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Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage Must Be Honored And Kept Pure.

Hebrews 13:4 (NIV) Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Hebrews 13:4 (NLT) Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

Hebrews 13:4 (AMP) Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge and punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous.

INTRODUCTION

Giving honor to marriage requires the utmost in Christian conviction and sensitivity. Modern social theories and policies have redefined marriage and the family. These new definitions stray far from their biblical foundation. What can you do? If you are married, witness to the depth of God's love for you by keeping your marriage happy and strong, and make marriage enrichment one aspect of your small group discussions and study. Pray for your spouse. Remain faithful-- in body and in mind. Honor biblical marriage by resisting political pressure to recognize and legalize marriages that are not between one man and one woman. Teach children in your life the biblical meaning of marriage, and pray early for their own possible spouses and families. Encourage married couples around you to stay strong. [Life Application SB 2019]

COMMENTARY PEARL

Walking on Coals
   An Amazing Fact: Fire walking is the act of walking barefoot over a bed of hot coals or stones. It has been used as a rite of passage to test a person's strength, courage, or faith. Some believe it requires supernatural power, but modern physics has debunked this idea.
   Can a person walk barefoot over hot coals and not burn their feet? It depends. Several factors are involved. First, the length of time the foot is in contact with coals is usually not enough to induce a burn. Some try to run through the coals but are burned because the coals are pressed hard against their feet. Second, coals are not very good conductors of heat. If a person walked through hot coals and stepped on a piece of metal, his or her feet would burn. Another factor is that coals reach their flash point (hottest temperature) and then begin to cool down, so you must choose carefully when to walk through the fire.
   But it's not really a good idea to walk through a bed of hot coals. You will probably burn your feet! It is not a matter of supernatural power (though the devil can do lots of tricks). It is just not a smart thing to do. And that's the point Solomon is making when he writes, "Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared?" (Proverbs 6:27, 28). It's a rhetorical question intended to get the answer, "Of course not!"
   That is what the wise man teaches about the person who thinks adultery is something that is innocent and will not hurt you. "Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does so destroys his own soul" (v. 32). Will breaking the seventh commandment leave you unscathed? Of course not! Be wise and do not go down the senseless and destructive path of sexual sin. It is driven by a passion that will burn and destroy you forever. [Moving Mountains by Amazing Facts]

COMMENTARY

   Just think how many marriages could be improved (or saved) if marriage partners would follow the very basic guidelines of this verse: Honor your marriage and remain faithful. Giving honor to your marriage means praying for your spouse, putting his or her needs before your own, seeking to be a servant, and loving with the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13 (August 20)--patient, kind, never giving up, never losing faith, always hopeful, enduring through every circumstance. Remaining faithful means staying away from immoral behavior and adultery. Immorality and adultery have split marriages for thousands of years God's commands against such actions have been in place for just as long.
   Christians are to maintain high standards--in their lives and in their marriages. This is important not just for the marriages and families, but also for the church. Honesty, moral purity, and faithfulness are essential to the proper worship of God. Because the marriage relationship often illustrates the relationship of God with his people, a relationship on earth with one's spouse ought to illustrate the love, trust, and devotion available with the Creator. This pleases God. [The One Year Bible for New Believers]

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

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