Martin Luther: On Marriage Matters

One of Martin Luther's main themes is authority, authority of parents, of husband, of law, and of scripture. His concept of authority is that parents should not overextend their authority when it comes to forcing an engagement. They should not force a daughter to go into a marriage that they will not be happy with; he stated that this is not right in the sight of God, that it is not what God wants. Martin Luther was against secret betrothals because then the public will not know if a couple are married or not, and the wife can take on a second husband. If she does she is an adulteress in t…