Who Can Marry

Who Can Marry?

There are three classes of people that Scripture teaches are permitted to marry. (1) Those who have never married, 1 Cor. 7:36); (2) those who have married but whose mate has died, Rom. 7:3; (3) those who have married and are divorced because their mate was guilty of fornication, Matt. 19:9).

While we are to obey the laws of civil government, it makes no difference what the laws of government may permit or prohibit. Privileges and duties in marriage acceptable to God are not determined by the edicts of civil law. Civil government may say two are married when God does not condone it. Civil government may say two are divorced when God does not accept it. The laws of civil government do not override the law of God.

Unless a person is in one of these three classes, and the one they propose to marry is also in one of these three classes, they cannot marry acceptably before God. When they both are in one of these three classes no man has a right to deny them marriage.