I want!

Text: Colossians 3:5

You can be occupied with what God has done for you or you can be occupied with what you don’t have and what someone else has.

Covetousness is denying the Lord (Hebrews 13:5)

Occupied with things you don’t have

Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Millions of people will sit on their couch, in a/c, running water, transportation, fridge with food, good plumbing, while a digital window tells them 24 hours a day about things they don’t have but need. Every 3 minutes you’re told about something you don’t have but will make your life better. Then you sit in front of a screen with people who look better than you, have more money than you.

Then you listen to a sermon an hour or two a week trying to convince people inflamed in covetousness who’ve spent 8 hours a day in front of a screen lusting after every new, pretty, expensive thing, that Jesus Christ is the answer and the Bible is your meat and serving God is where joy is.

Inability to make good judgment

Exodus 18:21-22 in order to make good judgment you can’t be covetous.

If you want stuff, you’ll set aside judgment in order to get more or not lose what you have.

Listen to God’s word, but won’t practice any of it

Ezekiel 33:30-33

People leave saying that was a good sermon about missions.  The preacher says we’re going to be taking up an offering for this missionary, and the same people who said that was a good sermon on missions say they don’t have the money to give.

Measure spirituality and blessings by stuff and possessions

1 Timothy 6:3-5

This is a theology of covetousness. It is literally a prosperity gospel.

Psalm 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

People with regrets are covetous people.

Coveting what you don’t have leads to a multitude of bad options.

Theft, adultery (you want someone’s wife or husband), crippling debt, apathy toward God, bitterness toward someone else.

1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Not that they are rich or are poor, but they that WILL BE rich FALL…

Covetous people are discontent people

That is the definition of discontentment, covetousness.

Covetousness can’t be satisfied by the thing that you’re coveting.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Covetousness is idolatry.

What do you do when this idol worship shows up in your life, because it’s in your flesh? Mortify your members.

I want, I want, I have to have it. If that idolatry is mortified, you’ll save money, you’ll be more content, you’ll have more joy, and you’ll be able to honor the Lord.

Cherubim

Text: Genesis 3:22-24

God says man has become like God knowing good and evil, but it’s corrupted man. Now, man has the ability to physically eat all the medicinal properties of the tree of life and live forever in a sinful state. The tree of life is a real physical tree also found in Revelation 22:2, 14.

Exodus 25:19 – the cherubim surround the place of fellowship with God

Psalm 80:1, 99:1 – the Shepherd of Israel dwells between the cherubim

Ezekiel 1:1 – 28 …10:1 -22 – cherubim surround the glory of God (10:20 the living creatures are the cherubim)

Devil a cherub according to Ezekiel 28:11-19

The devil was found near a tree in Genesis 3.

Samuel’s faithful childhood

Text: 1 Samuel 2:12-26

We could also call this chapter consecration versus corruption. Samuel is faithful as a child and stands in contrast to the vile priesthood of Eli and his sons; see verses 11 and 12. From a young boy Samuel served and was obedient even before he knew the Lord. There are three descriptions of the sin in the priesthood punctuated by statements of Samuel’s faithfulness. Notice verses 18, 21, 26 and even 3:1, 19. Samuel will restore honor to the priesthood in his time. Samuel will serve as a sign to Eli and his family that God will have a faithful priest. Ultimately Samuel is a type of Jesus Christ’s priesthood. And there are four descriptions of faithfulness in the service of God that apply.

God’s faithful priest is consecrated to the things of God (vss 12-19)

A boy clothed in righteousness (vss 12-19)

Against the backdrop of a criminal clergy

Earlier in 1 Samuel 1 when Hannah was praying for a son Eli thought she was drunk. Probably because that’s what he was accustomed to seeing. And Hannah specifically says, Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial. The irony of Hannah telling Eli don’t call me a daughter of Belial when God describes Eli’s own sons as sons of Belial can’t be missed.

The young men are taking offerings to the Lord for themselves without making any offering to the Lord. It’s total abuse of their position. It’s dishonoring to God. And it makes the people attending hate the things of God.

