Romans 7:1-3 - Example: Marriage

CHAPTER 7 - Outline
7:1-3 - Law Example: Marriage
7:4-6 - Released from Law
7:7-12 - Law Reveals Our Sin
7:13-14 - Law is Spiritual
7:15-18 - A Dilemma
7:19-25 - War: Flesh vs Mind
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Chpaters 6-8 is a long discussion regarding our union with Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Chapter seven emphasizes the warning to avoid falling back into the Law - obedience to rules and regulations rather than following Christ. Chapter eight is an elegiac song about the glory of being Christ’s own.

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Rom. 7:1-3 - Example: Marriage
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1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?
2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband.
3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.

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The Law No Longer Holds Jurisdiction

V. 1 - “Or do you not know” - Of course they know!

“I am speaking to those who know the law” - Although this letter is written to the church in Rome, predominantly Gentile in make-up (interesting paradox: “Gentile” is a term used for non-Jews, and in the church, Christ’s body, there is no distinction as such) Paul knows the Jews are trying to divert believers into legalism. He is calling them (the Jews) out.

“the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?” - Neither the law (secular and governmental) or, the Law applies to you when you are dead. You cannot be given a ticket for speeding. You cannot be sued for divorce. You will not violate the sabbath law, nor covet your neighbor’s possessions.

V. 2-3 - “but if her husband dies” - Here Paul uses marriage as an example of how the “Law” no longer applies to believers. Jesus was no fan of divorce - see Matt. 19:3-9. God does not sanction divorce. God knows that mankind is so stubborn and hard-hearted they would break up marriages in spite of God’s wishes. How do we know this? Did Jews steal from each other and violate the Eighth Commandment? Of course they did. Did Jews commit adultery, violating the Seventh Commandment? Of course they did.

“She is free...” - Jesus is saying a man who divorces his wife and takes up with another woman is committing adultery. This is a hard saying, especially when our society is blasé about marriage. See Deut. 24:1-4 which says a man can divorce his wife if he finds an indecency in her. I do not think this means he is merely unhappy with her. By the way, the man is not to remarry her because he would then be committing adultery. Jesus is saying God is allowing divorce in a limited sense in order to prevent the Jews from living in continual sin when divorced.
The lesson here is: if a husband dies, then the woman may marry again and neither the woman or her new husband are adulterers. The first husband has no claim on her from the grave. The relationship is dead. She is free from the commitment made to him.

The Law died when Christ died on the cross, was dead and buried and then rose from the dead. He came to fulfill the Law. His sacrifice satisfied all of the Law. The Law is dead. It no longer has jurisdiction over anyone. If you are adhering to the Law, then you are doing it voluntarily, not as a requirement for salvation. You are unnecessarily loading yourself down. Christ came to set you free. Free to believe and follow Him. Free to be led by the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us.

We tend to be very critical of 'The Law' - seeing it as strict, even harsh. It is very clear about what is expected of those who follow the Law. We do not like such clear, precise boundaries. We like 'flexibility'. Yet, God in His mercy, provided for reasonable behavior. Jesus and his disciples ran into criticism when they plucked a few heads of grain and ate them on the Sabbath. They were accused of 'working' - a violation of the Law. (See: Mark 2:3-28) Likewise, Jesus was chastised because he healed a woman on the Sabbath - again, working. (See: Luke 13:10-17) Both times the Pharisees were subjecting people to man-made rules, not actually the Law. Look at Deut. 23:24-25, where God allows them to 'snack' on the Sabbath by eating a handful of grain or grapes, but not to harvest (that is to use tools or implements). Jesus reminds them that their king David ate 'holy bread', even though that was not allowed.(See: 1 Sam. 21:6ff) He also reminds them they would rescue an animal on the Sabbath rather than let it die (See: Prov. 12:10) We need to take care so as to NOT substitute our rules for God's commands.

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