Bible Basics

Two Become One

Jesus quotes Genesis 2:24 when He says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and the two shall become one flesh” (Matt. 19:5). As the man and the woman become husband and wife they become “one flesh.” This phrase expresses the unity that should exist in the relationship. Together the husband and wife form one unit as they come together physically, intellectually and emotionally. There is a wholeness that did not exist before they entered this divine marital union. This unity, however, does not imply uniformity, for they are not the same. God made men and women different for a reason. Not only so, they come from different backgrounds having different temperaments, habits, feelings, parents, interests, etc. But this is as God intended, for the complete unit needs both masculine and feminine viewpoints. And so God makes of the two one. While God joins them spiritually as one when they enter His covenant (berith Elohim), the unity of their relationship is a process not an instant fact. It will be a lifelong project. In fact, they will spend the rest of their lives learning to live as one. The whole idea is mutual acceptance, giving, listening and direction as two individuals willingly blend into each other’s lives, desiring to share with, and thereby, complete the other.

                                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

Bible Basics