1 Corinthians 7:4-5, Defraud Ye Not One the Other

1 Corinthians 7:4-5 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. 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.

William MacDonald observed well, “In marital union there is a dependence of the wife upon the husband and vice versa. In order to carry out God’s order in this holy union, both husband and wife must recognize their interdependence.”

Quoting Christenson:

“In plain language this means that if one partner desires the sexual relationship, the other should respond to that desire. The husband and wife who adopt this down-to-earth approach to sex will find it a wonderfully satisfying aspect of their marriage—for the simple reason that the relationship is rooted in reality, and not in some artificial or impossible ideal.”

William MacDonald further elaborates, “Perhaps when some of these Corinthians were first saved, they began to think that the intimacies of married life were not consistent with Christian holiness. Paul will disabuse their minds of any such idea. Here he firmly tells them that Christian couples are not to deprive one another, that is, to deny one’s partner’s rights as far as the other partner’s body is concerned. There are only two exceptions.

First of all, such an abstinence should only be by mutual consent so that the husband and wife may give themselves to fasting and prayer. The second condition is that such abstinence should only be temporary. Husband and wife should come together again, lest Satan tempt them for their lack of self-control.”

May the Lord bless the marriage union for His honour and glory! Amen.