Jeremiah 16:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If the prophet is forbidden to marry during the impending captivity to avoid physical sorrow, and the torment of witnessing the suffering of a wife and children, how much more should the Apostle's directive be heeded: since time is short and the end is near, those who have spouses should behave as though they do not (1 Cor. 7). Thus, there is no need to counter the new heretic, Jovinian, who suggests that bigamy and polygamy arise from the law rather than from indulgence. It is essential to distinguish between acts that are intrinsically good and those allowed out of indulgence, which may lead to worse actions. The Apostle provides reasons for encouraging young widows to remarry, stating, For some have already turned aside after Satan (1 Tim. 5:15). Yet, the proponent of moderation and perpetual chastity, who arrogantly claims equality with God, promotes third and fourth marriages, which I would hesitate to call true marriages but rather desperate measures—a last resort for the shipwrecked—endorsing them as if granting permission for his followers to succumb to unrestrained desires until old age. The reason the prophet is instructed not to marry is clear: as the siege approaches, many will succumb to plague, sword, and hunger, leaving such a multitude of corpses that burial will be impossible, with bodies lying like refuse, drawing destruction upon birds and beasts alike. Moreover, it is crucial to note that the gradual decay from chronic illness is reflective of God's wrath. This is evident in the case of Joram, son of Jehoshaphat, who died from a prolonged illness (2 Chronicles 21), and as the Apostle teaches, those who profane the holy place experience prolonged sickness, withering, and death (1 Corinthians 11:30).