Why
A Believer’s Unbelieving Spouse Is
Holy
By
Isaac Aluochier
Scriptural quotations are from the World English Bible available at http://www.ebible.org/bible/WEB/.
2 Corinthians 6: 14 instructs believers not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For there ought not to be a partnership or fellowship between righteousness and lawlessness. Therefore those who are righteous, those who keep Yahweh’s laws, ought not to sexually unite themselves with those who do not keep Yahweh’s laws, but indeed break them. Those who keep Yahweh’s laws are the ones in the light, while those who do not keep them are in darkness. A believer, one who keeps Yahweh’s laws, is therefore not to sexually unite with an unbeliever, one who does not keep Yahweh’s laws.
If one is to be received by Yahweh, one must cease to do evil, one must cease to break Yahweh’s laws and commence doing righteousness, commence living by Yahweh’s laws. And one must separate oneself from those who violate Yahweh’s laws, and not enter into partnership or sexual union with them. Then will Yahweh the Almighty be a father to that one, and that one will be a child to Yahweh the Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6: 17-18.)
If a believer does not separate himself or herself from unbelievers, but enters into sexual union or partnership with an unbeliever, then such a believer ceases to be holy, for such a one has united oneself with another who is unholy. For Yahweh, who through his Spirit dwells in that believer, does not have any fellowship with Satan or idols. Therefore, if such a believer sexually unites with an unbeliever, thereby becoming one with that unbeliever, as Yahweh has no fellowship with unrighteousness Yahweh simply ceases to dwell in that apostate believer. That apostate believer ceases to be a true believer, and thereby ceases to be holy. That apostate believer is now unholy, even as unbelievers are unholy. (2 Corinthians 6: 15-16.)
Therefore, if a believer is to remain a believer, he or she must not marry an unbeliever. For when a believer marries or becomes sexually one with an unbeliever, he or she ceases to be holy, and becomes unholy, even as that unbeliever is unholy. For Yahweh ceases to dwell in that apostate believer when he or she marries an unbeliever.
What About 1 Corinthians 7: 10-16?
Nevertheless, in 1 Corinthian 7: 14 we find that an unbelieving husband is made holy through his believing wife, and an unbelieving wife is made holy through her believing husband. The verse also shows that the children of a believer, even a believer married to an unbeliever, are holy. It clearly implies that had the unbelieving spouse of a believer not been holy, their children would not be holy. Further implying that for a child to be holy, both of its parents must be holy. If only one of the parents is holy, then the child so born is not holy.
How then is it that 2 Corinthians 6 clearly instructs believers not to marry unbelievers, for such a union between a believer and an unbeliever will impair the holiness of the believer, thereby causing the believer to become apostate, having ceased to be holy, whereas before the marriage to the unbeliever he or she was holy? Yet 1 Corinthians 7 clearly shows that an unbelieving spouse is made holy by being married to a believer? Is there a contradiction?
Apparent Contradiction Explained
It appears to me that 1 Corinthians 7: 10-16 is addressing both believers who became believers AFTER they were already married, and also believers whose spouses have ceased to be believers. These ARE NOT believers who married unbelievers while they were believers and their spouses were unbelievers at the time of marriage. For 1 Corinthians 7: 39 clearly allows a believing widow to marry whomever she wishes PROVIDED that man she wishes to marry is also a believer, making clear that the author of 1 Corinthians 7 was not authorising believers to marry unbelievers.
The command is therefore clear: any believer who can lawfully marry can marry any one he or she wishes to marry, provided that the person he or she wishes to marry is also a believer. If such a believer violates this command and marries an unbeliever, he or she ceases to be a believer, for Yahweh ceases to dwell in him or her, for Yahweh does not partake in any union with unclean or profane things, but only with clean or holy things. Such a rebellious believer therefore becomes an apostate.
Why A Believer’s Unbelieving Spouse Is Sanctified
In the case of believers who are married to unbelievers, why is it that Yahweh chooses to sanctify the unbelieving spouse, thereby allowing the believer to continue in marriage to his or her unbelieving spouse, rather than command the believer to depart from the unbeliever, seeing that an unbeliever is unholy? In other words, to avoid violating his law of holy not being in partnership with unholy, why does he choose to make holy that which is unholy, rather than command the holy to separate or break apart from the unholy? For either of those two ways will achieve the desired effect of the law that holy not be united with unholy. So why, in this case, the former and not the latter?