The priests don’t even steal from people themselves, they have a servant doing it. And this guy has a pitch fork in verse 13. The image is unmistakable. If you’re worshipping God in Shiloh, watch out for the guy with the pitchfork because he’s there to steal your offering.

The people who were sanctified and set apart for God’s purposes turned God’s place of revelation and help into a place of violence, injustice, and greed. They took a sanctuary, a place of rest, and made it a vile place of bitterness.

Now how about coming to church? Some people make coming to church a bitter experience. Some people make coming to church a lovely experience. The difference is one group honors the things of God and the other honors themselves.

A boy clothed in righteousness (vss 18-19)

Then the scene changes. In verse 18 we have a little boy, dressed for the job of priest, and shining as a little light in the midst of darkness. Samuel is clothed in righteousness you could say. He is certainly clothed in the priestly garments from a young age. He is dressed for the job.

Samuel is faithful as a child. He does the things that honor God even before he knows the Lord. This wasn’t about his relationship to the Lord. This was about his relationship to the THINGS of the Lord. If you’re not right with God’s things – His words, His people, His sanctuary – truly you aren’t right with God.

Hannah makes him a coat every year. That coat was something the high priest wears. 

Samuel’s training begins before he knows the importance of his training. Something we parents make the mistake of in spiritual matters is saying it’s not important to do until the kids understand why they’re doing it. But that’s not true in Math, military training, education.

A boy who is a blessing to his parents (vss 20-21)

A boy who is a light in a dark world (vss 22-26)

The contrast is again unmistakable. Samuel is a blessing while Eli’s sons are curses. Samuel’s light and influence are growing as Eli’s tenure is fading.

Verse 25 if a man steal from another man then a judge can declare him a thief and the thief will go to jail or pay back what he stole. But if a man steal from God or profane the things of God who will plead for him? If you take the Lord’s name in vain, who pleads for you? Who is your defense attorney?

God’s hidden kingdom

Text: Matthew 13:34-35

There is nothing in this world I can point to and prove to you that serving God will ensure that you’ll make this amount of money. Or that serving God will allow you to own property. Or that serving God will make you rich right now. The truth is the physical rewards for serving God are with Jesus Christ whom you can’t see. Faith is how you gain access to Jesus Christ’s coming kingdom. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Do you know why you have to believe that about God? Because it can’t be obtained through your five senses. God’s Holy Spirit has described some of the hidden rewards God has in scripture. The only access anyone has ever had to this kingdom is by faith. That’s why Hebrews 11 has examples of people before the law, under the law, outside the law (Rahab), and the common denominator is faith.

God’s kingdom is hidden, it is in secret, it is a mystery, you can’t observe it and you can’t put your hands on it. Now, let’s read our text with this thought in mind. Matthew 13:34 deals with God’s hidden kingdom, hidden from those without faith to see it. See that phrase in verse 35? I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. The thing that has been kept secret since the foundation of the world in Genesis 3 is Jesus Christ’s kingdom. Look at Matthew 25:36. This is Jesus Christ’s kingdom spoken of all through the Bible and finally described in the book of Revelation.

With this in mind let’s remember last week. We explained that the parable of the leaven describes the main attribute of the kingdom of heaven (and kingdom of God in Luke’s gospel) is that it is HID, out of sight.

To further explain this Jesus Christ tells the parable of the treasure in the field. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that a man finds on a piece of property then conceals the treasure until after he buys the field. Again the attribute of the kingdom is it’s HIDDEN, but in that parable the added attribute that it is not only HIDDEN but very valuable.

Matthew 13:10-17 (Luke 8:10) – When the Lord Jesus Christ becomes a man, now the central figure in this kingdom is no longer hidden, he can be handled and touched and heard. (This is why Jesus says what he does in Matthew 11:11-12 about the kingdom of heaven suffering violence. He is the one suffering violence. He is the one that is least in the kingdom of heaven because He’s made Himself a man and will subject Himself to death. Yet, He is greater than John the Baptist.)

