Covenants and Vows

Mark 10 and Matt 19 Covenants

A covenant is a binding agreement. As God made a covenant with His people, marriage partners covenant together by a vow that this union is for life or until God calls one home. What does that entail? It means what Solomon wrote: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. “[Eccl 5:4]

Yet, the religious leaders sought to test Jesus. In both of these chapters, they came to ask if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife. Note: they were speaking as men to men. Women had no rights. They asked him a question, and he questioned them to see by whose authority they were obeying. In doing so, they revealed that their authority was not God but Moses. True, Moses was a prophet called by God and faithful in all God’s house, but God is the builder of the house. Moses was a servant, not the author. [Heb. 3:3]. Jesus reminded them that Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of their heart. It was not God’s plan. Jesus reminded them that as God the Father covenanted with his people for life, they were to covenant in marriage.

Today, many seek to break their covenant marriage, forgetting that their vows have been witnessed by others with the words that honor that agreement. Today, may we remember this wise counsel.