It appears to me that the reason Yahweh chooses to sanctify the unbelieving spouse rather than command the believing spouse to break away or divorce from the unbelieving spouse is to PROTECT THE SANCTITY OR HOLINESS OF MARRIAGE! For marriage is a holy institution, and the reason why humans marry is because of the planned marriage between Yah'shuah the Messiah and the called out ones, the believers. In other words, because from the foundation of the world Yahweh had planned that Yah'shuah the Messiah be betrothed to and marry his called out ones, Yahweh instituted human marriage to typify this relationship.
In the marriage relationship between Yah'shuah the Messiah and the called out ones, Yah'shuah puts away only those of the called out ones from betrothal to him if they become spiritual adulteresses. In other words, if they cease to worship Yahweh and Yah'shuah, rebelling from them, and commence to worship an idol, whether the idol is Satan, some demon or even their own heads, their fellowship with Yahweh and Yah'shuah ceases. For Yahweh and Yah'shuah, being holy, do not unite with unholy things. Such rebels, by their rebellion against Yah'shuah, make themselves unbelievers and unholy.
Likewise, in human marriages, if a wife rebels against her husband and commits adultery, the husband may put her away, thereby removing her from fellowship with him.
This is the only ground that Yahweh has allowed husbands to put away their wives. Therefore, if a wife becomes an adulteress, her husband may put her away from him.
If putting away was lawful on other grounds, then the spiritual picture this scenario would portray is that Yah'shuah could remove us from his fellowship despite our being faithful to him. But such a picture would erroneously portray Yah'shuah and Yahweh. For Yah'shuah is true and faithful, and does not abandon us when we have not abandoned him. It is only when we breach our faith with him, lusting after some idol, that our fellowship with him ceases.
Therefore, if men were allowed to put away their wives on a ground other than their wives committing adultery, on a ground other than their wives breaking faith with them, the picture this would portray of Yah'shuah’s marriage to the called out ones would be erroneous, imputing to Yah'shuah a faithlessness he does not have, for he is true and faithful!
Therefore, to so avoid portraying Yah'shuah as faithless, for he is not, Yahweh has chosen to sanctify the unbelieving spouses of believers, thereby ensuring that believers are not united to unholy or unclean people, but only to those who are holy.
In other words, the correct portrayal of Yah'shuah’s marriage to the called out ones takes precedence over the possibility that a believer separates himself or herself from his or her spouse, in order to avoid bringing into union that which is holy with that which is unholy. And because this possibility exists, though not authorised by Yahweh, Yahweh has chosen to sanctify the unbelieving spouse, thereby ensuring the maintenance of his other command that holy things should not be united with unholy things.
The Nature Of The Unbelieving Spouse’s Holiness
It appears to me that the degree of holiness of an unbelieving spouse is less than that of the believer. For whilst a believer does indeed have Yahweh’s Spirit dwelling in him or her, an unbelieving spouse, by not being a believer, does not have Yahweh’s Spirit dwelling in him or her. Therefore, though holy to some degree, an unbelieving spouse is not as holy as his or her believing spouse is.
Unbelieving spouses of believers have sufficient holiness to avoid being unclean or unholy. They can therefore, by not being unholy, continue in marriage to their believing spouses, as this does not violate the command that holy things be not united with unholy things.
It appears to me that the nature of their holiness is such that they have been set apart by Yahweh for the performance of his will. In this case, to live in pure and holy marriages with their believing spouses, and also to produce holy children conceived in holy marriage, such as Yahweh desires. Nevertheless, as they are unbelievers, as they do not have Yahweh’s saving grace over them through Yah'shuah the Messiah our Master, they do not have the Holy Spirit of Yahweh dwelling in them, and therefore their holiness is less than that of their believing spouses.
