The Lovers

The path connecting Binah (understanding) and Tiphareth (Beauty) is associated with the Lovers tarot card. The Lovers tarot card portrays Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is behind Eve, and the Tree of Life baring twelve manners of fruit is behind Adam.

Revelations 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

There is a large angel appearing in a cloud, with the Holy Mountain of God pictured in the background. The angel appears to be showering the two with blessings. Adam and Eve have their arms open with their palms up, as if to ask, ‘what do you want us to do?’ They are naked and are no ashamed – they have nothing to hide. The serpent is in the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil – waiting for his opportunity to destroy the paradise the lovers are in. The Lovers tarot card represents God’s love, the love that exists within relationships, and love in general.

1 John 4:7-9 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love is an important aspect of life. God is love; so if you do not experience or understand love, then you do not know God. Without love, life would lose much of its luster. Binah represents Understanding of God’s plan. Adam and Eve played a key role in that plan. Through there actions evil entered the world, but along with it came freewill. With freewill came choices and consequences, and it is through an individual’s behaviors and deeds that their ultimate destination will be determined. Based on each individual’s choices/behaviors God will separate the sheep from the goats, and everyone will be judged according to their deeds.

Through Eve’s sin evil entered into the world; because of her actions, women were cursed so that through sorrow they will bring forth children (Genes 3:16). However, it is through this very curse that the remedy for sin entered the world; to undo the damage Original Sin inflicted on the earth, and to rekindle the relationship with God that existed in the beginning. Christ was born of woman, and His obedience made up for Adam’s disobedience.
Romans 5:10-19 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

This path of the Qabalah connects an understanding of God’s plan, with the actions of Adam and Eve, and the beauty of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice. Christ is the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45) who returns us to the original union with God, and brings us from death into eternal life. The redeeming relationship between Christ and Original Sin is and important aspect of this path, but this path also allows us to contemplate the relationship between man and woman, and between husbands and wives.

Genesis 2:7-9 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:15-18 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

The Book of Genesis tells the story of creation, and with every progress, the scripture states, “and God saw that it was good (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31).” God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground and breathed life into him. The first part of God’s creation that was deemed ‘not good’ was that Adam was alone. Man is not meant to be alone.

Genesis 2:21-25 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Eve was created out of Adam’s rib. She is flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. Man is not meant to be alone. Eve was created from Adam’s rib, without her, he is missing part of his body. The two are meant to be together, and together they form one flesh.

Marriage is a holy union that was instituted by God. Marriage provides us with a unique opportunity to know and understand God’s love – as well as fulfilling our human needs. Women were created to be helpers to men. It was not good that man should be alone. Man and woman were designed to be together, and two are to become one flesh. They are to be partners, face life’s challenges together, and should complement each other. They are to raise their children and face the world together. That is what God intended.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

The partnership between a husband and wife allows them to be more successful in their specific roles in this world. Men and women may perform different jobs or fulfill different roles in life, but the support they offer each other is priceless. They offer each other courage and comfort, they pick each other up when they fall, and two heads are better than one in regards to problem solving and making decisions in this life.

1 Timothy 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Men are to work and provide for their families. Men are to protect their families and provide for their food and shelter. Women are charged with managing their households. They are to guide the house and raise their children. Husbands and wives are to be one flesh, and work together at raising their families.

Ephesians 5:22-24 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

Wives are to submit to their husbands (Genesis 3:16) as unto the Lord. Many modern women who are living in this age of women’s rights might find the above verses offensive, but there is no reason to be offended. Women are to be subject to their husbands, as the church is to Christ. This does not mean that women are not equal partners in the relationship, nor does it diminish their status as one flesh. All that has taken place is that men have been given the responsibility of guiding and overseeing their partner’s actions.

The church is one body of believers in Christ (Romans 12:5), but Christ is the head of the church. Christ was willing to sacrifice His life for the church; in the same manner, men need to be prepared to lay down their lives in defense of their households. Christ is not a dictator, who desires to control the church, but He wishes the church to share the same goals and desires as Himself.

Husbands are to listen to their wives and support their ideas. Christ said that if we ask anything in prayer in His name, He will do it. The same way that Christ will grant the church (Christ’s bride) its requests (that are in accordance to God’s will) husbands should do the same thing for their wives.

If a wife asks her husband to do something that is contradictory to the Bible, then this is where the husband is to use his authority to correct his wife by providing her with guidance. If the wife sets a goal for herself or desires something that does not contradict the Bible, then her husband should be willing to support her in her endeavors. Marriage is about supporting each other and each other’s ideas. Husbands and wives are partners, and are to work together in one accord.

Ephesians 22:28-33 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Spouses are to love their partners as they love themselves. They are not to be selfish, but are to support and make sacrifices for the other person.

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 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.

Another important aspect of marriage is the sexual relationship. When you get married your body no longer belongs to you – it belongs to your spouse. This does not mean that husbands own their wives, but that both husbands and wives do not have permission to use their bodies for fornication. Husbands and wives are to have sexual relations with each other in order to prevent them from being tempted into fornication or adultery.

