Let us be very clear about the Bible's teaching about marriage:
- Heb 13;4 - Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
- 1 Cor 7:3-5 - The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
Recall that it was the LORD Himself who performed the first wedding in Eden between Adam and Eve as recorded in -
Gen 2:18 - The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be
alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”
Gen 2:24 - For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and
be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
This is quoted by Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7–8, 1 Corinthians 6:16, and Ephesians 5:31.
Having said that, there is no compulsion to be married - singleness is just as honorable as marriage.
1 Cor 7:8-10 - Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good
for them to remain unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control
themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn
with passion. To the married I give this command (not I, but the
Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does,
she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a
husband must not divorce his wife.
So, why no marriage in heaven? The simple answer is that that is the way God created things. The longer answer might involve the question of population which heaven does not do; but this is debatable.
APPENDIX - Bible teaching about marriage
The Biblical data on marriage can be summarized as follows:
- Marriage is honorable (Matt 19:4-6, Mark 10:6-9, Heb 13:4, 1 Cor 7:14, Deut 24:5, Prov 5:18, 19, 12:4, 18:22, 19:14, 31:10) but not essential (1 Cor 7:7-9).
- In fact, Paul says by the Holy Spirit that in the last days (or latter times) there would arise liars and hypocrites who forbid marriage (1 Tim 4:1-3).
- Celibacy is an acceptable, even desirable, choice for some (Matt 19:12, 1 Cor 7:7, 8, 25-28, etc)
- Divorce is highly discouraged (Matt 5:31, 32, 19:6, 9, Mark 10:6-9, 1 Cor 7:11-13). However, even Jesus’ advice in Matt 19:9 is moderated by verses 10-12 that “no divorce” is the ideal, but practical realities in a sinful world sometimes make divorce necessary. Jesus said that the “Law” (= Torah) permitted divorce because of the hardness of your (sinful) hearts. Sometimes, divorce is the “lesser of two evils” and this why it is not prohibited in Scripture.
- Divorce is permitted under some circumstances of “marital infidelity” (Matt 5:31, 32, 19:9, NIV), and the decision of an unbelieving spouse to leave (1 Cor 7:15).
- Separation, rather than divorce is sometimes appropriate (1 Cor 7:10, 11).
- Sex is a very important part of marriage (1 Cor 7:3, 4, Prov 5:18, 19, see also the entire book of Song of Solomon). Sex has two functions – procreation (Gen 1:28) but much more importantly, bringing two people together and making them “one” (Gen 2:24, Matt 19:5, 6, Mark 10:8, 1 Cor 6:16, Eph 5:31).
- Marriage is the only place where sexual activity should occur (1 Cor 7:2).
- Wives must submit to (or obey) their husbands (Eph 5:22, 23, Col 3:18, 1 Peter 3:1, 5, 6) as is “appropriate” in the Lord – note that this is in the context of all Christians submitting to one another (Eph 5:21); BUT, -
- husbands must love their wives (Eph 5:22, Col 3:19, 1 Peter 3:7) and never be “harsh”, but treat them with consideration. In fact, husbands must love their wives as much as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her (Eph 5:25, 28, 29, 33). Let us pause to note that some men, realising this awesome and frightening responsibility as husbands have been reticent to marry at all. (This may have been part of the reason that Paul chose to remain unmarried, among other things.)
- All homosexual relationships are prohibited (Rom 1:26, 27, 1 Cor 6:9, 1 Tim 1:8-11, Jude 7 (cf. Gen 19:1-5), Lev 18:22, 20:13). Note Paul’s comment in 1 Cor 6:11 – “and that is what some of you were.” However, see “Eunuch” for further discussion on this difficult subject.
- Sexual immorality or fornication (Greek: “porneia”, John 8:41, Acts 15:20, 29, 21:25, 1 Cor 5:1, 6:13, 18, 2 Cor 12:21, Gal 5:19, Col 3:5, 1 Thess 4:3, Rev 2:21, 9:21, etc.) is any kind of illicit sex including heterosexual sex outside of marriage, adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, incest, etc. The New Testament also specifically condemns adultery (Greek: moichos & moicheia), Matt 15:19, 5:27, 28, 32, 19:9, 18, Mark 7:21, 10:11, Luke 18:11, John 8:3, 1 Cor 6:9, Heb 14:4, etc.; it also forbids incest, 1 Cor 5.
- There will be no marriage in heaven, Matt 22:30, Mark 12:25, Luke 22:36.
- Marriage should be between people that are approximately “equal”, 2 Cor 6:14. The context suggest that this is of spiritual and religious values. However, if conversion of one partner occurred after marriage (due to one becoming Christian) then the marriage should not be dissolved (1 Cor 7:12-14, see also Rom 8:9) unless the unbelieving spouse leaves (V15, 16).
