Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY MATRIMONY

EPHESIANS 5: 20-32

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”  Ephesians 5:25

Mar Thoma Church has seven sacraments and Holy Matrimony is one of them. Today’s Bible portion talks about marriage.  Let us see what Paul talks about Holy Matrimony in Ephesians 5:20-32. The subject of Paul’s teaching in Ephesians is that of submission in the context of marriage. Holy matrimony is not just the act of agreeing to be together. Holy matrimony is a sacred act of togetherness, honored by God and created as a lifelong obligation to one another. Christian marriages have certain commitments, obligations, and duties. This fundamental reality that underlies and explains the attitudes and conduct of a man and his wife in marriage is the relationship of Jesus Christ to His Church. We can see through the teaching of Apostle Paul this mystery is clear and our conduct in marriage is to be a reflection of this mystery.
Christian marriage is instituted by God, and therefore, is holy and sacramental. Marriage is a sacred reflection of the union between Christ and His church and was ordained by the Triune God in the eternal council chambers of heaven before the world began. It was God who instituted the marriage bond, and He laid out the important roles and responsibilities that husbands and wives have towards one another. As it says in Genesis 2:24, “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
Paul uses the close, marriage bond between a man and his wife, as a beautiful picture of the intimacy that exists between the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church.  Jesus Christ is the bridegroom and the Church is the bride. He loved the Church and gave Himself for her. Paul calls this intimate ‘marriage’ relationship Christ has with His church, ‘a great mystery.’ 

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing this wonderful mystery to us, that our relationship with Lord Jesus Christ is as special and intimate as that between a husband and his wife. He gave His life because of His love of the Church. May we all reflect that love to our families and to those around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


 Thought for the Day
“For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Mathew 19:5-6)

 
T. A.  Mathew
Trinity MTC, Houston

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