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Old 07-23-2009, 09:45 AM
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greenbear greenbear is offline
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Ohio
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This is an instance where the Law of Moses prescribes taking another wife in a certain situation. If it's in the Law then I daresay God didn't frown on the practice as has been maintained by some. Exodus 21:10-11, regulations on the practice of polygamy. Deuteronomy 21:15–17, inheritance to go to the first-born son, even if he hates his mother and loves another wife better. Deuteronomy 17:7, instructions on a king not taking too many wives.

Matthew 19:3-10 and Mark 10:5-12 Jesus was answering a question about the putting away of a wife. He stated that a man and his wife are no more twain, but one flesh. He isn't addressing the issue of multiple wives in this passage or in Mark 10. Was not Jacob one flesh with each of his wives?

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

I believe monogamy is the type for Christ and His church. However, unbelievers don't necessarily live by that type in some cultures. If a man comes to Christ with more than one wife, if we require that he abandon his wives and children, we are requiring him to disobey Jesus' clear statement, as well as Paul's.

Clearly, some people have a problem with this, but in my humble opinion, your problem is not with me but with God's word.