Messages on Marriage
No Unequal Yoke
by Pastor John Khng
Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 7:1; Amos 3:3
Amo 3:3 (How) Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Introduction: When it comes to marriage, Christians need to obey God's command to marry only Christians who believe in the same Bible, the same Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ and the same doctrines and share the same love for the Lord and the same fervency and commitment to Christ.
No Unequal Yoke (Ungodly Union)
I. The Command to be not unequally yoke with unbelievers in marriage or in the Work of the Lord – 2 Cor. 6:14, 17; “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: . . . . . Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;”
The command is not saying that we cannot have non-Christians friends. It is saying that we must not enter into a relationship where we are forced to compromise our faith. Examples are:
Examples of Unequal Yokes in the Bible:
Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 7:1; Amos 3:3
Amo 3:3 (How) Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Introduction: When it comes to marriage, Christians need to obey God's command to marry only Christians who believe in the same Bible, the same Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ and the same doctrines and share the same love for the Lord and the same fervency and commitment to Christ.
No Unequal Yoke (Ungodly Union)
I. The Command to be not unequally yoke with unbelievers in marriage or in the Work of the Lord – 2 Cor. 6:14, 17; “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: . . . . . Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;”
- A. Lit. Stop becoming unequally yoked with unsaved people, in other words some were already guilty of doing it.
- B. Unequal yoke
1. A yoke is a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, esp. oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal.
2. A yoke is something that couples or binds together; a bond or tie.
Unequal yoke – means joining two unequal or incompatible animals or people together - ox and donkey have different nature, cannot keep in step, cannot plough a straight line – both will suffer
Deu 22:10 Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
Principle: What God has joined, we must not separate. What God has separated, we must not join.
Unequal yoking is:
Unfitting - Different in size, temperament, strength. Ox clean, Ass unclean. Unfair - Both would suffer pain, discomfort. A poor working combination. The ox was a clean animal to the Jews, but the donkey was not. They have two opposite natures and wouldn’t work well together.
The command is not saying that we cannot have non-Christians friends. It is saying that we must not enter into a relationship where we are forced to compromise our faith. Examples are:
- Friends – many of us have good friends but what happen when some of your friends starts to encourage you to go with them for drinking, chill out, clubbing, dancing, smoking, gambling, etc or even starts to influence you to think like them, talk like them, behave like them, and influence you not to attend church and pray - we need to obey the Biblical command to separate from them
- Marriage – not speaking to those who were already married but to those who are not yet married – do not marry an unbeliever – 1 Cor 7:12-13
- Gospel Ministry – not to yoke up with unbelievers or compromising Christians to do God’s work; not to team up with those who believe different doctrines from that which we learn from the Bible
- Church Work - not to team up with unbelievers, liberals, heretics, new evangelicals to do the work of the ministry. Not to use worldly methods to do God’s work.
Examples of Unequal Yokes in the Bible:
|
Kings of Judah
Jehoshaphat 870-848* 25 years Good
Jehoram 848-841* 8 years Bad Ahaziah 841 1 years Bad Athaliah 841-835 6 years Bad Joash 835-796 40 years Good |
Kings of Israel
Ahab 874-853 22 years Bad Ahaziah 853-852 2 years Bad Joram 852-841 12 years Bad Jehu 841-814 28 years Bad Jehoahaz 814-798 17 years Bad |
Example of Divine Wrath over an Unequal Yoke
Jehoshaphat king of Judah (godly) arranged for his son to marry the daughter of Ahab king of Israel (wicked) – 2 Chr 18:1
Result: Because of this sinful alliance, Jehoshaphat went to help Ahab to war against Ramoth Gilead and he was nearly killed in the battle – 2 Chr. 18:29-32
Jehu rebuked Jehoshaphat – 2 Chr 19:2, “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.”
Jehoshaphat: Cleaned up the kingdom and was blessed with victory – 2 Chr 20:22.
