When Your Spouse Does Not Believe

By Norman Willis18/06/2021

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Many believers today find themselves in what the Bible describes as an unequally yoked marriage. In this segment of the Spirituality and Heart Matters series, we want to talk about what happens when a spouse does not believe.

Biblical roles of husband and wife

A husband’s job is to love his wife and to provide for her no matter what, and also to do so in such a way as he brings his whole family into correct alignment with Yeshua’s ordered kingdom. So that together they can make their best contribution to Yeshua’s ordered kingdom, because Yeshua is a very great King, and He likes that. And then a wife’s job therefore is to help and support her husband in that sacred mission, and also to respect him in the process, even though he’s not going to be perfect. And when all goes well in a marriage, and everyone follows their correct roles then everything goes well, and everyone can be happy and pleased.

Unequally yoked marriage

But sometimes things go wrong, and there are many different ways that a relationship can go off course. And one of the most difficult ways is when our spouse does not believe. Sometimes two unbelievers may get married and then one of them gets saved later. Or maybe two Christians may get married, or two Jews may get married, and then one of them gets called to the truth. In some situations, it could even happen that two believers get married, and then one of them falls out of faith. Whatever the situation, what advice can be given to believers who find themselves in unequally yoked situations?

Qorintim Bet (2 Corinthians) 6:14-15
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
And what accord has Messiah with belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

Biblical marriage

In this study, we want to discuss the biblical concept of marriage. What does Yahweh want for us in marriage? How does marriage reflect His plan of salvation for mankind? And how can basic Scripture principles help married couples (husbands and wives) maintain healthy marriages, physically and spiritually. We will talk about how the husband should treat his wife (and children), how a wife should submit to her husband, in Elohim, and how the basic principles in Scripture help guide us in marriage.

Ephesim (Ephesians) 5:22-23
22 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to Yahweh.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Messiah is the head of the assembly; and He is the Savior of the body.
Ephesim (Ephesians) 5:23-27
24 Therefore, just as the assembly is subject to Messiah, so let the wives be [subject] to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Messiah also loved the assembly and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might set her apart, and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious assembly, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be set-apart and without blemish.”

Ephesim (Ephesians) 5:28-30
28 “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Yahweh does the assembly.
30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
Ephesim (Ephesians) 5:30-33
31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly.
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.