Several questions, with important ramifications, follow. How can an apostate believer, who became so apostate by rebelling from Yahweh’s command that believers marry not unbelievers, regain his or her fellowship with Yahweh? Can he or she do so by converting his or her spouse into a believer, such that once his or her spouse has become a believer and therefore holy, the union between the apostate believer and his or her newly believing spouse will be one approved by Yahweh? And if an apostate believer’s spouse becomes a believer, does the apostate believer now become a true and submissive believer, thereby becoming holy even as prior to becoming apostate? And is the marriage of a rebellious believer to an unbeliever valid before Yahweh?
Validity Of A Rebellious Believer’s Marriage To An
Unbeliever
It might be appropriate to begin with answering the question whether the marriage of a rebellious believer to an unbeliever is valid before Yahweh.
It appears to me that this
marriage is NOT VALID before Yahweh. For Yahweh has not only not sanctioned it,
he has expressly forbidden it! If he has forbidden this marriage he will not
unite in marriage the rebellious believer and the unbeliever, for it is a union
that is contrary to his ways. Therefore, such a marriage is not an approved
marriage in Yahweh’s eyes, but is FORNICATION! Those engaged in such
relationships are fornicators, and will not be in the
Therefore, if the rebellious believer desires fellowship with Yahweh again, he or she must cease his or her fornication! The rebellious believer does this by terminating the relationship of fornication! In addition to repenting of this fornication, the rebellious believer must also repent of his or her rebellion, which is IDOLATRY! For the rebellious believer chose to go after this unbeliever despite the express contrary instruction of Yahweh. The rebellious believer therefore chose to love an entity more than he or she loved Yahweh! By so choosing another apart from Yahweh, the rebellious believer manifested his or her unworthiness of Yah'shuah the Messiah, and thereby disqualified himself or herself from being a believer! All these must be repented of before the rebellious believer can regain fellowship with Yahweh and Yah'shuah the Messiah again.
And if the rebellious believer refuses to so repent, if he or she refuses to love Yahweh and Yah'shuah above any other entity, then the rebellious believer will permanently remain an unbeliever and will not be in the kingdom of Yahweh. For Yahweh’s kingdom is no place for unloving, unsubmissive rebels who are also idolaters and fornicators!
A rebellious believer is therefore MISTAKEN to think that he or she can regain fellowship with Yahweh and Yah'shuah if he or she converts the unbelieving spouse into a believer, such that once the spouse becomes a believer and holy, he or she too will have Yahweh’s sanctification, and will therefore continue in marriage to the previously unbelieving spouse.
For the only manner the unbelieving spouse can become a believer is if he or she FIRST REPENTS of his or her iniquities, including the iniquity of fornicating with the rebellious believer. And once the repentant unbeliever has become a believer, he or she will obey Yahweh’s command that holy things be not united with unholy things. The new believer will therefore avoid any conduct that will bring him or her into a union with an unbeliever, even if that unbeliever was previously a believer and the person he or she was fornicating with.
The rebellious believer, who in reality is an unbeliever, will therefore lose out on his relationship with the previously unbelieving person he or she was fornicating with!
Also, the rebellious believer should note that no one can go to Yah'shuah unless the Father, Yahweh, first draws that individual to Yah'shuah. Therefore, no amount of power or persuasion exerted by that rebellious believer will succeed in drawing any unbeliever to Yah'shuah!
Also, why should an unbeliever who is violating Yahweh’s laws before the rebellious believer begins to fornicate with him or her accept to live by Yahweh’s laws after the rebellious believer begins to fornicate with him or her? If it is in the heart of the unbeliever to do Yahweh’s laws, will not the unbeliever do them whilst the rebellious believer has not yet rebelled from Yahweh and Yah'shuah on his or her account? And by so doing them becomes a believer? And once a believer, being capable of lawfully marrying the rebellious believer prior to the latter becoming a rebel? Must the unbeliever insist that the believer first rebels from Yahweh and Yah'shuah, fornicate with him or her, and then afterwards accept Yahweh’s way? Is not this latter approach SATANIC and UNRELIABLE? Should a believer love an unbeliever more than Yahweh and Yah'shuah such that he or she is prepared to fornicate with an unbeliever for the sole purpose of winning such an unbeliever over to Yahweh? This is DEFINITELY NOT YAHWEH’S WAY of conversion and manifests SATANIC DECEPTION in the rebellious believer’s mind!