Jehoshaphat king of Judah compromised again and joined hands with Ahab’s son Ahaziah king of Israel “who did very wickedly” – 2 Chr 20:34-37 but God was displeased and caused their expedition to fail.
Jehoshaphat’s sons were all killed by his own eldest son Jehoram when he took over his throne – 2 Chr 21:1-6 – why all these wickedness? – because he became the son in law of wicked Ahab, Jezebel and their wicked daughter – a sad case of ungodly marriage arrangement – see 21:5-6
2Ch 21:5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
2Ch 21:6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
Elijah’s prophecy against Jehoram – 2 Chr 21: 11-15 - Jehoram’s own sons except the youngest Jehoahaz were all killed by the Arabians and he himself died of a horrible intestinal disease - 2 Chr 21:16-19 – God’s judgment on Jehoram
Jehoram’s son Ahaziah (same person as Jehoahaz) reigned only one year – did wickedly because of influence from his wicked mother Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel – 2 Chr. 22:1-3 Ahaziah was killed by Jehu – 2 Chr. 22:9
Athaliah took over the reign of Judah by killing all the children of Ahaziah – grandmother killed all her grand children to gain control over the throne – only one escaped, Joash was saved by Ahaziah’s sister – 2 Chr. 22:10-12
Who is Athaliah? The daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, married to Jehoram because of Jehoshaphat’s ungodly alliance with Ahab.
Don’t be unequally yoked. Affects you, your children and even your grand children.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain married a Christian lady. She at first didn’t want to marry, but later did. He at first went through the motions of religion with her, but later said he couldn’t keep up the hypocrisy. In time, she came to the place where she no longer believed in a personal God. During a time of deep grief, Twain said to his wife, “If your Christian faith will comfort you, go back to it.” She replied, “I have none.” Source unknown
Conducted a wedding for one church member long time ago – a sweet Christian lady – the man came to church regularly because of her – accepted Christ, they got married after that man still attend church for some time but marriage started to show cracks – man went back to smoking habit, go back to his old crowd, eventually ended in divorce.
II. The Reason for the Command to be not unequally yoke – 2 Cor. 6:14-16, “for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Five rhetorical questions that demands a NO answer to all the questions
III. The Appeal to Obey the Command to be not unequally yoke – 2 Cor. 6:17- 7:1 – “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
“let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,”
A certain man in a poor country wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn't afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one stipulation: he would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just over the door. After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So first the owner went out found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the nail he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.
Pastor of a mega church in Singapore exhorts his church to have “holy worldliness.” He explained, “That means holy disciplines that make us the people of God, but a worldly sophistication that makes us relatable to the world.” But the Bible says holiness and worldliness does not mix - Read 1 John 2:15-17
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
We can live in the world without letting the world live in us.
We are in the world but not of the world – John 15:19
Separation is not an option to choose. It is a command to be obeyed.
Separation from sin and separation to holiness.
What you allow in moderation today, you will do in excess tomorrow!
The Scriptures clearly teach this principle; the Bible warns us of the consequences if we don’t heed the warning. It is as this story illustrates for us. We are told:
A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme that had been elaborately explained by a swindler. When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau. “Why on earth didn’t you come to us first?” the official asked. “Didn’t you know about the Better Business Bureau?”
“Oh, yes,” said the lady sadly. “I’ve always known about you. But I didn’t come because I was afraid you’d tell me not to do it.”
The folly of human nature is that even though we know where the answers lie – God’s Word – we don’t turn there for fear of what it will say. - Jerry Lambert. But God had already given us His commandment: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" - 2 Cor. 6:14
Jehoshaphat king of Judah (godly) arranged for his son to marry the daughter of Ahab king of Israel (wicked) – 2 Chr 18:1
Result: Because of this sinful alliance, Jehoshaphat went to help Ahab to war against Ramoth Gilead and he was nearly killed in the battle – 2 Chr. 18:29-32
Jehu rebuked Jehoshaphat – 2 Chr 19:2, “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.”
Jehoshaphat: Cleaned up the kingdom and was blessed with victory – 2 Chr 20:22.
