Honor Marriage

June 9th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 13:4a Marriage is to be held in honor among all…

Continuing the list of Christian evidences from Hebrews 13, v. 4 presents a fourth fruit that grows in the life of Christians: an honorable marriage. The fact that the author even broached the subject of marriage points to the fact that marriage was being corrupted, perhaps even in the churches. It is known that certain ascetic influences in the early church minimized marriage in favor of celibacy. Some, like Origen, a third century theologian, had themselves castrated, believing they could serve Christ more robustly as eunuchs. This is strange, however, in light of how the Apostle Paul warned that apostate teachers would appear in the last days forbidding things like marriage (1 Tim. 4:3). Truth is, God ordained marriage and made it honorable.

Unlike the English text where “marriage” is the first word, for emphasis, the Greek text places “honor” (Gr. timios) as the first word in v. 4, a term used in the NT to describe a well-respected teacher (Acts 5:34), valuable gems (1 Cor. 3:12), the blood of Jesus (1 Pet. 1:9), the promises of God that make believers partakers of His divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4), and in reference to the fruit of the ground that a farmer works diligently for (Jas. 5:7). That God the Father created marriage is tantamount to its honor as an institution. Jesus the Son likewise honored marriage, performing His first miracle at a wedding (John 2). And the Holy Spirit honored marriage by using it as a picture of the Church in the NT (Eph. 5:22-33; Rev. 19). The “honor” of marriage thus means that it is unique, something highly valued, to be deeply treasured. What a far cry from those today who denounce marriage as legal rape or who mock it as a kind of prison.

God created marriage in Genesis 2:18—holy matrimony between one man and one woman —male and female who were born as such having at least three purposes. First, the procreation of children, first given to Adam and Eve by God who told them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth” (Gen. 1:28). Second, marriage was to be a preventative for sexual sin: “Because of immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband” (1 Cor. 7:2). Elsewhere, Paul counsels the unmarried and widows to marry if they lack self-control (vv. 8-9). Third, marriage was a preventative measure for loneliness: God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” (Gen. 2:18). So He did!

Food For Thought
How might we as Christians “honor” marriage? First, through male headship, for God is honored in a family where the husband leads the family: “Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman... The husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the Church” (1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:23). Second, marriage is honored when the wife permits headship, being submissive to her husband (Eph. 5:22-24, 33; 1 Pet. 3:1-6). No man can lead his wife unless his wife permits it. Thus, a wife who permits her husband to lead her and their family honors marriage. Third, marriage is honored when both the wife and the husband honor each other: “You husbands… live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). Husbands are to therefore be men worthy of a wife who will submit to them. In other words, men, love your wives “as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25). A wife will have no trouble submitting to a man who loves Christ and who loves her as Christ loved the Church. It is honoring to the institution of marriage to obey God’s guidelines for marriage, and it is beneficial for a happy, fulfilled marriage.