Authored by Carly Hart in Religion and Spirituality
Published on 10-23-2009
Choosing scriptural readings or Bible verses for a wedding can seem like a daunting task to engaged couples. Which Bible verses discuss love and marriage? Below are three Bible verses relating to love and marriage that engaged couples should consider for use during their wedding ceremony.
Ephesians 5:22-33
For some independent minded brides, Ephesians may not be considered at first because it states: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” This verse is only a small part of the true meaning of the entire passage. While wives are directed to submit unto their husbands in everything, husbands are held to a higher standard. Ephesians Chapter 5, Verse 25 directs husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Christ loved the church so much that he gave His life on the cross to save the world from sin. Giving this Bible verse further thought, it asks a husband to love his wife so much that he would give up his life for her. How romantic!
Future husbands are further instructed to care and nurture their wives as they would their own body. A man does not neglect his own body; instead he nourishes it and takes care of it. Therefore, husbands are instructed to tend to their wives’ needs as they would their own. Ephesians 5:22-33 is a powerful Bible verse for weddings because it underscores a husband’s responsibility to his wife.
Tobit 8:5-7
The Book of Tobit is an apocryphal text and does not appear in many Christian Bibles. The Book of Tobit appears in the Old Testament after Nehemiah in Catholic and Greek Orthodox Bibles. Catholic or Orthodox brides and grooms may wish to consider Tobit 8:5-7 as a reading during their wedding Mass. What makes Tobit 8:5-7 a Bible verse perfect for a Catholic or Orthodox wedding? First, this passage highlights the importance of praying together as a couple. Secondly, Tobiah’s heartfelt prayer to God that he and Sarah might enjoy a long and happy life is something that engaged couples can relate to quite easily.
Matthew 7:21-29
The Gospel of Matthew is also a good place to find Bible verses for weddings. In Matthew Chapter 7, Jesus relates the story of the wise man who builds his house upon a rock and the foolish man who chooses instead to build his house upon sand. To prosper in life, couples need to enter marriage with a strong foundation. That foundation should include God, as well as the willingness to make sound decisions like the wise man who built his house upon the rock. Marriages have their ups and downs and weather many storms. Matthew 7:21-29 emphasizes that a firm foundation will help to protect the couple from life’s trials and that good decisions lead to prosperity.
These readings from Ephesians, Tobit, and Matthew are all appropriate Bible verses for weddings. While Ephesians underscores a husband and wife’s responsibilities to each other, Tobit shows the importance of praying together as a family. The Gospel of Matthew reinforces the idea that marriages should be built upon a strong foundation, like the wise man’s house in the parable told by Jesus. All of these Bible verses are filled with good advice to a newly married couple just starting their journey in life.
