Three C’s of Holy Matrimony

Ceremony

The festivities that we find in Scripture would often last for days (Matthew 22) and would ultimately culminate with the vows and the giving of blessings. Thus, for a marriage to take place, it seems fitting that there would first be a ceremony.

Covenant

²⁴ For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

For the Men:

• It is a promise to love his wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25)
• It is a promise to live sacrificially for his wife (Eph. 5:25)
• It is to lead his wife spiritually (Ephesians 5:26)
• It is to leave his parents and cleave alone to his wife (Ephesians 5:31)
• It is a promise of monogamy (I Corinthians 7, Hebrews 13:4)

For the Woman:

• It is a promise to joyfully submit to her husband (Ephesians 5:22)
• It is a promise to respect her husband (Ephesians 5:31)
• It is a promise of monogamy (I Corinthians 7, Hebrews 13:4)

Consummation

Sexual intimacy between a husband and wife is the ultimate fulfillment of the “one flesh” principle found in Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, and Ephesians 5:31. This act is the final seal on a marriage covenant.

While consummation closes the wedding, it also marks the beginning of the marriage. The “two becoming one” motif does start with the sexual union of the married couple, but this “one flesh” union is much more than a simple act of sexual intimacy. Consummation marks the end of the old individual life and the start of the “one flesh” union that will continue through marriage for the couple. Therefore, if the couple is biologically able to consummate the marriage, this should be the final seal of the wedding.