Jehoshaphat king of Judah compromised again and joined hands with Ahab’s son Ahaziah king of Israel “who did very wickedly” – 2 Chr 20:34-37 but God was displeased and caused their expedition to fail.
Jehoshaphat’s sons were all killed by his own eldest son Jehoram when he took over his throne – 2 Chr 21:1-6 – why all these wickedness? – because he became the son in law of wicked Ahab, Jezebel and their wicked daughter – a sad case of ungodly marriage arrangement – see 21:5-6
2Ch 21:5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
2Ch 21:6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
Elijah’s prophecy against Jehoram – 2 Chr 21: 11-15 - Jehoram’s own sons except the youngest Jehoahaz were all killed by the Arabians and he himself died of a horrible intestinal disease - 2 Chr 21:16-19 – God’s judgment on Jehoram
Jehoram’s son Ahaziah (same person as Jehoahaz) reigned only one year – did wickedly because of influence from his wicked mother Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel – 2 Chr. 22:1-3 Ahaziah was killed by Jehu – 2 Chr. 22:9
Athaliah took over the reign of Judah by killing all the children of Ahaziah – grandmother killed all her grand children to gain control over the throne – only one escaped, Joash was saved by Ahaziah’s sister – 2 Chr. 22:10-12
Who is Athaliah? The daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, married to Jehoram because of Jehoshaphat’s ungodly alliance with Ahab.
Don’t be unequally yoked. Affects you, your children and even your grand children.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain married a Christian lady. She at first didn’t want to marry, but later did. He at first went through the motions of religion with her, but later said he couldn’t keep up the hypocrisy. In time, she came to the place where she no longer believed in a personal God. During a time of deep grief, Twain said to his wife, “If your Christian faith will comfort you, go back to it.” She replied, “I have none.” Source unknown
Conducted a wedding for one church member long time ago – a sweet Christian lady – the man came to church regularly because of her – accepted Christ, they got married after that man still attend church for some time but marriage started to show cracks – man went back to smoking habit, go back to his old crowd, eventually ended in divorce.
II. The Reason for the Command to be not unequally yoke – 2 Cor. 6:14-16, “for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Five rhetorical questions that demands a NO answer to all the questions
- “what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” – No fellowship
- what communion hath light with darkness? – No communion
- And what concord (word for harmony)hath Christ with Belial? – No concord (harmony)
- Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? – No part
- And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; - No agreement
III. The Appeal to Obey the Command to be not unequally yoke – 2 Cor. 6:17- 7:1 – “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
“let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,”
A certain man in a poor country wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn't afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one stipulation: he would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just over the door. After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So first the owner went out found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the nail he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.
- "If we leave the Devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making it unfit for Christ's habitation."
Pastor of a mega church in Singapore exhorts his church to have “holy worldliness.” He explained, “That means holy disciplines that make us the people of God, but a worldly sophistication that makes us relatable to the world.” But the Bible says holiness and worldliness does not mix - Read 1 John 2:15-17
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
We can live in the world without letting the world live in us.
We are in the world but not of the world – John 15:19
Separation is not an option to choose. It is a command to be obeyed.
Separation from sin and separation to holiness.
What you allow in moderation today, you will do in excess tomorrow!
The Scriptures clearly teach this principle; the Bible warns us of the consequences if we don’t heed the warning. It is as this story illustrates for us. We are told:
A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme that had been elaborately explained by a swindler. When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau. “Why on earth didn’t you come to us first?” the official asked. “Didn’t you know about the Better Business Bureau?”
“Oh, yes,” said the lady sadly. “I’ve always known about you. But I didn’t come because I was afraid you’d tell me not to do it.”
The folly of human nature is that even though we know where the answers lie – God’s Word – we don’t turn there for fear of what it will say. - Jerry Lambert. But God had already given us His commandment: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" - 2 Cor. 6:14
© Copyright 2016 Mount Calvary Baptist Church. All Rights Reserved.
