The Pharisees once asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” Jesus answered their question. He described what was “lawful” in marriage by citing God’s original design of marriage, which was one man + one woman for life (Matthew 19:3-6, see also Genesis 2:24). Jesus did not say man + man or woman + woman: He said man + woman. Consistent with the Lord’s teaching, the apostle Paul told the saints at Corinth, “To avoid sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman should have her own husband” (1 Cor. 7:2). “Lawful” marriage is a marriage between an eligible male and an eligible female.
The notion and discussion of a “lawful” marriage implies the possibility of an unlawful marriage. John the baptizer was beheaded because he had told Herod that it was “not lawful” for him to be married to Herodias, who was “his brother Philip’s wife” (Mark 6:17-18). Herod’s marriage to Herodias was “unlawful,” not because of some contrived human standard, but because Herodias was already bound to Philip in marriage. Sadly, there are many “unlawful” marriages throughout the world today. An unlawful marriage happens when people marry contrary to biblical standards and definitions. Jesus said that God “joins” those who are lawfully married (Matthew 19:6). However, He does NOT join (bind) males to males or females to females in marriage, for such sexual relationships are unlawful (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 6:10).
Just last week, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled that all US states must grant same-sex marriage licenses to all petitioners and that all states must recognize the same-sex marriages that were previously granted in other states. This places the high court in direct contradiction with God on the subject of marriage. SCOTUS has declared same-sex marriages “lawful.” God continues to declare same-sex marriages “unlawful.” The Supreme Court has much power, but it does not have divine power: It cannot change divine law.
Servants of God “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). We will not stand idly by while God and His infallible word are mocked and disparaged by satan’s minions, even those who wear the black robes of a supreme court justice. We will continue to speak out against all types of sin, including the sin of homosexuality, and we will continue to defend divine institutions, including that of biblical or traditional marriage.
The Supreme Court is not really the “supreme” court: The real “supreme” court is in Heaven. The highest and noblest decisions and edicts are God’s, and He reigns supreme in the universe. Let us never forget this.
—Tim Haile