1 Corinthians 7:36
But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
The verse is the third part of the reply to inquiries about home relations that perplexed the Corinthian church and still perplex many in the church. It must be read with an understanding of the customs of the times and the peculiar situation of the church among a heathen and persecuting people, and then it teaches a most valuable lesson. Torn from that setting by superficial misconstruction it has been made to tolerate scandalous practices at variance with uniform teaching on purity and with the whole tenor of Scripture.
The man is the head of the family, a father or guardian, and his virgin is the daughter, ward, or other unmarried young woman under his charge and care. Its background is a society where a girl remaining unmarried beyond a certain age brought social discredit and where marriage decisions commonly rested with her father or guardian. The father or guardian does not sin by giving her in marriage or allowing her to marry when she has passed the flower of her age and need requires it, if he believes that to refuse would be behaving improperly toward her or would cause her unhappiness. If he has made no agreement to marry her to anyone and acts with firm purpose and integrity, it is better for him not to give her in marriage.
Marriage is not sinful for a person who cannot give up legitimate marital relations and devote himself or herself wholly to God; such a one may do as he will in marrying. Remaining unmarried is good when life and strength can be devoted to God, but there is no duty to pressure another to remain unmarried or to boast of doing so, and one should not place oneself in temptation. The verse carries consecration before God into married life, which was especially needed then because of surrounding heathen customs and is needed now because of looseness on all moral questions.
As part of the chapter, the verse confirms that keeping the commandments of God matters and that the commandments are not made nothing or abolished. As part of the plain teaching on the marriage relation, the verse approves bringing children into the world under proper conditions for their care, education, and training for immortality. It condemns selfish yielding to appetite as the curse of the marriage relation since sin entered, from which those who are candidates for translation must be delivered before the close of probation.