyes but is possible by the help and grace of God. Being one, even though the man and woman are two is what God wants us to be in a married relationship.