Click to Play
0 plays
Sign in to like or dislike songs
One of the most solemn and attacked institutions in human history is marriage. Not human in origin, but divine. Not optional in its design, but commanded and defined by God Himself.
Let us look at what the Word of God says:
> “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
> — Matthew 19:6
And again:
> “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her…
> …and the wife must respect her husband.”
> — Ephesians 5:25, 33 (paraphrased)
The central theme that runs through both the lyrics and these verses is this:
Marriage is a covenantal union, created by God, in which two become one flesh, and which is to reflect the relationship between Christ and His Church.
The song repeatedly returns to Jesus’ solemn statement:
> “But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Jesus is not giving a casual opinion. He is reasserting God’s original design, exposing the hardness of the human heart, and placing marriage under the clear authority of God’s covenantal order.
In this teaching, we will:
The core texts behind the lyrics echo from two key passages:
### a) Jesus Confronts the Pharisees (Matthew 19)
Matthew 19 records an encounter:
> “Some Pharisees came to Jesus to test Him. They asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?’” (Matthew 19:3)
The religious leaders were not seeking truth. They were “testing” Him. In that time, Jewish rabbis were divided. One school (Hillel) permitted divorce “for any reason” (even trivial reasons). Another school (Shammai) permitted divorce only for serious sexual sin. The Pharisees want Jesus to take a side.
But Jesus does not start with human tradition. He goes back to the beginning:
> “‘Haven’t you read,’ He replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator “made them male and female,” and said, “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 flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’” (Matthew 19:4–6)
Notice:
1. He goes to Genesis as the final authority.
2. He establishes male and female as the only divinely ordained pair for marriage.
3. He emphasizes one flesh – a union created by God, not just agreed to by humans.
4. He concludes with a divine prohibition: “Let no one separate.”
The Pharisees respond:
> “Why then... did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” (v. 7)
They appeal to Deuteronomy 24. But Jesus corrects their understanding:
> “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” (v. 8)
> “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (v. 9)
So we see three essential truths:
The lyrics rightly echo this seriousness:
> “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce’
> But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery…”
Jesus is reasserting the holiness of marriage.
### b) Paul Reveals the Mystery (Ephesians 5)
In Ephesians 5, Paul is speaking to the church about Spirit-filled living. In that context he turns to marriage:
> “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25)
> “…each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33)
He then links back to Genesis:
> “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.
> This is a great mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:31–32)
Paul reveals that marriage is not merely social or emotional. It is sacramental in nature—it signifies and embodies a spiritual reality: the covenant love between Christ and His Body.
The song captures this:
> “Marriage reflects the love of Christ for us
> Faithful, forgiving, unbreakable trust
> Hold fast to the promise, fight for the bond
> God’s grace is enough to carry you on
> One flesh forever—in His eyes”
### c) The Collision Point: Human Hardness vs. Divine Covenant
The lyrics state:
> “The heart is where marriage truly lives or dies
> Hardness leads to breaking what God designed
> But grace can soften, mercy can heal
> His power restores what we yield”
Jesus has already diagnosed the root: hardness of heart. The Greek word there implies stubbornness, callousness—an inability or refusal to be moved by God.
So the biblical context is clear:
This is the foundation on which the lyrics stand.
Two key terms unlock much of the depth here: “one flesh” and “joined together.”
### a) “One Flesh” — Hebrew: *basar echad* (בשר אחד)
From Genesis 2:24:
> “And they shall become one flesh.”
So “one flesh” is not a poetic phrase for physical intimacy only. It speaks of a profound, God-created union:
When Jesus quotes this, He is reaffirming that marriage creates a new, God-recognized unit of existence. Two distinct persons entering into a covenant become, in God’s sight, a single joined entity.
This deepens the lyrics:
> “And the two will become one flesh—so they are no longer two, but one
> Honor the one flesh—here and now”
When a couple sins against the marriage, they are not simply damaging a contract; they are tearing at a God-joined unity.
### b) “Joined Together” — Greek: *syzeugnymi* (συζεύγνυμι)
In Matthew 19:6:
> “What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
The Greek verb is *syzeugnymi*:
Literally: “to yoke together.”
