What does it mean to leave your parents and cleave to your spouse?

Question

Its sounds like the bible is asking us to abandon our parents for our spouse. Why would the bible ask us to do this?

Whats wrong with loving your parents when you get married? Aren't they still family?

Answer 1

So you can Become One Flesh.


(That means SEX, btw. It's just a more fun way of saying Bumpin' Uglies., Makin' Bacon, etc)

Answer 2

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This doesn't mean completely abandon your family... what it does mean is that your priorities change. Growing up you listen to your family, you go to them for advice, comfort and support. When you get married, the primary source for those emotional (and spiritual) support becomes your spouse. In a healthy relationship, putting the other person ahead of yourself is a two way street. This isn't about lording over your spouse... it's about giving up selfish considerations out of respect for your spouse. (Yeah guys, that means when your wife doesn't feel well, you should skip going out with the boys and stay home and watch the kids for her.) What is important to remember is this: Marriage is about each other. you love each other and take care of each other. Isolation and control is not healthy... but if you are honest with each other (and faithful to each other) cleaving (or clinging) to your spouse will be easy and leaving your parents won't seem like such a shock... after all, you can still see them whenever you want.

Answer 3

The family arrangement is a perfect way for humans to live. The bible does not say to abandon our parents, but when a man takes a wife he is the head of the family thus he is responsible for the family spiritual matters and physical matters. It is God's will for us humans to worship him and populate the earth as the same purpose Adam and eve were to do. All part of God's arrangement for us. We are still to honor our parents not forget them.

Answer 4

It is not abandoning them. Rather it is a rearranging of priorities. Your priority as a husband is to your wife - not to your parents any more. As a wife, your priorities are to your husband - not your parents.
You must have heard a description of a guy as being tied to his mother's apron strings. Unless he unties himself, he will not be a good husband.
Focus on the Family has often done programs on marriage. Here are a couple of programs that you will want to have a listen to so that you can see what someone else says on this topic.

Answer 5

God tells us to honor our Father and Mother, so no, we should never abandon our parents. I think it has to do with the hierarchy of their leadership in our lives.

When we marry, like the unity candle symbolizes, we relinquish our individual selves and unite into a new unit called the marriage. By putting our selves in line behind the good of the marriage, we have also placed our individual families behind it too.

Answer 6

The husband and wife become a new family. They are to rely and help each other, to encourage and support each other. They should not be looking to other people to help them out number their spouse, but they need to learn to work together, for life.

Answer 7

What this means is that you leave your parents home and cleave(become a part of and remain faithful too) your spouse.

Answer 8

It's not, it just means that when a man finds a wife, he would leave home and start one of his own.

Answer 9

thats because the bible said thart when you get married u become one and God knows everything. and also because u will start ur own family.

Answer 10

You leave one family, and join another. That is why brides are "given away", normally by their father, even today.