The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-I, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 11."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1980. All Rights Reserved.

Question

I was looking for this one scripture, and it’s either a certain scripture or some scriptural support to say a wife who takes herself from under the authority of her husband. And I remember reading that she opens herself up more to Satanic attack or to be more deceived, or something like that. Do you know what it was I am talking about?

Answer

I think, the only passage that comes to mind is 1 Peter 3, where it talks about Sarah calling Abraham, Lord. And, it says that those who so called their husband, lord, are daughters of Sarah. And there’s an affirmation there of the fact of submission, Ephesians 5. I’m trying to think if there is a passage that specifically says when a woman takes herself out from under the control of her husband she exposes herself to special satanic attack. Bill, you got a word on that? Ok. Well, the whole of 1 Corinthians, but we might look at that. 1 Corinthians 7:5, “Defraud ye not one another, except to be with consent for a time that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer and come together again, and that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” Well, that would be a shade on that. What that means is that if you withhold the physical relationship from your husband or if the husband withholds the physical relationship from the wife. That’s called incontinency or a lack of coming together. You will expose one another to Satanic temptation. 1 Corinthians 7:5. That’s the only verse I can think that relates to that. And, that’s why it’s so very important for couples to have a fulfilling sexual relationship because, otherwise, there is the exposure to temptation.

Question (continued)

Well, also, I was thinking of a couple of scriptures that might give you better ideas. The one, I think, is in Timothy where it was talking about widows, younger ones...to marry again. They suggest that you marry again because all of a sudden they fall into all these temptations.

Answer (continued)

They’ll grow wanton. A younger widow is always called upon to remarry, and the older widows are not, they can be serving the church, but a younger widow, he says, “I charge them to remarry, lest they grow wanton in Christ.”

Question (continued)

Then, I guess, the main point I’m trying to get to is that, when a wife no longer wants to be under the authority. She leaves or whatever. Is it a normal feeling for her to feel, I’m covered, or something? Like the widow where she will go on to be wanton, you know. And, then, the scripture where it says, “Let not the wife depart from her husband." It’s like, either remain unmarried or be reconciled. Well, if there’s no chance for reconciliation, and she remains unmarried, wouldn’t she have this feeling like she needs some authority from someone on this earth.

Answer (continued)

I think, that’s very true. You see, what happens is a woman is designed to be responding to a husband, unless she has the gift of singleness. And, then she doesn’t need that. She can respond to Christ as 1 Corinthians 7 says. But, if she is a woman who has not received the gift of singleness or celibacy, then she will respond to the authority of a man. And, when she’s out from under that, there is a sense of isolation and lostness. That’s right. That’s why the Bible commands her to be joined again to her husband. And that would be the primary thing. That’s very true, and that’s why, as you said, that a widow, a young widow, should find another mate because there is a sense of incompleteness, a sense of lostness there. That’s right. Now, the prohibition on this would be that if she were out from under her husband, by her own sinful rebellion, she may have forfeited the right to another husband. See. And, that’s the issue there.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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