Have you ever wondered what God says about marriage and love?
In this blog post, we will explore some of the best biblical verses about marriage and love, and what they teach us about God’s purpose and plan for this holy relationship. Whether you are married, engaged, dating, or single, these verses will enrich your understanding of God’s design for marriage and help you grow in your love for Him and for others.
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What Does the Bible Say About Marriage?
The Bible has a lot to say about marriage, from its origin in Genesis to its fulfillment in Revelation. Here are some of the key themes and verses that reveal God’s intention and instruction for marriage:
Marriage is a gift from God.
He created marriage as a way to provide companionship, partnership, and intimacy for His human creatures. He also gave marriage as a means to multiply and fill the earth with His image-bearers. (Genesis 2:18-25; Proverbs 18:22; Malachi 2:15)
Marriage is a reflection of God’s relationship with His people.
Throughout the Bible, God uses the metaphor of marriage to describe His love, faithfulness, and covenant with Israel and the church. He calls Himself a husband to His people, and He invites us to be His bride. In marriage, we have the opportunity to display God’s character and glory to the world. (Isaiah 54:5; Hosea 2:19-20; Ephesians 5:22-33; Revelation 19:6-9)
Marriage is a commitment between a man and a woman.
God designed marriage to be a lifelong bond between one man and one woman, leaving their parents and becoming one flesh. This means that marriage involves leaving behind other allegiances, cleaving to each other in love, and uniting in every aspect of life. God hates divorce and intends for marriage to be permanent and exclusive. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; Malachi 2:16; Hebrews 13:4)
Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church.
The New Testament reveals that marriage is not only a human institution, but also a divine mystery that points to the ultimate reality of Christ’s love for His bride, the church. Christ loved the church by giving Himself up for her on the cross, sanctifying her by His word, and presenting her to Himself as a glorious bride. The church responds by submitting to Christ’s authority, respecting His leadership, and loving Him with all her heart. In the same way, husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and wives are called to submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ. (Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
What Does the Bible Say About Love?
The Bible also has a lot to say about love, which is the foundation and motivation for marriage. Here are some of the key themes and verses that reveal God’s nature and commandment for love:
God is love.
The Bible tells us that God is not only loving, but He is love itself. He is the source and standard of all true love. He demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and give us eternal life. He also pours out His love into our hearts by His Holy Spirit who lives in us. (1 John 4:8-10; Romans 5:5-8; John 3:16)
Love is a commandment from God.
The Bible teaches us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus said that all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Love is not optional or conditional for Christians, but it is the essence of our obedience to God and our service to others. (Matthew 22:34-40; John 13:34-35; John 15:12-13; Galatians 5:14)
Love is a fruit of the Spirit.
The Bible shows us that love is not something we can produce by our own efforts, but it is a supernatural result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. As we walk by the Spirit and abide in Christ, we will bear the fruit of love, along with joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are not only pleasing to God, but also attractive to others. (Galatians 5:22-23; John 15:1-17; 1 John 4:7-12)
Love is a description of God’s character.
The Bible gives us a beautiful and famous definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. It says that love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not arrogant, not rude, not selfish, not irritable, not resentful, not rejoicing in wrongdoing, but rejoicing in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. This is how God loves us, and this is how we should love Him and others. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; 1 John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:16-21)
In a world where marriage is often under attack, misunderstood, or neglected, we need to look to the Bible for guidance and inspiration on how to love and honor our spouses.
We hope that these biblical verses about marriage and love have inspired you to appreciate and cultivate your relationship with God and your spouse. As we seek to follow God’s word and will for our marriage and love, we will experience His blessing and presence in our lives.
If you are looking for more resources on marriage and love from a biblical perspective, we recommend the following resources:
Hope In The Storm – Free e-Book
Thankful Everyday Gratitude Journal -Available on Amazon
Find Hope and Comfort. Book a time for a quick chat (It’s free!)
Weathering Storms: Finding Treasures in the Ruins is a powerful book full of encouragement and hope for those facing the storms of life. It’s available on Amazon and other book retailers.