Both husbands and wives are entitled to sexual satisfaction. If the wife is not equally satisfied with the sexual relationship, then the husband has failed his wife. To ensure both partners are fulfilled, husbands and wives need to have open communication in regards to their sexual needs and desires. Husbands and wives are partners, and should work together in all of their endeavors – including satisfying each other sexually.



Proverbs 5:18-19 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

Husbands are to be satisfied with their wives, and are to remain faithful to them. Adultery is a sin discussed throughout the entire Bible. It is a sin that can never be forgiven, and there is no satisfying the wrath of the wronged partner other than vengeance (Proverbs 6:34-35). It is included in the Ten Commandments, and in the Old Testament was punished by death.

Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Marriage is a serious commitment. Adultery is not punishable by death in the New Testament, but God’s intention for it to remain a holy and undefiled union has not diminished. It is clear throughout the Bible that adultery is one of the biggest betrayals and worst sins that you can engage in. Husbands and wives are to be one flesh, and their bodies actually belong to the other person.

Adultery is one of the worse betrayals possible. By committing adultery, you betray your own flesh, destroy a holy bond, and you will devastate the person that loves and trusts you most in this world. If you have children, then you betray them as well, and take many opportunities away from them. You set a poor example for your children, and damage their future relationships. If adultery leads to divorce, the children will also miss out on a great deal of guidance. Their parents won’t be acting as one team in the best interest of their families, but would be living selfish and sinful lives – fulfilling their own needs and making their children suffer the consequences of their parent’s lusts.

Matthew 5:31-32 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Matthew 19:3-9 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. They say unto him, why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry commits adultery: and whoso marries her who is put away doth commit adultery.

Jesus stated that the only acceptable reason to get divorced is in the case of fornication. Christians are not allowed to get divorced simply because they do not like each other anymore, or because they have different goals. The truth is that husbands and wives are to be one flesh; they should have the same goals and be working in one accord. If they are behaving in this manner, there shouldn’t be problems in their relationship.

Christians should not get divorced for any other reason than fornication (as long as they are behaving in a Christian manner). Any other reason that Christians are contemplating getting divorced over should be handled through communication. Couples should work out their differences. Both partners need to be willing to compromise. Marriage is about cooperation between two people; it is not the time or place to be selfish.

Women need to be humble and submit to the authority of their husbands, and husbands need to be willing to sacrifice themselves for the well being of their wives. Both partners are required to compromise. They need to work out their differences and work together as a team.

1 Corinthians 7:10-14 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

Christians are not supposed to get divorced, but if for some reason they do, they are to remain unmarried or else reunited with each other. If a Christian is married to a non-believer and the non-believer wants to stay with him/her, the Christian should to stay in the marriage as long as the other person is being sanctified by his/her presence. If the other party is abusive and is not being sanctified by the presence of his/her Christian spouse, the Christian spouse is not obligated to stay with the non-believer. You will know them by their fruits, and if a husband isn’t behaving towards his wife the way that Christ behaves towards His church, the person’s behavior is not that of a Christian.

1 Corinthians 7:15-17 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

If a Christian is married to a non-believer and the non-believer wants out of the marriage, a Christian is allowed to get divorced for reasons other than fornication.

1 Corinthians 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Christians are married for as long as they both shall live. Once one of the spouses dies, the other spouse is free to remarry, but only if they marry another believer. This is because the earlier scenarios are assuming the person became saved after they were already married to a non-believer. Christians are not to marry someone that worships a different God than they do. This is just common sense. How do you expect to be one flesh and share the same goals as another person if you don’t even have the same God in common?

Deuteronomy 24:1-4 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

The above scenario is from the Old Testament and does not coincide with the Christian teachings on divorce. However, it does present the concept that once divorced, there is no going back. If you choose to get divorced and your ex-spouse marries another, then you are never to be together again. If Christians get divorced they are to remain unmarried unless they are reunited with each other (1 Corinthians 7:11). If a couple gets divorced and one of the parties marries someone else, the union they once had is gone for good.
In regards to divorce, Christians are not to get divorced unless it is due to sexual immorality. If they do split up for some other reason, they are either to be reunited with their former spouse or remain unmarried (in the case that both people are Christians). If one of the parties isn’t a Christian (based on Biblical principles, and not simply because they claim to be), then divorce may be acceptable, though the Christian cannot remarry unless it is within the church.

In a marriage, the husband should treat his wife just as Jesus treats His church. Jesus loves, cares for, protects, encourages, and guides His followers. He doesn’t boss them around, but He gives them complete freedom and liberty. Christians are baptized by fire, and disciplined in this life. They are given liberty and guidance, but ultimately, they are allowed to become what God has placed in their hearts to become.

God has prepared a cup (destiny) for each of us, and we will drink the cup our father has prepared for us. We follow Jesus out of love (John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commandments”). Cult leaders keep their followers locked on a compound and don’t allow them to communicate with family or friends, nor to they give them any freedom to choose between the narrow path of the Lord and the broad path of the Devil. Jesus doesn’t treat His followers like that. Jesus trusts that we will follow Him because we love and trust in Him, which is the same dynamics that should exist between a husband and a wife.