Your Marriage Matters

The Garden of Eden and the Value of Marriage

Genesis 1–3 defines marriage and shows us that marriage began in the Garden of Eden, in a perfect world. What's amazing is that when we were thrust out of the Garden under God's judgment, he let us keep marriage. So marriage today—even an imperfect marriage—is a remnant of the Garden of Eden.

In Matthew 19, Jesus is debating with some theologians about divorce. They want to talk about divorce. He says, "Let's go all the way back to the beginning. Let's talk about marriage." And he quotes Genesis 2 with regard to our marriages today in an imperfect world.

Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel

Ray Ortlund

By laying out a cosmic vision of marriage as the Bible teaches from Genesis to Revelation, this volume honors and exalts marriage as a grand display of the gospel, offering hope for our marriages today.

So Jesus says that every biblical marriage today, though imperfect, is as sacred, divine, and amazing as the marriage of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Your marriage matters.

Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. is the president of Renewal Ministries and pastor to pastors at Immanuel Church, Nashville. He is also the author of several books, including the Preaching the Word commentaries on Isaiah and Proverbs and Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel. He is also a contributor to the ESV Study Bible. Ray and his wife, Jani, have been married for fifty years.