John Calvin abridged: Christ assumes the principle that at the beginning God joined the male to the female, so that the two made an entire person; and therefore the man who divorces his wife tears from him, as it were, the half of himself. But nature does not allow a person to tear their own body to pieces. In another argument he says that marriage is more sacred than that which binds children to their parents. God, the Creator, made male and female, so that every man might be satisfied with his own wife, and might not desire more. For he insists on the number two (Mal. 2:15) though he could have created more- ruling out polygamy.
Leaving father and mother does not mean we do not honor them- but only that the wife has the first claim upon him.
Thoughts: Today my daughter, Rebekah, gets married. Praying that she and her husband, Jay Gilliam, will be blessed today with a great start. Jesus turned the water into wine at a wedding- showing he can celebrate. The puritan in me wonders why Jesus would turn water into wine when plain old water will help us survive. But Jesus is not interested in out just surviving. He came to give us life abundant. Marriage is a way to enrich our lives with the gift of human love- when it is the right person. 90% of Americans want to get married- and 90% will. Many will not have a lasting marriage. But the ideal of our hearts is expressed here by Jesus who, as a single guy makes a remarkable statement on the appreciation of marriage. He said "The two will become one." Marriage is not just a contract, but a spiritual uniting that is expressed and consumated physically.
Prayer: Today, Lord, bless those who are married. Thank you for the gift of human love.
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