BUT just because Jesus Christ was physically here, some people still didn’t believe. Proving once again that Jesus Christ’s kingdom can only be accessed by faith.

John 3:3-8

1 Corinthians 2:6-14 – the natural man is a man who uses his senses to discern. But I can’t touch Christ’s kingdom. I can’t smell Christ’s kingdom. I can’t see Christ’s kingdom. I can’t hear Christ’s kingdom. I can’t taste Christ’s kingdom. Your only access, my only access to this kingdom is what the Holy Spirit teaches about it.1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Kingdom of God is not meat or drink, and certainly right now it is not anything physical. But righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ’s kingdom is not natural, it has no color, shape, smell, sound, taste, etc., however, there is SPIRITUAL fruit that shows His kingdom has come to reside in the heart of the believer. Galatians 5:22-25

Ephesians 3:8-12 – unsearchable riches, hid in God, access is faith.

Colossians 1:25-27, 2:1-3, 3:1-4

1 Peter 1:9-11

So all through the Bible Jesus Christ’s kingdom is hidden, mystery, unseen, accessed by faith. Hidden through Genesis, hidden through Exodus, hidden through Leviticus, hidden through Numbers, hidden through Isaiah,

God given opportunities

Text: Song of Solomon 5:1-8

Her internal struggle

Song of Solomon 5:2 I sleep, but my heart waketh:

Tired, but the inside is stirred.

Old man versus new man

Song of Solomon 5:2 it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

He is locked out and she doesn’t care.

Song of Solomon 5:2 my head is filled with dew

Jesus Christ has been at work while you’ve been sleeping.

He’s been out in the rain.

Her excuses

* Song of Solomon 5:3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on?

* Her response is that she is comfortable and doesn’t want to get up.

* You came at a bad time.

* Are you really going to make me get up?

* Then she makes it his fault she’ll have to take another bath.

Her ignoring him

Song of Solomon 5:4

He attempts to get in from the outside, but you can only open from the inside.

She knows this isn’t right.

Her late response

Song of Solomon 5:5 I opened to my beloved…

Conviction finally gets to her, but it’s too late.

She has missed the opportunity.  He brought expensive gifts to give her.

Hands dropped with sweet smelling myrrh. Jesus Christ had brought expensive gifts with Him that you miss out on.

Excuses are reasons you give as to why you missed God’s blessing.

Her regret

Song of Solomon 5:6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself

His terms keep the filth out, ensure the future, and produce untainted joy.

Someone asked, Do you really think God cares how you worship Him? Is it really on His terms? Of course and you do too.  You don’t believe the child sacrifices in the Old Testament were pleasing to God do you?

Everyone has their limits and no one truly believes that “come and go as you please” is a doctrine of God. Worship is in spirit and in truth according to John 4:23.

Delayed obedience is disobedience

Delayed obedience will put her in the wrong place

Song of Solomon 5:7 the watchmen that went about the city.  The bride ends up in the city again when her groom is in the vineyard just as he invited her in 5:1.

Lessons not learned the first time are more expensive the second time around

Song of Solomon 3:1-3 The bride has already done this once and wound up in the city. Now, she is doing it again. The trouble is the second lesson will be more expensive.

She has lost the testimony of her marriage.

Her lost testimony

* Song of Solomon 5:7…

* She is some lady running around at night with a hood on, so the cops think she is a thief breaking into people’s houses.

Her lovesickness

* Song of Solomon 5:8…

* She goes out and tells others of her love for Christ.

Foundation of the world

Text: Genesis 3:1-21

The earth has already been created, but as we’ve seen the earth and the world are different things. 1 Samuel 2:8.

God of this world (vss 1-5)

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Ephesians 2:2-3

All that is in the world (vss 6-7)

1 John 2:15-17

James 1:27

Friendship with the world is enmity with God (vss 8-13)

James 4:4

Sin and death entered the world (vss 14-19)

Romans 5:12

Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (vs 21)

We have tried to figure out why Adam and Eve didn’t die when God said they’d die if they ate the fruit. We’ve spiritualized it into something that really doesn’t mean anything. We’ve said they died spiritually. That’s not true and really, in the Bible, has no meaning. Spiritual is life, Carnal is death. But the bigger problem I think is that we lose sight of the Lord Jesus Christ trying to figure out what’s happening. 

