God’s WORLD; God’s MAN; God’s GARDEN; God’s UNION; God’s Worldview - If marriage is foundational to a strong spiritual society then is it no wonder society is struggling so? Psalm 11:3

Scripture Reading: Mt. 22:23-33

I. The Union - 2:18-25

1. God acts - vv. 18-22

2. Adam reacts - v. 23

• At last

• Same body (bone/flesh)

• Same root name

3. Moses speaks - vv. 24-25

II. The Break Up - 3:1-13

1. From bliss to blame

2. Covering our own sin

3. Consequences of sin

4. In Christ reconciliation and healing is possible - Love God more than spouse; Love even your enemies (like ex’s)

5. Anger blinds us from seeing - Matthew 7:1-5

6. Jordan P - divorce of parents is more damaging on kids that the death of a parent

III. The Reunion (After the Fallin’) - God’s Word speaks as if we can walk in marital bliss even after the sin of Adam and Eve and after our own sin!

1. We will learn a lot from the marriage of Adam (Eve) -

2. We don’t learn much about the marriage of Noah (don’t even know her name) -

3. We can learn a lot about the marriage of Job (unnamed) -

4. We can learn a lot from the marriage of Abraham (Sarah, “Hagar” - Ishmael, Keturah after Sarah died w/ whom he had 6 sons)

5. We can learn a lot from the marriage of Isaac (Rebekah) - twins after 20 years of marriage (Jacob & Esau sibling rivalry not all that different from Cain & Abel).

6. We can learn a lot from the marriages of Jacob

7. We don’t know a lot about the marriage of Joseph arranged by the Egyptian Pharaoh (Asenath - daughter of priest Potipheri)/. She bore Joseph the forefathers of 2 of the 12 tribes (Ephraim & Manasseh)

8. We can learn a lot from the marriage of Moses (Zipphorah) - She saves his life and then in anger throws something at Moses - Ex. 4:24-26; don’t hear that every day in our biblical counseling sessions!

9. We can learn a lot from the marriages of David (8) - from Michal (daughter of King Saul) to Bathsheba (mother of Solomon). He had children with 7 of them!

10. I wouldn’t put anyone through studying the marriages of Solomon - however he had some great things to say about wives: Proverbs 5:18; 12:4; 18:22; 19:14; 31:10-31

(1) Passages that apply very well to marriage: *Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 - *I Corinthians 13:1-13 - *Ephesians 4:32 - *Philippians 2:3-4 -

(2) Marriage according to Paul - *I Corinthians 7:8 - don’t do it *Ephesians 5:18-21, 22-33 (In what culture is Christ the Head of the Church?); Colossians 3:18-19

(3) Marriage according to Peter - I Peter 3:1-7 (“likewise”; “grant her honor”; “fellow heir”)

(4) Marriage according to Jesus - Matthew 19:1-9; 22:23-33

5 Marriages Worth Studying:

• Adam & Eve (forgiveness)

• Boaz & Ruth (selflessness)

• Zechariah & Elizabeth (communication - 9 months of non-verbal communication)

• Joseph & Mary (trust) - Put her away privately

• Aquila & Priscilla (mutuality) - I Corinthians 18; Romans 16:13-14