Marriage Should be Held in Honor

Hebrews 13:1-4 (ESV)
Let brotherly love continue. [2] Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. [3] Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. [4] Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

“Let marriage be held in honor by all.” The other day I had a conversation with a catholic girl who took offense at the virginity Mary. At first it was at the virgin birth, but after I made a proper defense of that she revealed her true concern, and what a godly concern it was. She wasn’t offended at the virgin birth so much as to the doctrine of the semper virgo, or perpetual virginity of Mary. She said it was an offence to house wives everywhere that Mary should be praised for this. She is right. In fact I would say it should be an offence to Mary that she be attributed with such an abomination. (Even if Luther defended it to his dying day.) Sex itself is not to be shunned or thought of as something bad, especially between a husband and wife. It is sexual immorality and adultery that need to be shunned. My personal opinion on this is that if it were true of Mary she should not be considered a saint at all. Marriage should be held in honor among all. It is a blessed state and wonderful gift from God. If anything women should be taught that it is a godly activity they are engaging in, one worthy of great praise when they honor their husbands in such a manner and keep the marriage bed undefiled. Say what you may about mother’s day, but wives and mothers deserve such honor.