Biblical Perspective

Firstly, it should be recognized that the importance of marriage as known in the Bible must be taken into consideration. The Omniscient and All Powerful God created man and woman for marriage and for it to be a lasting relationship. Marriage is defined as that of two people separate, unique and whole (one male, one female) making a covenant to exchange vows, committing their lives to remain together until death (Munroe, 2000, p.36). 

In the Old Testament God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18). The second chapter of the Book of Genesis also describes God taking a rib from the side of the man he had already created, fashioned from it a woman to be a suitable helper for the man (Genesis 2: 22-23). Then God brought the man and the woman together and confirmed their relationship as husband and wife, thereby ordaining the institution of marriage.

While marriage was the central human institution in the Old Testament, new expectations were established for it in the New Testament. Jesus said “wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh, what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder”(Matthew 19:6). The sense is, the bond of marriage being made by God himself, is so sacred and inviolable, that it ought not to be dissolved. No one is to break the bond of union, dissolve the relationship, and separate them from each other. In essence Jesus extends the importance of marriage, and therefore it is not to be changed or altered by man at his pleasure because this is not merely a civil, but a sacred affair, and it is a covenant relationship where God is concerned (www.biblegateway.com). Please see biblical perspective of divorce and separation