Malachi 2:10-16 is a challenging passage because it involves God using the prophet Malachi to confront and correct His people for sins within their marriages. No one likes to be confronted about sin, especially in the context of marriage. The primary sin God addresses here is faithlessness—faithlessness to His design for marriage by marrying those who worship other gods, and faithlessness through divorce.

This faithlessness is significant because, as God’s people, we are called to represent Him as His image-bearers, and God is faithful. When we are faithless, we fail to reflect Him accurately. Marriage is a beautiful tool God uses not only to sanctify us and make us more like Jesus but also to reveal Jesus to a lost and dying world. God demonstrated His faithfulness to His covenant by sending His Son, Jesus, to be the perfect sacrifice.

Because of Jesus, marriage can once again reflect God’s faithfulness. This happens when we center our marriages on Christ and His work, remain faithful to our spouses, and sacrificially love one another as Christ gave Himself up for us.

As the new year approaches, I pray many of you will take time to sit down with your spouse—or, if you are not married, to pray for your future spouse—and make a plan for marriage that is filled with joy as you bear the image of God together.

Main Point – God is Faithful!

Study Questions

1. How does faithlessness in marriage misrepresent God’s faithfulness?
2. How does the world’s view of marriage differ from God’s? Why is this view so damaging to the true meaning of marriage?
3. How does your relationship with God influence your relationships with others?
4. How do your relationships with others impact your relationship with God?
5. How does Jesus transform your relationship with God? How does Jesus shape your relationship with God’s people?
6. Are there any sins you need to confess? Are there any sins you need to forgive someone else for?
7. If you are married, have you taken time to sit down with your spouse and make a plan for your marriage for the next year? If not, when will you?
8. What are some practical ways you can better reflect God’s image—whether individually or with your spouse—in the coming year?