This carries the image of two animals placed under a single yoke to pull the same load, walk the same path, under the same direction. When God “joins” a man and a woman in marriage, He yokes them together under His authority, His purpose, His calling.
So marriage is not merely two people agreeing to live together. It is God Himself placing His yoke over them as one team.
This intensifies the warning:
> “What God has yoked together, let no human being separate, divide, or unyoke.”
The lyrics therefore are not exaggerating when they call us to:
> “Guard your marriage with all your heart”
To break this yoke unlawfully is to resist what God has done.
Let us now walk through the themes of the lyrics, connecting them to the broader teaching of Scripture.
### a) “It has been said…” — Jesus vs. Tradition
The repeated stanza:
> “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce’
> But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery…”
Jesus is doing here what He does throughout the Sermon on the Mount:
> “You have heard that it was said… But I say to you…” (Matthew 5)
He contrasts human interpretation and concession with divine intention and standard.
In Deuteronomy 24:1–4, Moses regulates a situation where divorce was already happening because of human sin. He does not endorse divorce as desirable; he puts boundaries around a broken situation to restrain chaos.
The Pharisees twisted this into a right to divorce. Jesus restores it as a tragic concession in a fallen world, limited to specific grievous sin (*porneia*—sexual immorality).
The lyrics preserve this contrast and drive it home. They are doing what Jesus does: calling believers back to the heart of God, not the minimum legal requirement.
### b) “From the beginning, He made them male and female”
The song declares:
> “From the beginning, He made them male and female
> 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”
This is verbatim the theology of Genesis 1–2 and Matthew 19.
Biblically:
This refutes several modern distortions:
### c) “Husbands, love your wives… Wives, respect your husbands”
The lyrics quote and apply Ephesians 5:
> “Husbands, love your wives
> Just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
> Wives, respect your husbands
> Keep the covenant you made before God
> Forgive as you’ve been forgiven
> Bear with one another in love
> Guard your marriage with all your heart”
Notice the biblical order:
1. Husbands are commanded to love with a specific standard: “just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). That love is:
2. Wives are commanded to respect (Ephesians 5:33) and to submit “as to the Lord” (v. 22), not as to a tyrant, but to a husband who is himself under Christ’s authority.
The husband’s headship is not domination; it is Christlike responsibility. The wife’s respect is not inferiority; it is voluntary, intelligent alignment with God’s order.
The song ties this immediately to covenant:
> “Keep the covenant you made before God”
Malachi 2:14 calls marriage a “covenant” and reproves men who deal treacherously with “the wife of your covenant.” To break faith with one’s spouse is to break faith with God.
The commands “forgive as you’ve been forgiven” and “bear with one another in love” (see Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32) acknowledge the reality of sin and failure within marriage. The standard is not “perfection” but ongoing repentance, forgiveness, and covenant-keeping.
### d) The Heart: The Battle Ground of Marriage
The lyrics state:
> “The heart is where marriage truly lives or dies
> Hardness leads to breaking what God designed
> But grace can soften, mercy can heal
> His power restores what we yield
> Seek His strength to keep the vow
> Honor the one flesh—here and now”
Jesus has already said the same:
> “Because your hearts were hard, Moses permitted you to divorce…” (Matthew 19:8)
The Greek term for hardness (*sklerokardia*) means:
Marriage does not usually fail first in external actions. It fails in the heart:
Therefore, the remedy must also begin in the heart:
> “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you…” (Ezekiel 36:26)
“Grace can soften, mercy can heal.” When a husband or wife repents, forgives, yields, and invites God’s Spirit, hardness can be broken and covenant restored—often in situations that humanly appear hopeless.
### e) Spiritual Warfare Over Marriage
Although not explicit in the lyrics, the biblical framework makes it clear: marriage is a spiritual battlefield.
Why?
Ephesians 6 follows immediately after Ephesians 5, and reminds us:
> “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood…” (Ephesians 6:12)
Your spouse is not your enemy. The enemy is the one who:
To “guard your marriage with all your heart” includes spiritual warfare:
The song’s repeated reference to the seriousness of divorce is a call to recognize: this is not a light matter. It is a front-line issue in the kingdom of God.
