Malachi 2:14 (NKJV) Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.
Galatians 3:15 (NKJV) Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
Marriage is a covenant in the eyes and mind of God, and it is His will that our marriages be strong and enduring. The marriage covenant is the closest to God’s covenant with us.
The first Scripture above shows that God calls husbands to treat their wives with honour because they are joined to them by covenant. God’s design also includes our continual connection to Him—like a three‑strand cord that is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Every marriage should carry the vision and goal of growing closer to God together.
What is a covenant? A blood covenant between two parties is the closest, most enduring, most solemn, and most sacred of all contracts. When you enter a blood covenant with someone, you promise to give them your life, your love, and your protection forever, till death do you part. It is a binding, unbreakable agreement based on blood, resulting in the absolute union of two parties, with all assets, talents, debts, and liabilities mutually shared.
The world seeks to conform us to its standard regarding marriage by viewing it as a contract. Christians will view marriage the same way unless their minds are renewed by the Word of God. When marriage is viewed as a contract, the couple will think in terms of conditions, limits, rights, and even “outs”.
To our modern way of thinking, marriage is a social contract governed by the state and negotiated between two sovereign people who share the same bed. Marriage today is all about the big “I”. “No-fault divorce”, a sex-obsessed media, liberal courts, and an idolised youth culture all send the same message that if the relationship ceases to give us what we want, if it gets tough, or even just gets boring, we can walk away and start all over. It is about our own entitlements and the fulfilment of the desires of the flesh and the mind. People quit when anything fails to satisfy them.
Christian marriage is not a contract but a covenant, a sacred blood covenant witnessed and guaranteed by God Himself. It is unconditional, unlimited, and unending. It is more about trust than terms, character than convenience, and giving than receiving. It reflects the very character of God.
Covenant is the only secure foundation for a happy, fulfilling and enduring marriage. Understanding the meaning of covenant will help us to understand the importance of being one with our spouse, and remembering that we are one at all times will strengthen our marriage.
Reflection: Do you view marriage more through the lens of covenant or convenience? Which of your beliefs about marriage is God inviting you to bring into alignment with His Word?
Sermon Series: As a Man Thinks in His Heart So is He
婚姻的稳固根基
玛拉基书 2:14 你们还说：“这是为什么呢？”因为耶和华在你和你幼年所娶的妻中间作见证。你以诡诈待她，她虽是你的配偶，又是你盟约的妻。
加拉太书 3:15 弟兄们，我且照着人的常话说：虽然是人的文约，若已经立定了，就没有能废弃或加增的。
在神的眼中和心意里，婚姻是一场盟约，祂的旨意是要我们的婚姻坚固且持久。婚姻的盟约是最接近神与我们所立之约的。
上面第一段经文表明，神呼召丈夫要尊重妻子，因为他们是通过盟约连结在一起的。神的设计还包括我们与祂保持持续的连连结——如同三股合成的绳子不容易折断（传道书 4:12）。每一段婚姻都应该承载着一个愿景与目标，那就是夫妻共同成长，一同与神更加亲密。
什么是盟约？在立约双方之间的血约，是所有合同中最亲密、最持久、最庄严、也最神圣的一种。当你与某人确立血约时，你便承诺将自己的生命、爱与保护永远奉献给对方，直至死亡将彼此分离。这是一种基于鲜血的、不可破灭的约束性协议，它带来的是双方绝对的联合，所有的资产、恩赐、债务和责任都将共同承担。
当今世界试图使我们同化于它的标准，将婚姻视为一种合同。基督徒若不借着神的话语更新心意，也会用同样的眼光来看待婚姻。当婚姻被视为一种合同时，夫妻双方就会在条件、限制、权利，甚至“退路”上动心思。
以我们现代人的思维来看，婚姻不过是一项受国家管辖、由两个同床共枕的独立个体协商达成的社会合同。现代婚姻的核心全然是以大写的“我”为中心。“无过错离婚”、充斥着性消费的媒体、自由主义的法庭，以及被偶像化的青春文化，都在传递着同一个信息：如果这段关系不再给予我们想要的东西、如果日子变得艰难、甚至仅仅只是变得枯燥乏味，我们就可以抽身离开，重新开始。这种观念完全围绕着我们自己的权益，以及满足肉体和心思的欲望。只要有任何事情无法令其满意，人们就会选择放弃。
基督徒的婚姻绝非一项合同，而是一场盟约——由神亲自见证并担保的神圣血约。它是无条件的、无限制的、也是无止境的。它更多关乎信任而非条款，关乎品格而非便利，关乎给予而非索取。它反映了神本身的品格。
盟约，是通往幸福、圆满且持久婚姻的唯一稳固根基。理解盟约的真谛，将帮助我们明白与配偶成为一体的重要性；而时刻谨记我们在任何时候都是一体的，则会坚固我们的婚姻。
默想：您更多是从盟约还是便利的角度来看待婚姻？在您对婚姻的诸多观念中，神正邀请您将哪一个带回到祂的话语中，使其归正？
讲章系列：你的思想，塑造你的生命