Revelation 13:8 – So the Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself from the foundation of the world to save Adam’s race. The Lord takes the life of a lamb, gives clothes to Adam and Eve and atones for their sin. And from that day forward the scriptures and records that God will keep will point to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 13:35

Luke 11:50

Ephesians 1:4

Hebrews 9:26

Matthew 25:34

A book written from the foundation of the world

Revelation 17:8

Hannah’s rejoicing

Text: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah faces one of the hardest days of her life and one of the most joyful days in her life as well! She is giving up her only baby boy to be raised as a priest for the Lord and she is going to see him once a year from here on. Hannah is so thrilled to be able to give her son to the Lord after the LORD has given her this boy.

What faith Hannah has that produces such joy! On the day of the greatest sacrifice she will make in her life, she doesn’t even see it as a sacrifice. She blesses the LORD for having answered her prayer and given her the opportunity to give back to the LORD.

Here is why the Holy Spirit chose to record Hannah’s prayer. Hannah describes the work of the Lord Jesus Christ without knowing the name Jesus Christ. She describes what the work of the LORD is and will be. She attributes all this power to the Lord God. The only thing missing in Hannah’s prayer is the identity of the Lord Jesus Christ who will do all these things Hannah describes.

Salvation is cause for rejoicing (vs 1)

Salvation is of the LORD!

Thy salvation is a reference to Jesus Chist without Hannah knowing who the Christ will be, but she certainly knows salvation belongs to the LORD.

Hannah isn’t thanking God for how well she was able to keep the law. Hannah certainly tried to do what’s right, but she knows there is no law that that would give her the power to have a son. Life is from Almighty God.

You know the phrase to “toot your own horn” as it relates to magnifying yourself in front of others. Hannah says I don’t magnify myself, the LORD lifts me up!

If someone is defeated their mouth is shut, they have nothing else to say. But in victory there is glory and congratulations!

The LORD has given me something to say!

Rock of ages is cause for rejoicing (vs 2)

None as holy as the LORD. No one can approach the LORD.

He has no peers, the LORD has no equals. He alone sits atop His creation.

He is the Rock like no other.

Religions have their rocks, but the LORD is the Rock.

Moses spoke of the Rock in Deuteronomy 32.

David will speak of the Rock later in the Psalms.

Isaiah would say there is coming a day when God will lay a stone in Zion. He is a tried stone, a precious corner stone, and if you trust in Him you won’t be ashamed.

Daniel will identify the Rock as the Christ that will rule all nations and bring in the end of this present evil world.

Then the Lord Jesus Christ showed up 1,200 years later and said the wise man is the one that builds his house on the Rock. He followed that up with upon this Rock I will build my church. He wasn’t talking about Peter. Jesus Christ was talking about Himself.

Luke 20:17-18 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Hannah says there is no Rock like our God! Turns out that Jesus Christ is the Rock of Ages!

Righteous judgment is cause for rejoicing (vs 3)

Condemnation of proud speech weighed against the reality of actions.

Don’t tell God what you’re going to do, show Him. Don’t tell God about your faith, show Him. He weighs actions, not proclamations. He weighs actions, not statements of faith.

Victory over evil is cause for rejoicing (vss 4-5)

He will turn the world upside down.

Matthew 5:3-6 The beatitudes as they’re called are a record of where the Lord puts his blessings and where the Lord is at home. These nine descriptions are the home address of the Spirit of God in this present evil world. It’s one thing to have a physical address, but how do you locate a spirit?

