Will there be marriage in heaven? What will your relationship to your spouse be in heaven?
Mark 12:18-34
Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN's BROTHER DIES and leaves behind a wife AND LEAVES NO CHILD, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER. "There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died leaving no children. The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the tired likewise; and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her."Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angles in heaven. But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken."
One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these.
The scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE's NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.
Having an understanding of what believers in Christ will be going through on the other side of death helps us prepare for it now.
Jesus makes it very clear that there will NOT be any marriage in heaven (second paragraph of quoted text). When I first read that my heart sunk. I will be single for eternity!? But then I kept reading.
Jesus goes on to say in verse 29 that we are supposed to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength. Just after that, the scribe says something interesting, "AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM." God gave us marriage for multiple reasons. One is to be fruitful and multiply (Ge 1:28), another one is because of weakness. Paul says that it is better if you are not married to remain unmarried, but if you cannot control yourself, it is better for you to marry then to burn with passion (1Co 7:6). In heaven there will be no such weaknesses.
In John chapter 3 verse 29 when John the Baptist is asked about being the Christ he answers them by saying, "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made full." He refers to Jesus as the bridegroom, and us, the church, as the bride. All throughout the new testament we are described as Christ's bride. Husband and wife roles are exactly the same as Christ's roles to the church.
So in answer to my fear of being single for all eternity, I will have greatest relationship ever. I will be joined with Christ, a son of God. In my head I think I know what marriage could be like, I've heard people say it is the greatest pleasure God has given us on earth, how much greater will this be in heaven?
