Bible Verses About Marriage and Love
If you get your advice from secular sources, you'll find yourself questioning God's words on marriage. The Bible presents something radically different. Something exciting, interesting, and life-transforming. Why? Because God designed marriage, so why wouldn't He have the best advice regarding marriage?
Before we start - let's lay a foundation that what the Bible says is actually from God's breath itself. Amazing!
The Bible is relevant and powerful... and equips us for everything in our lives.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
Bible Verses about Marriage
God is wise. Marriage is hard. The Bible contains God's wisdom about His design, as well as His purpose for marriage and relationships.
God designed marriage
God designed marriage for Adam and Eve to be a blessing and as a way to produce children for families.
Genesis 1:27-28: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
A Christ-Centered Marriage is a healthy marriage
When you grow closer to Christ, you inevitable will grow closer to your husband.
Ecclesiastes 4:12: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Husbands are to love their wives
Women are generally wired to need tenderness and affection. Men need affection as well, but are more driven by respect and honor.
Ephesians 5:25-33: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ..."
See also: 7 Tips To Handle Marriage Conflict In a Healthy Way- Marriage Conflict Resolution Tips
Wives to are to respect and submit to their husbands
Submit. It's a loaded word - especially in Christian circles. No one likes to submit to someone else, but it's what humility is all about. In fact, there seems to be a strong connection in Paul's mind between marital submission and general Christian brotherly submission in the verses right before.
Ephesians 5:17-21: "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."
And then specifically to wives...
Ephesians 5:22-24: "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands."
Marriage honors and glorifies God
The institution of marriage is God-ordained and it glorifies God when couples lay down their wills and are humble with each other.Marriage is difficult, and there are possible reasons for divorce, but generally, a marriage that sticks through in the thick and thin is a God-glorifying institution.
Mark 10:9: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
See also: 8 Lies Satan Whispers To You About Your Marriage
Husbands and wives are to move out on their own
This helps the husband and wife start and maintain their own life together. There might be a time when you need to depend on your parents, but this should be the exception and not the rule.
Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
Husbands are to live with understanding to their wives
This passage says to honor your wife by living with her in empathy.For the husband, this means he must try to understand his wife.This command comes with a stark warning- if he doesn't treat his wife fairly and with empathy, it can actually hinder their prayers.
1 Peter 3:7: “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered."
See also: 8 Ways To Show Your Husband That You Love Him
Bible Verses About Love
Biblical love looks different from worldly love
Worldly love looks self-centered, me-focused, and self-serving. What can I get from you? What can you give me? It says "this love thing should be 50/50, or maybe even 80/30, depending if I need your service."Biblical love is 100/0. It gives and gives with no expectation of getting anything in return. That's why it's so difficult to read this 1 Corinthians passage - because it seems so counter-cultural.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
Consider your spouse as more important than yourself
Seek to serve your spouse with affection, honor, and forgiveness. This is how Christ loves the church.
Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
See also: 5 Things Your Husband Needs To Hear Every Day
Be kind and forgiving to your spouse
Forgiveness is yet another counter-cultural idea.To forgive someone who has hurt you - and hurtful things happen in marriage every day - takes guts. It takes strength.The kind of strength you can only find through Christ.
Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."
Treating your spouse with love means being humble and patient
It's hard for me to be patient with my spouse, but that's one of his strengths... and I appreciate it. He sees my selfishness and chooses patience despite my sin. And I love him for it.
Ephesians 4:2: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Don't get your wedding advice from the world- but from God's Word
If you get your advice from secular magazines, blogs, or books, you'll find yourself questioning God's words on marriage. You have to be radically different with how you approach your marriage in order for it to work as God designed.
Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
See also: Life on the Altar - Offer Your Body As A Living Sacrifice
Love and forgiveness walk hand-in-hand
Loving your spouse is one of the most important keys to forgiveness and growth in marriage.
1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
Love your spouse as Jesus loves us
Christ literally washed the feet of his disciples. Isn't that an amazing thought? As 100% God and 100% man, Jesus was a part of the creation and design of the humans that would end up following Him in His earthly ministry.Then He chose to make Himself humble and wash their feet.And He laid His life down for the sake of His sheep.Talk about the ultimate love.
John 15:12: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
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What about you?
What Bible Verses about Marriage would you add to this list? How long have you and your husband been married? Share your love story!
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