Parable of the Leaven

Text: Matthew 13:33

The kingdom of heaven is like leaven. While leaven generally seems to be negative in the scriptures, the kingdom of heaven is not a negative thing. The kingdom of heaven is not a corrupt thing. It can be assaulted and attacked by an enemy, but in itself it is not corrupt. This parable shows up here and in Luke 13:20-21. Let’s read it in Luke as well. Again the kingdom of God is like leaven. There is nothing corrupt about the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Genesis 19:1-3 Lot makes unleavened bread for the angels. Why make unleavened bread as opposed to leavened bread? If you don’t have time to wait, then you don’t have time to let the dough rise so you’d make unleavened bread.

Exodus 12:11-15 – Leaven is forbidden the passover evening before Israel leaves Egypt. The Lord said to the Israelites you don’t have time to spice up your food (He would tell them to just eat the herbs bitter, no seasoning that night), you just have to eat and get out of there.

The spiritual significance of getting rid of the leaven is that leaven passed on from one lump to another. Some leavened lumps have been around for decades. God didn’t want Israel to continue baking with Egypt’s leaven. God is saying to Israel you’re leaving Egypt and you’re not taking Egypt with you. But leaven itself was not generally forbidden in Israel. Just in that passover and following week Israel was to purge themselves of the old leaven – no remnants of Egypt in their homes. There was a memorial of the passover that lasted a week where leaven was taken out and it’s called the days of unleavened bread. But leaven itself was never an evil baking agent.

Leviticus 23:15-21 – On the other hand, leaven was supposed to be incorporated into the feast of Pentecost. This would be the firstfruits. You know it as Pentecost. It was the first offering from the first harvest of the year; after Israel had planted seed in their land at the beginning of the year. Israel would plant seed at the beginning of the year and 7 weeks later the first round of fruit would be harvested. So the Lord appointed an offering of the firstfruits after 7 weeks from planting. The spiritual significance is great with Christ as the Passover and Pentecost the offering of the firstfruits. The spiritual truths line up with the agricultural process. Israel is commanded to use leavened bread here.

Back to the parable in Matthew 13:33 – The characteristic of leaven is that it is unseen (HID in three measures of meal), and its work will be thorough (till the WHOLE was leavened). The Lord says the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are like leaven. So to say leaven is evil in the Bible is not entirely true. Leaven doesn’t poison the food, it makes it better. When Jesus Christ says the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, or the kingdom of God is like leaven, He’s not saying these kingdoms are basically corrupt. Nor is he saying they are corrupted over time. The two characteristics are that it’s unseen and it is thorough in its effect. When the unseen work is complete, the dough is ready for the oven.

Luke 17:20-30 – kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven go largely unnoticed until the Father is ready for the Son to return.

Matthew 24:36-25:13 – point here is the unseen work is over, now the day of judgment arrives.

Sexual Sin

Text: Colossians 3:5

2 Peter 2:6 – The example of Sodom and Gomorrah to all nations that will come after them. (Jude 7)

Leviticus 18 – Particularly verses 24-28. As a nation is given over to fornication the lives of children become less and less valuable. Fornication often produces unwanted children. So something has to be done with unwanted children in order for fornicators to continue fornicating. So Abortion.

1 Kings 11:1-11 – Fornication will affect what you believe. Solomon warned about women turning him from God to idols and that happened. You enjoy the emotion, the sensation, so much that you protect that feeling. And you’ll give up on God in order to feel a certain way.  You’ll give up on God so that you won’t be constrained by his bondage or should I say, “abundant life.”

1 Corinthians 6:13-18 – So your body was not made to fornicate. That’s not what it’s made to do. And because it’s being used for something it wasn’t made for, it’s going to suffer consequences. Even if I’m saved? Yea, even if your soul has been made righteous there are consequences to fornication. The body is damaged, corrupted, and entangled. And as it destroys your body, it destroys your heart, mind, and makes you hate the things of God.

1 Corinthians 10:8 – Fornicators were judged in the nation of Israel. Balaam’s advice to Balak brings the death of 24,000 (Numbers 25:6-9). Twenty three thousand died in one day, but 24,000 total died. It was a prince, very public man in the camp, that did this publicly. Phinehas and his heritage are given the priesthood forever because of what he did to offset the plague (Numbers 25:10-13 & Psalm 106).

