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.
When your spouse does not believe: advice from the Apostle Shaul
We will also see what the Apostle Shaul advices for unequally yoked marriages, and examples of how this is applied in real life for husbands, wives, and for children.
Qorintim Aleph (1 Corinthians) 7:10-11
10 “Now to the married I command, yet not I but Yahweh: [Yahweh precept] A wife is not to depart from her husband.
11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband [Again, we explain this in Yahweh’s Heart in Marriage]. And the husband is not to divorce his wife [Yahweh’s precept; Yahweh is not in the business of breaking up relationships, Yahweh is in the business of strengthening relationships and bringing them into alignment with His Kingdom].Qorintim Aleph (1 Corinthians) 7:12-13
12 But to the rest I, not Yahweh, say [Shaul gives his advice for what to do in the Dispersion under the Melchizedekian order because it is not covered in the first five books of the Torah]: if any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.
13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.Qorintim Aleph (1 Corinthians) 7:14
14 For the unbelieving husband is set apart by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are set apart. [If your marriage is not in order, you should do this as your first priority, to have a personal ministry to help bring your family together in Elohim, so that you can find your place in His ordered Kingdom].Qorintim Aleph (1 Corinthians) 7:15-16
15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases. But Elohim has called us to peace. [If the unbeliever departs, let him depart, but we are not to depart or to break the relationship. We are to do our best to help align relationships].
16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know O husband, whether you will save your wife?”
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We thank Yahweh Elohim for your love for His kingdom.
