Asunder: To break apart or in two. To divide. To become parted or severed. Into separate pieces or places.
Today, satan is doing all he can to destroy marriages. But, Jesus can help us protect and grow our marriage into the beautiful joy and blessing He intends for it to be.
1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. 2 Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.
3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” 5 And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart (put asunder) what God has joined together.”
7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts (because of your hard hearts), but it was not what God had originally intended. 9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”
Matthew 19:1-9
A couple of Christian friends from California visited us in Oregon soon after we’d moved there in 1980. Like us, they’d only been married a short time and had one young son. Because of the tension between them, Ann and I could tell their marriage wouldn’t last unless they made major changes. We tried to point out a couple of things we thought might help them, but they were not going to listen and were adamant about their own views on marriage. Sadly, they’re divorced today.
In the mid-80s, I was given a hard choice to make. In my heart, I knew Ann loved me and that my parents pressure on us was breaking us down emotionally. At the same time, I knew the Bible said to honor your mother and your father. I was confused…
My parents and relatives were “putting my marriage asunder.” The fear of man was one of the paramount generational sins in my family’s background. As it turned out, my parents’ generational strongholds were destroying me, my precious wife, and my marriage. It took a couple of years of Christian counseling for this to be clearly identified. After several years of meeting with him, our Christian counselor told me I needed to choose between my wife and my parents. If I chose my parents he said Ann and I would probably end up divorced. That’s how much of an impact my parents and relatives were having in my life and in the health and life of our marriage. Following Ann’s emotional breakdown, at that time, I was left with no other choice than to cut off ties with my parents.
Let no man (no one in any way) put asunder…
No one means not the husband or wife, in-laws, parents, friends, work, ministry, hobbies, personal/individual interests, ill health, financial pressure, etc. Don’t let anything or anyone bring such pressure on your marriage that it puts your marriage asunder. God will greatly bless the couple that puts their marriage first.
“Jesus, please show me if I’m putting my marriage asunder in any way. Show us the powerful blessings You have in store for our marriage. Then, give me the wisdom and courage to repair anything in my marriage that’s keeping it from being blessed in the ways You know it can and should be. Thank You, Lord. Amen.”
God bless,
Mark