Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: September 5, 2004
THE FIRST MARRIAGE # 2
Ben Justice
Practically all of humanity recognizes that a monogamous, heterosexual, permanent marriage is the best
arrangement. However, many fail to recognize how or why such an arrangement came into being. As Morris
stated, “It can hardly be the product of evolution, since it is not habitual with other primates or with other
mammals. The marvelous provisions for marital companionship and love, for sexual union and conception,
for embryonic growth and childbirth, and for development from childhood into adulthood — all these are
incalculably complex and wonderful evidences of God’s power and wisdom” (Henry Morris, The Genesis
Record, Pg. 98).
The phrase, “they shall be one flesh” (v. 24), (lit. into one flesh) points to two things:
1.) Remember the context is dealing with companionship. Adam needed a companion, a help meet (helper).
Therefore woman was created. This points to the social aspect of the relationship (see Eph. 5:25, 28, 31, 33).
2.) It also points to the sexual relationship. This is seen from v. 25 — “And they were both naked, the man
and his wife, and were not ashamed.”
In I Cor. 6:16, Paul stated, “What? know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? for two, saith he,
shall be one flesh.” This has as its basis Gen. 2:24. Paul was speaking of the sexual act between two people,
and when those sexual relations occur, they become “one flesh.” This is true even in fornication, as Paul
discusses in this passage. However, the same is true with a husband and a wife.
In Heb. 13:4, the inspired writer declared, “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers
and adulterers God will judge.” The ASV translates the first part of the passage as, “Let marriage be had in
honor among all.” Marriage is an honorable thing. The phrase, “and the bed undefiled,” is a euphemistic
expression for sexual relations in the marriage relationship. Now, note the reason for the exhortation: “But
whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” The term “whoremongers” is from the same Greek word
translated “fornication.”
God’s outlet to escape fornication is marriage (I Cor. 7:1-2). Those guilty of practicing fornication will not
inherit the kingdom of God (I Cor. 6:9).
One writer made this excellent observation: “. . . does this exhortation (referring to Heb. 13:4 — BJ) then
have some application to every-day literature and opera and movies and TV? Does it not require that the high
view of the God-approved place for sexual activity is the only view the Christian should tolerate?” (Gareth L.
Reese, Commentary On Hebrews, footnote # 8, Pg. 42).
In Matt. 19:5, Jesus quoted from Gen. 2:24. Our Lord said, “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother,
and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?”
As one writer noted, “Woman was not simply to cling to man as an appendage. To make man’s responsibility
clear, God ordained a man shall cleave unto his wife (24) in the mutual commitment of a true union.
Marriage is to remain unbroken throughout life, for it is said, They shall be one flesh, i.e., a complete
identification with each other. And in this they were not ashamed (25)” (George Herbert Livingston,
Beacon Bible Commentary — Genesis, Pg. 42).
Most, if not all, theological liberals view the first eleven chapters of Genesis as an allegorical story. In other
words, it is not real history. However, Jesus put his stamp of approval and authentication upon the first
eleven chapters of Genesis as being historical and real (Matt. 19:4-8). Therefore, the pattern set forth in
Gen. 2:18-25 for the marriage relationship and the home is to be heeded and regarded as authoritative and to
be protected at all costs!