Free Bible Commentary
“1 Corinthians 7:32-40”
Categories: 1 Corinthians“But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.
“But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry. But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.
“A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.”
---End of Scripture verses---
When Paul wrote, “But one who is married is concerned about the things of the world” (verse 33), he wasn’t saying that married people are focused on worldly things in the sinful sense. He was just saying that much of a husband’s focus is placed upon taking care of his wife, and a wife’s on taking care of her husband. He is actually talking about things that the Lord absolutely expects married people to do, like working to support them and buy them nice things, keeping house, giving attention to one another’s interests, taking time for intimacy, having and raising children, etc.
But, by necessity, a married person’s “interests are divided” (verse 34), between pleasing a husband or wife, and pleasing the Lord. Although marriage is a very good thing and a wonderful gift from God, those of us who are married must make certain that our spouse doesn’t absolutely “monopolize” our attention. While it is much easier for the single person to have “undistracted devotion to the Lord” (verse 35), married people must set aside time to give their undivided attention to God as well. The first and most important commandment, whether we are married or single, is still to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30)!
Paul wrote in verse 36 that a man should let his virgin daughter marry if he thought that was the right thing to do. This may sound strange to our ears, but a parent had complete control over his children in certain first century cultures (even still in some cultures today). Even though things are much different for us in our place and time, we still see vestiges of this in our modern society. Many men still ask a woman’s father if they can have his daughter’s hand in marriage (if they are smart!). We also commonly see the father of the bride “giving away” his daughter to her husband.
“So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better” (verse 38). But remaining a virgin was only better if the daughter desired to stay that way (“if it must be so” – verse 36). As long as there was no “constraint” or “necessity” (verse 37) to marry on the woman’s part (“it is better to marry than to burn with passion” – verse 9); and as long as there was no “prior commitment” (“authority over his own will”); it was good for a man to keep his daughter a virgin. At least in consideration of the “present distress” (verse 26).
“A wife is bound as long as her husband lives” (verse 39). Marriage is a very serious undertaking, whether in the “present distress” or even in the best of times. This is obvious for a variety of reasons, including the amount of attention that the inspired Apostle gave to this subject in this letter to the Corinthians. If you haven’t married yet, please choose your spouse as wisely and prayerfully as possible. If you are currently married, try to be the very best spouse you can be, and make the best of an other than ideal situation of that is the case. In God’s eyes, marriage is permanent. You can’t separate the “one flesh” union without causing and incurring serious damage. Possibly even eternal damage.
Please read 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 for tomorrow.
Please come worship God with is in spirit and in truth today at the Taylorsville Road church of Christ.
3741 Taylorsville Road. 9:30 AM Bible class. 10:30 AM worship period. 5:00 PM worship period.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
- Louie Taylor
