Overview

This chapter confesses the creation ordinance of marriage: between one man and one woman, for mutual help, the increase of mankind and the church, and the prevention of sin. It addresses lawful partners, the call for believers to marry “in the Lord,” and the limited, biblical grounds on which the marriage bond may be dissolved — adultery and willful, irremediable desertion.

The Confession, Section by Section

24.1–24.2 — The nature and ends of marriage

Marriage is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband, at the same time.

Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife; for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the church with an holy seed; and for preventing of uncleanness.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24, ESV)

“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” (1 Cor. 7:2, ESV)

Further proofs: Gen. 2:18; Mal. 2:15; Matt. 19:4–6; Prov. 2:17; 1 Cor. 7:9.

Exposition: Marriage is a creation ordinance, monogamous by design — “one man and one woman,” ruling out polygamy. Its God-given ends are threefold: the mutual help and companionship of the spouses, the raising of children (including “an holy seed” for the church), and the prevention of sexual sin. It is a good and honorable estate (Heb. 13:4), grounded in God’s own institution at creation.

24.3–24.4 — Lawful partners; marrying in the Lord

It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent. Yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord. And therefore such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, papists, or other idolaters… Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in the Word.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 7:39, ESV)

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” (2 Cor. 6:14, ESV)

Further proofs: Heb. 13:4; 1 Tim. 4:3; Gen. 24:3–4; Lev. 18; Neh. 13:25–27; Deut. 7:3–4.

Exposition: Marriage is open to all who can give informed consent, but believers are to “marry only in the Lord” — within the faith, not “unequally yoked” with unbelievers. The chapter also affirms the biblical prohibitions against incestuous unions (the forbidden degrees of kinship). Marriage is free, but not unbounded; it is to honor God in its partners.

24.5–24.6 — Grounds for divorce

Adultery or fornication committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, giveth just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract. In the case of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to sue out a divorce, and, after the divorce, to marry another, as if the offending party were dead.

…nothing but adultery, or such wilful desertion as can no way be remedied by the church or civil magistrate, is cause sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matt. 19:9, ESV)

“But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved.” (1 Cor. 7:15, ESV)

Further proofs: Matt. 5:31–32; Rom. 7:2–3; Deut. 24:1–4.

Exposition: Marriage is meant to be lifelong, and the Confession permits its dissolution only on two biblical grounds: adultery (Matt. 19:9, the “exception clause”) and willful desertion that “can no way be remedied” (1 Cor. 7:15). Even then, divorce is the right of the innocent party, not a license sought lightly. The chapter sets a high view of the permanence of marriage, against both the casual divorce of its day and ours, while making merciful provision in the cases Scripture allows. It warns pointedly against human corruption that would “study arguments” to part those whom God has joined apart from these causes.

Doctrinal Summary

Marriage, instituted by God at creation, is the lifelong union of one man and one woman, ordained for mutual help, the bearing of godly children, and the prevention of sexual sin. It is open to all able to consent, but believers are to marry only in the Lord and within the bounds of lawful kinship. Though designed to be permanent, the marriage bond may be dissolved by the innocent party on the biblical grounds of adultery or willful, irremediable desertion alone.

Connections

• WLC Q137–139 — the seventh commandment: the duties required and the sins forbidden, including the preservation of chastity in heart, speech, and behavior, and lawful marriage as a remedy.
• WSC Q70–72 — the seventh commandment: “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” requiring the preservation of our own and our neighbor’s chastity.
• WCF 4 (creation of man, male and female), WCF 19 (the moral law, seventh commandment), WCF 7 (covenant — marriage as a picture of covenant faithfulness).
• Loci: Marriage and the family; the seventh commandment; Christ and the church as the archetype of marriage (Eph. 5).

Pastoral & Practical Significance

This chapter dignifies marriage as God’s good gift, not a mere social contract. It honors the single and married alike: marriage is honorable, but the chapter never demeans those who do not marry (cf. 1 Cor. 7). For the married, it sets a high and hopeful vision — a covenant of mutual help meant to last a lifetime, picturing Christ’s faithful love for His church (Eph. 5:25–32). Its teaching on divorce is sobering and merciful at once: it refuses to make divorce easy, guarding the vulnerable from abandonment and the institution from erosion, while extending real relief to the innocent party in the grievous cases of adultery or desertion. For those who have suffered a broken marriage, the gospel that frames the whole Confession offers grace, forgiveness, and restoration; the chapter’s strictness is meant to protect marriage, not to crush the wounded. Above all, it calls husbands and wives to keep covenant as those whose God keeps covenant with them.

For Reflection

• Do I view marriage as God’s covenant gift, picturing Christ and the church, or merely as a private arrangement?
• For the married: how can I pursue the “mutual help” and faithfulness this chapter describes?
• The chapter guards marriage’s permanence yet shows mercy in hard cases. How does this reflect both God’s holiness and His grace?