Redemption and Healing in Broken Marriages
The concept of redemption and healing in broken marriages is rooted in biblical themes of restoration and reconciliation. In the Old Testament, God is depicted as a redeemer who heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds [1]. The Psalmist prays for joy and healing, asking God to "make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad" [2]. Ezekiel 34:16 portrays God as seeking the lost, bringing back the driven away, binding up the broken, and strengthening the sick [3].
The biblical concept of redemption involves the payment of a ransom to restore something or someone to its original state. The Greek word "apolutrosis" is used in the New Testament to describe redemption, emphasizing the idea of a price paid to secure freedom or restoration [4]. In the context of marriage, redemption involves restoring a broken relationship to its original intention.
In the New Testament, Jesus teaches about the importance of marriage and the consequences of divorce (Matthew 19:2-12) [6]. one commentary tradition on Matthew 19:2 notes that Jesus' teaching on divorce was part of his broader instruction on the subject. The apostle Paul also addresses the issue of remarriage in 1 Timothy 5:14, recommending it as a way to avoid temptation and idleness [7].
The concept of redemption in marriage is closely tied to the idea of reconciliation. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, reconciliation involves a change from enmity to friendship, and is a mutual process involving both parties [5]. In the context of a broken marriage, reconciliation requires a willingness to forgive and be restored.
The biblical theme of healing is also relevant to broken marriages. In Hosea 14:4, God promises to heal the backsliding Israel, demonstrating his gratuitous and unmerited love [8]. Similarly, in Jeremiah 30:17, God promises to heal the wounds of his people, restoring them to health and wholeness [9].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 147:3 (Webster) — He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
- Psalms “Psalms 51:8 (BBE) — Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.”
- Ezekiel “Ezekiel 34:16 (YLT) — The lost I seek, and the driven away bring back, And the broken I bind up, and the sick I strengthen, And the fat and the strong I destroy, I feed it with judgment.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Reconcilation — A change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. (1.) In Col. 1:21, 22, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the personal character of the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works, and yields up to him his full confidence and love. In 2 Cor. 5:20 the apostle beseeches the Corinthians to be "reconciled to God", i.e., to lay aside their enmity. (2.) Rom. 5:10 refers not to any change in our disposition toward God, but to God himself, as the party reconcile”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 19:2: And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there--Mark says further (Mar 10:1), that "as He was wont, He taught them there." What we now have on the subject of divorce is some of that teaching. Divorce (Mat 19:3-12).”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 5:14: younger women--rather, as ellipsis ought to be supplied, "the younger widows," namely younger widows in general, as distinguished from the older widows taken on the roll of presbyteresses (Ti1 5:9). The "therefore" means seeing that young widows are exposed to such temptations, "I will," or "desire," &c. (Ti1 5:11-13). The precept here that they should marry again is not inconsistent with Co1 7:40; for the circumstances of the two cases were distinct (compare Co1 7:26). Here remarriage is recommended as an antidote to sexual passion, idleness, and t”
- Hosea (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hosea 14:4: God's gracious reply to their self-condemning prayer. backsliding--apostasy: not merely occasional backslidings. God can heal the most desperate sinfulness [CALVIN]. freely--with a gratuitous, unmerited, and abundant love (Eze 16:60-63). So as to the spiritual Israel (Joh 15:16; Rom 3:24; Rom 5:8; Jo1 4:10).”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 30:17: 30:17 I will . . . heal your wounds: The people would return from exile and their sins would be removed.”