以斯拉回到耶路撒冷的好消息，被當地猶太人與異族通婚的壞消息沖淡了！那些猶太人竟准許自己的兒子迎娶鄰近地區的外邦女子，甚至包括了祭司、利未人和社會領袖也這麼做──這是上帝的律法所禁止的，也不為以斯拉所容忍！匡正錯誤的過程是痛苦、困難而費時的，不過當時陰霾的氣氛，並不能阻止以色列族靈命復興和全國潔淨等運動的蓬勃發展。

        婚姻已經有好幾種定義—有些是幽默的，有些是不幸的。你會用什麼字眼描述你的婚姻呢？婚姻是──
        兩個神經系統和平共存。
        夫妻爭執的訓練中心。
        一個合不來的結合。
        發現自己缺點最昂貴的方法。
        還可以加上一條：美滿婚姻鐵三角：丈夫、妻子和上帝。先知阿摩斯在兩千七百多年前，提出一個問題供你參考：「不能同心、豈能同行？」答案極為明顯，然而太多上帝的兒女忽視了這個明顯的警告和聖經的禁止。
        如果你未婚，現在就讀哥林多後書六章十四節；如果你已婚，請默想哥林多前書七章十至十六節，讓這些經文再一次提醒你：基督徒的婚姻原是為三個角色設計的——你，你的配偶和上帝！

        與外邦人通婚的嚴重後遺症
        以斯拉記十章十八至四十三節列出一百十一個犯通婚罪的名字──與異族通婚在申命記七章一至五節裡已明令禁止！在以色列史中，從士師記起就記載了這些長期存在的情況（士3：5-7）及其惡果，日後尼希米（尼13：23-28）和瑪拉基（瑪2：11）也一再說明與異族通婚所產生的問題。

絕不要和拒絕耶穌的人同負一軛。

English

        The good news of Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem is tempered by the bad news of mixed marriages in the community. Jews are permitting their sons to marry heathen women from neighboring territories. Even the priests, Levites, and civic leaders are involved—a condi¬tion that the law of God condemns and that Ezra finds intolerable. The process of righting these wrongs is painful, difficult, and time-consuming. But even those "rainy skies" cannot dampen Israel's renewed commitment to personal and national purity.

        Marriage has been defined many ways— some humorous, some tragic. Which would you say best describes yours? Marriage is ...
        • the peaceful coexistence of two nervous systems.
        • a school of experience where husband and wife are clash mates.
        • a union that defies management.
        Add to that list one more: Successful marriage always involves a triangle: a man, a woman, and God. The Prophet Amos asked the right question more than 2,700 years ago: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" The answer is obvious... yet a tragic number of God's people ignore the clear warnings and prohibitions of Scripture.
        If you are single, read 2 Corinthians 6:14 right now; if you are married, meditate on 1 Corinthians 7:10-16. Let those verses remind you again that Christian marriage is designed for three (you, your believing spouse, and God) for life!

        The Chronic Problem of Pagan Partners
        Ezra 10:18-43 lists 111 men guilty of mixed marriages—the very sin condemned and forbidden in Deuteronomy 7:1-5. The history of Israel from the period of the judges onward illustrates the chronic nature of the situation (Judges 3:5-7) and its devastating consequences. Nehemiah (13:23-28) and Malachi (2:11) also deal with the recurring problem of mixed marriages.

Never be yoked to one who refuses the yoke of Christ.