Concerning the question: if an apostate believer’s spouse becomes a believer, does the apostate believer, who became so apostate by marrying an unbeliever, now become a true and submissive believer, thereby becoming holy even as prior to becoming apostate?
It should now be clear that the marriage of an apostate believer to an unbeliever is NOT VALID before Yahweh. That relationship is fornication, and not marriage. If the unbeliever becomes a believer, he or she, to become a believer, will first have to repent of his or her sins, including the relationship of fornication with the apostate believer. Therefore the matter of Yahweh sanctifying the apostate believer on account of his or her newly believing "spouse" does not arise, for at the stage the newly believing "spouse" becomes a believer, he or she will no longer be engaging in the relationship of fornication with the apostate believer. The apostate believer will therefore remain unclean and profane, unless he or she repents of his or her sins.
[August 1999 View: Validity Of A Rebellious Believer's
Marriage To An Unbeliever
Deuteronomy 7:1-6 reads,
7:1When Yahweh your God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, and shall cast out many nations before you, the Hittite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than you; 7:2and when Yahweh your God shall deliver them up before you, and you shall strike them; then you shall utterly destroy them: you shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them; 7:3neither shall you make marriages with them; your daughter you shall not give to his son, nor his daughter shall you take to your son. 7:4For he will turn away your son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of Yahweh be kindled against you, and he will destroy you quickly. 7:5But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their engraved images with fire. 7:6For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God: Yahweh your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.
It Is Possible For A Holy Person To Marry An Unholy Person
That Yahweh forbade the Israelites from making a covenant with the
nations that he was casting out before them shows or implies that it was indeed
possible for the Israelites to make covenants with them. That Yahweh forbade
the Israelites making marriages with these nations shows or implies that it was
indeed possible for the Israelites to make marriages with them!
Marriage Between A Holy Person And An Unholy Person Is
Valid Before Yahweh
It should be noted that Yahweh called such relationships
"covenants" and "marriages". He did not call them sham
arrangements or prostitution. The implication being that a covenant an
Israelite entered into with a person from any of these seven nations that
Yahweh was casting out from before them was indeed a valid covenant. And a
marriage that an Israelite entered into with a person from any of these nations
was indeed a valid marriage! Such a covenant is not a sham arrangement. Neither
is such a marriage an invalid marriage or a relationship of prostitution.
Why Yahweh Forbids Marriage Between A Holy Person And An
Unholy Person
The reason Yahweh forbade Israelites from entering into covenants or
marriages with the people of these nations was that the people of these
nations, through the relationships brought about by such covenants or
marriages, would turn away the Israelites from following Yahweh! In other
words, when a follower of Yahweh enters into a covenant or marriage or close
relationship with a rebel against Yahweh the effect is that the rebel
eventually turns the follower from following after Yahweh and into rebellion!
It therefore appears that even though marriages of followers of Yahweh
and rebels against Yahweh are indeed valid before Yahweh, he does not approve
of them, for their effect is to make rebels out of followers of Yahweh! And as
we should not be rebels against Yahweh we should avoid placing ourselves in
situations whereby we would eventually become rebels against Yahweh.
The Consequence Of Solomon Marrying Unholy Women
1 Kings 11:1-13 reads,
11:1Now
king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of
Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites; 11:2of the nations concerning which Yahweh
said to the children of Israel, You shall not go among them, neither shall they
come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods:
Solomon joined to these in love. 11:3He
had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his
wives turned away his heart. 11:4For
it happened, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after
other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as was the heart
of David his father. 11:5For Solomon
went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the
abomination of the Ammonites. 11:6Solomon
did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and didn’t go fully after Yahweh,
as did David his father. 11:7Then
did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the
mountain that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the
children of Ammon. 11:8So did he for
all his foreign wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed to their gods. 11:9Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because
his heart was turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel, who had appeared
to him twice, 11:10and had commanded
him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he
didn’t keep that which Yahweh commanded. 11:11Therefore
Yahweh said to Solomon, Because this is done of you, and you have not kept my
covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the
kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant. 11:12Notwithstanding in your days I will not do
it, for David your father’s sake: but I will tear it out of the hand of your
son. 11:13However I will not tear
away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant’s
sake, and for
Nehemiah Appreciated The Import Of Holy People Not
Marrying Unholy People
Nehemiah 13:23-28 reads,
13:23In
those days also saw I the Jews who had married women of
It should indeed be noted that it is a great evil for holy people to
marry unholy people, for people who follow Yahweh to marry people who do not
follow Yahweh. For the rebels against Yahweh will cause Yahweh's followers to
rebel against Yahweh.
