Dimensions
140 x 216 x 4mm
In the Old Testament, it was lawful to have more than one wife because marriages were unilateral (promise for performance), not bilateral (promise for promise). Women were acquired by the bride price. Cultures that practice bride price did not allow the women to initiate a divorce. Since women were not permitted to put away (divorce) a husband, men were able to multiply their wives without incident. Women were considered purchased (acquired) by the price. The Church was also called the Bride of Christ. She was purchased by Christ's precious blood (1 Corinthians 6:20). Christ made a unilateral covenant with the Church (unconditional). During a proposal, if the young woman drank from the cup of wine, she accepted his offer for marriage. She was entering into a covenant with him (offer and acceptance). This cup was referred to as the cup (act) of acceptance. The wine represented the blood covenant. Jesus, likewise, offered a cup of wine to his disciples (Matthew 26:27-29). By drinking the cup, they accepted his covenant of blood that was eventually poured out on the cross. When it comes to divorce, we have to understand how a covenant functions. Only when a woman is released from her marriage covenant (made void) can she marry again without being found guilty of committing adultery with her new husband (Matthew 5:31-32).