Ephesians 5:2-3 – Notice what everyone calls “love” these days. But they “love” each other.  Now, here’s what God says, walk in love and don’t fornicate! Two consenting adults? Two consenting adults are irrelevant if God doesn’t consent. Just because people agree on something doesn’t mean the thing is right or good.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-5 – People that don’t know God think it is OK to take off their clothes and fool around with each other. This culture is so engrossed in fornication, all you have to do to be set apart is to abstain from sexual activity until marriage. Every influence you’re under in this world tells you this verse is out of date.

Hebrews 13:4 – God has nothing good to say about people who would violate the foundational relationship of society. God didn’t make Adam a girlfriend, or a room-mate, or make Eve a boyfriend or a friend with benefits. He made Adam and Eve husband and wife. And because you think you and her and you and him are going to get married one day, that doesn’t mean it’s OK to fornicate. That’s what most fornicators think anyway. Oh, we’ll be together and be married one day so that gives us license to do things only married people are supposed to do.

Victory over fornication

Natural desires of man and woman. Natural for man to desire a woman. Natural for woman to desire a man. And God says control the desire so it doesn’t go outside my commandments.

Abstain from fornication. 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Abstainers never worry about STDs. Abstainers never worry about getting pregnant or bastard children.

Flee fornication like Joseph

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Know how to possess your vessel in sanctification and honor 1 Thessalonians 4:4

That means things that go into your eyes or ears that get that fire burning.

That means the ability to privately converse through Instagram, Snapchat, video games, or texts and allow people into your bedroom that your husband or wife or Mom or Dad would never allow into your bedroom.

Physical relationships start with conversation.

God created marriage.  It’s not a creation of the state, but an institution of God.

Text: Genesis 2:18-25

Marriage truths:

Out of it comes the sociological truth that men and women are distinct and complementary – not good that man should be alone.

Out of it comes the biological truth that reproduction requires a man and a woman – heirs together of the grace of life.  Science says we can do it without a man and a woman.  No, you can’t.

Out of it comes the spiritual reality that love is learned in commitment.

Out of it comes the generational truth that children need a mother and a father.  Or generally said a father figure and a mother figure where mom and dad are not present for whatever reason.

Priority – Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother

It is changing relational priorities

The most important relationship is with mom and dad until marriage

A marriage loses priority for one of two reasons; neglect or retreat.

You communicate priority with:

Sacrifice

Time – Time is the commodity of relationships.  Sometimes we put so much time into other people we neglect our own family.

Energy – devote energy to the relationship – actively participate.

Attitude – positive and affirming. Spouse should be best friend. Esteeming one another

You keep marriage a priority by: 

Date nights

traditions

make much of your mutual interests

take an interest in the other’s interests

The Lord Jesus Christ left glory to pursue and make his relationship with sinners as his priority.

Pursuit – and shall cleave unto his wife

Secondly, it is a PURSUIT, meaning it is accomplished on purpose; it requires you to move in the direction of forgiveness, charity, compassion, wisdom, selflessness.

Wife: What are you doing?. Husband: Nothing. Wife: You did nothing yesterday.  Husband: I’m not finished.

Desire to spend time

Time spent

Empathy and understanding

Marriages don’t work by accident, they require attention and commitment. It is the basis for love, not that love is the basis for marriage.

Possession – and they two shall be one flesh

The third part of Genesis 2:24 where God defines marriage is the POSSESSION; it is a joining together.

The Lord Jesus Christ concluded his answer to the Pharisees in Matthew 19:6 with, What therefore God hath joined together (man & woman), let not man put asunder.

Marriage is joining together; lives are shared physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually.

What is God’s design in joining a man and woman together?  Two things:

Fellowship – intimacy and companionship with your spouse.

Fruitfulness – Though God can create without two parties involved He has designed people to be fruitful, heirs together of the grace of life – John 15:5

Purity – and they were both naked… and were not ashamed

Another word for purity would be holiness.

Marriage is supposed to have a purifying effect.