A Holy Person Should Not Arrogantly Think That He Or She
Is Immune To Succumbing To An Unholy Person
It should also be noted that one should not think that they are immune
from being led away from Yahweh if they marry an unholy person. For if Solomon,
despite his wisdom, succumbed, so also will other humans succumb. For Yahweh's
words do not fall to the ground. Therefore no human should think himself or
herself immune to succumbing to rebellion against Yahweh on account of entering
into a close relationship with a rebel against Yahweh.
The Returned Exiles Great Sin In Marrying Unholy Women
Ezra 9:1-10:44 reads,
9:1Now when these things were done, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 9:2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.
9:3When
I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of
my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded. 9:4Then
were assembled to me everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel,
because of the trespass of them of the captivity; and I sat confounded until
the evening offering. 9:5At the
evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my
robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God; 9:6and I said, my God, I am ashamed and blush
to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our
head, and our guiltiness is grown up to the heavens. 9:7Since the days of our fathers we have been
exceeding guilty to this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and
our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the
sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this
day. 9:8Now for a little moment
grace has been shown from Yahweh our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and
to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and
give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9:9For
we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has
extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of
10:1Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore. 10:2Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. 10:3Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. 10:4Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you: be of good courage, and do it.
10:5Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore. 10:6Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity. 10:7They made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem; 10:8and that whoever didn’t come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity. 10:9Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
10:10Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel. 10:11Now therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women. 10:12Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, As you have said concerning us, so must we do. 10:13But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside: neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. 10:14Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges of it, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be dispatched. 10:15Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. 10:16The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ houses, after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 10:17They made an end with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.
10:18Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: namely, of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. 10:19They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt. 10:20Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. 10:21Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. 10:22Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 10:23Of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 10:24Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the porters: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. 10:25Of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah. 10:26Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah. 10:27Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. 10:28Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai. 10:29Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth. 10:30Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh. 10:31of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 10:32Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah. 10:33Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei. 10:34Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel, 10:35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 10:36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 10:37Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu, 10:38and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, 10:39and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, 10:40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 10:41Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, 10:42Shallum, Amariah, Joseph. 10:43Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah. 10:44All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
It should indeed be clear that it is an EVIL incurring a GREAT GUILT for
a holy person to marry an unholy person. It should also be clear that Yahweh
punishes any holy person who rebels against his command that he or she marries
not an unholy person.
How To Repent Of A Forbidden Marriage Relationship
It should also be noted that the manner of a holy person repenting of his
great evil in marrying an unholy person is by putting away the unholy person
that he or she has been married to, together with the progeny arising out of
that forbidden marriage relationship. It should also be noted that it is indeed
Yahweh's pleasure that the holy person so repent, confessing his sin before
Yahweh, and implementing his repentance by putting away the unholy person
together with the progeny from that forbidden marriage relationship.
Summary Of Holy Persons Marrying Unholy Persons
To reiterate the following should be noted: a marriage between a holy
person and an unholy person is indeed a valid marriage. It is not prostitution.
Nevertheless, it is a forbidden marriage, and an evil, incurring great guilt
and resultant severe punishment from Yahweh. To do Yahweh's pleasure the errant
holy person must repent of his or her sin. He or she must sever that marriage
relationship and separate from the unholy spouse together with the progeny
arising out of that forbidden marriage relationship, having confessed that sin
of the forbidden marriage relationship before Yahweh.]
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