Marriage Is to Be Held in Honor among All

Bride and Groom

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

Marriage was instituted by God in the beginning as a blessing for mankind. Sadly, this God-ordained union between a man and a woman has been corrupted, abused, broken, and disregarded in every generation since then. We certainly see this in our society and will continue to see it as long as people ignore and reject God’s plan for marriage.

The Hebrew writer said that “marriage is to be held in honor.” To hold something in honor is to esteem it and recognize it as being valuable. The same Greek word is used to describe the “precious blood” of Christ (1 Peter 1:19) and the “precious…promises” that God has given us (2 Peter 1:4). Clearly, when we see this word being used by the New Testament writers, we are reading about something that should be treasured.

What does it mean to hold marriage “in honor”? Consider a few points:Continue Reading

Keep from the Adulteress (Season 11, Episode 8)

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Keep from the Adulteress (Season 11, Episode 8)

In this season, we’re discussing some lessons from the book of Proverbs.

In Proverbs 7:1-27, the wise man warned his son about the adulteress – first by pointing out the foolishness of one who puts himself in a position to be tempted, then by describing the tactics she uses in order to make this sin convenient, enticing, and seemingly without consequences. There are important lessons for all of us – men and women – in the wise man’s warnings in this chapter.

Mentioned in this episode:

  • My Son, Hear My Words: Notes on Proverbs – This is a “topical commentary” I wrote on the book of Proverbs. Follow the link for more information. If you decide to pick up a copy, use coupon code Proverbs5 at checkout to receive $5 off and free shipping.
  • Plain Bible Study Guides – These are designed to help Christians engage in profitable studies of the Scriptures. The study guides include a straightforward explanation of the text and questions at the end of each lesson, making them useful for both individual and group Bible studies.

If you found this episode to be useful, please share it with others. Also, if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. This also helps others hear about the podcast. Thanks.

A Woman Caught in Adultery (Season 6, Episode 6)

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A Woman Caught in Adultery (Season 6, Episode 6)

On one occasion when Jesus was in the temple, the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman before Him who had allegedly been caught in the act of adultery (John 8:1-11). It is an interesting account, and some have tried to use it to argue that we should not try to strictly follow God’s word. But as we examine the passage, we can see that Jesus teaches just the opposite – we must be careful and diligent to follow what God’s word teaches.

Article: Did Jesus Bend the Rules for the Woman Caught in Adultery?

If you found this episode to be useful, please share it with others. Also, if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. This also helps others hear about the podcast. Thanks.

Lacking Sense

Man in dark

The book of Proverbs focuses on wisdom that comes from above. It contains many contrasts between wisdom and foolishness. Several passages describe one who lacks sense, which means he is void of understanding or wisdom. Paul said we are to “walk, not as unwise men but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). So let us consider some of the passages from Proverbs about those who lack sense and see what we can learn from them.
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God’s Marriage Law

Wedding rings

There is much confusion and controversy today about marriage. Many believe they can marry whoever they want, define marriage however they want, and end it whenever they want. But God instituted marriage; therefore, His laws define and regulate it. Let us consider what the Bible teaches about God’s marriage law.

To begin, notice what Jesus taught on the subject:

Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife. And He answered and said to them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.’

In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again. And He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery’” (Mark 10:2-12).

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The Foundation for a Godly Society

Moses and the Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) – the laws engraved onto stone which God delivered to Moses for the children of Israel – give us the blueprint for the foundation of any godly or righteous society. These Ten Commandments are regularly assaulted by those on the “left” as having no place in our government or our schools. The stated reason for their opposition is that the Ten Commandments represent a religious element that has no place in anything related to government. Yet the Ten Commandments represent more than just religion. The reason there is such strong opposition to the display of the Ten Commandments by the “left” is because the Ten Commandments stand in direct opposition to the Liberal’s ideal for society.

Many today view the Ten Commandments as part of the foundation of our religion. Yet they are part of the Old Law which was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Does this mean they are of no value for us today? Certainly not! But we must use them properly. The Old Testament was written and is preserved “for our instruction” (Romans 15:4). When we study the Ten Commandments, we find the foundations of a godly society.
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The Application of Wisdom: Teachings About Women (Part 1)

Notes on Proverbs

Since much of the book of Proverbs is directed toward the wise man’s son, Solomon spends a lot of time discussing women. He warns his son about certain women that are to be avoided. He also gives instruction about the blessings of a good wife and discusses her character so that she might be identified.
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