Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 5:31

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh." — Ephesians 5:31 (ASV)

Paul introduces Ge 2:24 at this point to substantiate his argument from Scripture, just as Jesus himself did (cf. Mark 10:7). “For this reason” is not a preface to the quotation but part of it. When Adam recognized that Eve was part of himself (Genesis 2:23), the next verse adds: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” That is, the marriage tie takes precedence over every other human relationship and for this reason is to be regarded as inviolable. At the same time, what is basically a divine ordinance is graciously designed for mutual satisfaction and delight. “United” means closely joined and, taken in conjunction with the reference to “one flesh,” can refer only to sexual intercourse, which is thus hallowed by the approval of God himself. It is because of this exalted biblical view of marital relations that the church has taken its stand on the indissolubility of the marital bond and the impermissibility of polygamy, adultery, or divorce.