7:3,4
We don’t realise how radical this verse is. Paul starts by saying “the husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights”. The wife and her rights are given first place here. And this is from Paul who some ignorant people accuse of being a misogynist, such people merely demonstrate their own myopia. Sex is meant to be part of marriage, and it is a mutual part of marriage. In Genesis we read the two become one, they become one flesh. In marriage the husband and wife give their bodies to each other. Now this most definitely does not give the other partner the right to abuse the other. There is a mutual giving to each other.
7:5
Then we get more practical advice. A husband and wife can agree to abstain for a time from sex in order to devote themselves to prayer, but this must only be by agreement and only for a limited time. Why? Because if we do otherwise we only open the door to temptation. Paul is completely down to earth about the reality of sexual desires and practical in his advice.
7:6,7
Paul is now going to give further advice on the merits of remaining single. In Matthew 19:10 the disciples, in response to Jesus’ teaching about divorce, say “.. it is better not to marry”. They apparently considered Jesus’ teaching on the sanctity of marriage to be so onerous. Jesus then gives examples of people who will be single (Matt 19:11,12). The first two groups are those who have no choice in the matter because of circumstances. The final group who choose to be single for the sake of the kingdom, and Jesus commends this choice for those “who can accept it”. Paul essentially gives the same advice here. Paul was single (he may possibly have been widowed, but that is speculation, the fact is that he remained single now). To choose to be single for the sake of the kingdom is a noble thing, but it is a gift, and not everyone has that gift.
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