The Word of God is given not merely for information but for transformation. In the spirit of practical obedience, here are four distinct steps and some possible proclamations believers can make.
### 1. Acknowledge God as the Author and Judge of Your Marriage
First, we must acknowledge that marriage is God’s institution, not ours.
Possible proclamation:
> “Lord, I acknowledge that You are the Author of marriage. What You have joined, no human has the right to separate. I submit my beliefs, expectations, and decisions about marriage to Your Word.”
### 2. Repent of Hardness of Heart
Second, we must deal ruthlessly with hardness of heart.
Ask the Holy Spirit:
Then, repent concretely.
Possible proclamation:
> “Father, I confess hardness of heart—toward You and toward my spouse. I repent of unforgiveness, pride, and selfishness. I choose to forgive as I have been forgiven. Soften my heart. Give me a heart of flesh, responsive to Your Spirit.”
### 3. Re-embrace the Covenant: One Flesh, Not Two Individuals Competing
Third, we must consciously re-embrace the covenant.
Possible proclamation:
> “Lord, I affirm that in Your sight we are one flesh. I renounce every attitude of independence, selfish ambition, and competition. I choose to seek my spouse’s good as my own. I choose to honor the covenant I made before You.”
### 4. Love and Respect as an Act of Obedience, Not Emotion
Fourth, we must obey Ephesians 5 by faith, not by feeling.
This does not mean tolerating abuse or sin. It means that your posture is one of obedience to God, even while setting godly boundaries when necessary.
Possible proclamation:
> “As a husband, I choose to love my wife as Christ loved the Church, giving myself for her highest good.
> As a wife, I choose to respect my husband and honor the role You have given him, trusting You to be my ultimate defender and judge.”
In many marriages, sustained obedience to these commands will shift the spiritual atmosphere and open the door for healing and restoration.
### Proclamation of Faith
Speak this aloud, preferably together as husband and wife, or in faith for your future or estranged spouse:
> In the name of Jesus, I affirm that marriage is God’s creation, not man’s invention.
> God made them male and female.
> For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother,
> be united to his wife,
> and the two shall become one flesh.
>
> I proclaim that what God has joined together,
> no one has the right to separate.
> I confess that hardness of heart destroys what God designed,
> and I renounce every form of hardness in my own heart.
>
> I receive God’s grace to forgive as I have been forgiven,
> to bear with my spouse in love,
> and to guard my marriage with all my heart.
>
> If I am a husband, I declare:
> “I will love my wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.”
> If I am a wife, I declare:
> “I will respect my husband and honor the covenant I made before God.”
>
> I affirm that our marriage is called to reflect
> the faithful, forgiving, unbreakable love of Christ for His Church.
> By the power of the Holy Spirit,
> I choose to honor the one flesh, here and now,
> and to stand against every attack of Satan
> against this covenant.
>
> In Jesus’ name. Amen.
### Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, we come under the authority of Your Word. You are the Creator of marriage. You made us male and female. You declared that two shall become one flesh.
We confess that our hearts, left to themselves, are hard. We acknowledge that sin, pride, lust, bitterness, and unforgiveness have opened doors to the enemy in many marriages. We ask You for mercy.
Holy Spirit, search our hearts. Reveal every area of hardness. Grant us true repentance. Soften what is hard. Heal what is wounded. Restore what has been broken where it is in line with Your will and Word.
For husbands, pour out the love of Christ—self-giving, patient, pure. For wives, release a spirit of respect, honor, and trust in You. Where covenant has been despised, restore a holy fear of God. Where legality has replaced love, renew the reality of grace.
We ask You to break every demonic assignment against marriages represented here—every spirit of division, adultery, lust, accusation, and confusion. We submit to God, we resist the devil, and we declare that he must flee.
Lord Jesus, You are the Bridegroom. Teach us to mirror, in our marriages, Your faithful love for Your Bride, the Church. Let Christian marriages become testimonies of Your power to heal, forgive, and keep covenant.
We ask this in the name and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
No more songs available