God’s Design

Our Our DistortionsDistortions

“President Barack Obama has concluded that the administration

cannot defend the federal law that defines marriage as only

between a man and a woman.”

“President Barack Obama has concluded that the administration

cannot defend the federal law that defines marriage as only

between a man and a woman.”

God’s Design

Our Our DistortionsDistortions

Computer CD Drive

Or coffee cup holder?

God’s Design

Our Our DistortionsDistortions

Matthew 19:3

And Pharisees came up to [Jesus] and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for

any cause?”

Matthew 19:3

And Pharisees came up to [Jesus] and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for

any cause?” tested Jesus

Matthew 19:3

And Pharisees came up to [Jesus] and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for

any cause?” Is it lawful…?

Matthew 19:4-6

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made

them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and

hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined

together, let not man separate.”

Matthew 19:4-6

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made

them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and

hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined

together, let not man separate.”

Have you not read?

Matthew 19:4-6

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made

them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and

hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined

together, let not man separate.”

he who created them from the

beginning made them male and

female

Matthew 19:4-6

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made

them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and

hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined

together, let not man separate.”

and the two shall become one flesh

Matthew 19:7-9

They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of

divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I

say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries

another, commits adultery.”

Matthew 19:10-12

The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For

there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who

have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able

to receive this receive it.”

Better Not to Marry?

“The disciples had an anthropocentric [man-

centered] outlook. They felt that their designs

for their own ‘well-being’ had to be better

than their Creator’s design just communicated

to them by the Messiah himself.”

Heth & Wenham

Matthew 19:10-12

The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For

there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who

have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able

to receive this receive it.”

“Not everyone can receive this saying”

Matthew 19:10-12

The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For

there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who

have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able

to receive this receive it.”

“Not everyone can receive this saying”

Refers to :1.Jesus’ words about the permanence of marriage (v.9)

Matthew 19:10-12

The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For

there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who

have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able

to receive this receive it.”

“Not everyone can receive this saying”

Refers to :2.The disciples’ words about refusing marriage

Matthew 19:10-12

The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For

there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who

have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able

to receive this receive it.”

“There are eunuchs . . .

Conclusions:

Sex is neither a human right nor a requirement for human flourishing (except in marriage)

Conclusions:

It is a joy to forfeit even the best of God's gifts for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom

Conclusions:

Celibacy is the only alternative to sexual expression in marriage (one man [male] and one woman [female] joined as one flesh in the marriage covenant)

Conclusions:

Loving Jesus involves finding, following, and flourishing under God's design in every aspect of life.

God’s Design

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