1 Corinthians 7 and verse 1 reads.
1Cor.7:1] Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
We don’t have the letter he is talking about so we don’t know the sin. This word touch is over excite.
1Cor.7:2] Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Before we continue, Paul was not married. He didn’t have to worry about going on the road with a wife at home as did many who spread the gospel of Jesus Christ did.
1Cor.7:3] Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
[4] The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
[5] Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Back in these days they didn’t have phones to keep in touch, or cars to go place to place. When they went on the road it was for a long time. make sure you and your wife can agree on this.
1Cor.7:6] But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
Not a law from God, but of Paul’s own opinion.
1Cor.7:7] For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
We each have gifts and destiny’s from God.
1Cor.7:8] I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
[9] But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
This word burn means to burn with desire.
1Cor.7:10] And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
[11] But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
This however is a commandment from God.
1Cor.7:12] But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
[13] And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
[14] For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
This is how the one is sanctified by the other. All is for peace in the home. But what this is saying is that one can be an unbeliever so long as the children are raised in the LORD.
1Cor.7:15] But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
[16] For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
[17] But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
“But the word shall set you free.” Jesus only saves. Let not the churches judge you.
1Cor.7:18] Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
[19] Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Cannot put it back. Circumcision is of the heart and it is for both male and female.
1Cor.7:20] Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
Are you called, and do you have a gift from God?
1Cor.7:21] Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
[22] For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
This for those that are in bondage or free. Serve your master if you are in bondage or if you are free, serve the Lord.
1Cor.7:23] Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
But serve the Lord and be free in spirit.
1Cor.7:24] Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
When you find your destiny, serve the Lord joyously.
1Cor.7:25] Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
[26] I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
[27] Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
[28] But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
[29] But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
This is why it is not a law, but simply his opinion. He could give no real advice on this. But it was obvious someone had asked him concerning this.
1Cor.7:30] And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
[31] And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
Stop thinking with the flesh and start thinking with the spiritual body.
1Cor.7:32] But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
[33] But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
The important thing is to please the Lord, also, think of those in combat zones. Away from their families and not knowing if they will return.
1Cor.7:34] There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
And she is suppose to care for her husband. But those that are not married can give themselves wholly to the Lord.
1Cor.7″35] And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
[36] But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
When we find love in one another let them be married, the two will become one flesh.
1Cor.7:37] Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
[38] So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
The only thing I can think of for this reason is Luke 14:26. Let us read.
Luke 14:26] If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
[27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
This word “hate” is love less. I can handle that. For me must love the Lord more than ourselves and family also. Back to 1Cor.7 and verse 39 reads.
1Cor.7:39] The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
By the Lord they were married, by death she is free.
1Cor.7:40] But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Though we are married in the flesh, we all wait for the marriage to the Lamb. Don’t let this confuse you, study again if you need to, remember most was just the opinion of Paul. Though it was in wisdom, still his opinion, and not Gods law. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible