“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”

2 Corinthians 6:14
Or, you may ask, how can oil and water mix? They can’t. They’re incompatible. That’s what the joining together in marriage of believers and unbelievers is like. Envision it in Old Testament terms with the cautionary words of Deuteronomy 22:10: “Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.” The two beasts would pull in opposite ways and never till a straight row. Or read Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of the unequally-yoked passage: “Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not a partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil?”
If your marriage or one you know of is unequally yoked, the strife that follows is familiar. Though there are accounts of unbelieving spouses coming to the Lord, Paul speaks at great length about marriage in 2 Corinthians 7 and questions how one could really know if he or she would be able to save his or her spouse (v. 16).
God sets us apart for our own protection and joy. Follow His loving direction for you.



Scripture Focus

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Insight

In Jesus and in light of His forgiveness, there is hope for any marriage. But the best marriages are those founded on Christ from the beginning.

Bible In A Year

  • 2 Chronicles 5-6
  • Psalm 10
  • Matthew 14-15

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