We find in Hebrews 13:4 that "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled:
but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." The word "marriage" in the
Greek is gamos {gam'-os} Its meaning is 1) a wedding or marriage festival, a wedding
banquet, a wedding feast. 2) marriage, matrimony.
The word "honourable" in the Greek is timios {tim'-ce-oa} Its meaning is 1) as
of great price, precious 2) held in honour, esteemed, especially dear. From the beginning
of creation God has ordained the marriage union as the basis for the family structure.
(Genesis 2:24) We see from observing the scriptures that marriage has been a public
ceremony and celebration down through the ages. We
find that our Lord performed one of His first miracles at a "marriage" feast.
(John 2:1-9) According to the Apostle Paul, the relationship between the Church and the
Lord is likened unto a husband / wife relationship. (Ephesians 5:22-32) This demonstrates
an exclusive relationship that is Holy in nature. To live outside the right way that God
has given us is sinful and unholy in nature. If "marriage is honourable,"
inference is made that to live together in an unmarried state is shameful and sinful.
Until recent years, to publicly declare that two people are "living together"
outside of the bonds of marriage has been a shame and disgrace. There was a time, not long
ago, when such things were deemed immoral. Statistics show according to the U.S. Census
Bureau, unmarried couples account for over 4 million households in the U.S., nearly ten
times the number in 1960. Today in the U.S., I in 3 single women choose to live with their
partners before marriage, compared to I in 10 in the 1950's. Today, 50% to 80% of couples
coming for marriage in first world countries are living together before marriage. Nearly
50% of those in their 20's and 30's cohabit. Cohabitation has become the normative
experience today. The risk of divorce after living together is 40 to 85% higher than the
risk of divorce after not living together. In other words, those who live together before
marriage are almost twice as likely to divorce than those who did not live together.
Cohabitation of unmarried couples is a contributing factor to the high rate of divorce in
the country today. God ordained marriage for the purpose of procreation. Genesis 1:27-28
tells us God created them male and female. He gave man and woman a command to be fruitful
and multiply and to replenish the earth. Genesis 2:24 says ~Therefore shall a man leave
his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. In
this verse we can see the fullness of the family unit. We see that a man is raised by his
father and mother, but then there comes a proper
time when he should leave that family unit and establish his own family. The pattern is
not to leave his father and mother and take up cohabitation with woman, but he is to take
a "wife." The word "cleave" means to "stay with." The was
the intent of God from the beginning. (Matthew 19:4-9) Hebrews 13:4 tells us that the bed
is "undefiled" in the marriage union. This indicates that sexual activity
outside the marriage union is corrupt and defiled in the sight of God. God created man and
woman with a need for one another. God has also furnished way for our needs to be met. (I
Corinthians 7:1-5) After God created man and woman, He gave them dominion and instruction
as to what they were to do fulfill His will. In Genesis 1:31 "God said in relation to
His work on the sixth day And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was
very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." God said it was
"very good Mankind has defiled that which God established for the good of His
creation. Men and women should take note also that in Hebrews 13:4 there is consequence
for those who live in defilement. The verse says; "whoremongers and adulterers God
will judge." The word "whoremongers" in the Greek
ponos {por'-nos} It means a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse, fomicator.
The terms "whoremongers" and "adulterers" are used to describe those
who do not live according to the marital laws of God.
In a scriptural union of a man and woman we see the solid family
unit, a man, a woman, and their children. We see commitment, concern for the spouse and
children, a dedication to endure all hardships for the sake of the family. In a
cohabitation situation we usually see the opposite results. Cohabitation of
unmarried couples is one more weakening of the moral fiber of a nation. It is in
opposition to Biblical instruction for healthy societies. The all wise God of creation has
given mankind good instruction, but man seems to continue to reject and ignore sound
council.