Note 1 at 2 Cor. 6:14: The emphasis in this verse is on the word "unequally." It is not God's will for His people to live monastic lifestyles. That certainly was not the example of Jesus or any of His followers. We are the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13) and to release our life-preserving effect, we have to get out of the "salt shaker" (see note 5 at Lk. 19:7, p. 404).

Therefore, we have to have dealings with the world's system and those in it, but we need to be careful to maintain the proper balance. We should shun relationships where we are being more influenced by others' negatives than they are by our positives.

Marriage is one area where this principle is especially true. There is no closer union in life than the marriage relationship. A believer who marries an unbeliever is in direct violation of this scripture and is toying with disaster. The Lord should be the most important person in our lives. How could we possibly become "one" with a person who doesn't love our Lord?

It is folly to think that after marriage an unbelieving spouse will accept the Lord. Although that does happen, it cannot be guaranteed. In fact, the statistics are overwhelmingly against it happening. Regardless of that possibility, a believer who marries an unbeliever is in direct violation of God's instructions here. It is not a good start to any marriage to spurn God's Word.

Paul made it very clear to those who had lost their mate in death that they were free to marry only someone else who was a Christian (1 Cor. 7:39). In the Old Testament, the whole Jewish nation was forbidden to marry outside of the Jewish faith (see ref. a at this verse).

Business partnerships, friendships, church affiliation and many other relationships all need to be scrutinized for compliance with this verse (see note 3 at Acts 19:9, p. 688). Paul made it very clear by his comparisons that being unequally yoked with unbelievers just won't work. Believers and unbelievers are as different as righteousness and unrighteousness, light and dark, Christ and the devil, someone who has faith and someone who has no faith, the temple of God and an idol. Any Christian who doesn't see this conflict is deceived (1 Cor. 15:33).

Note 2 at 2 Cor. 6:14: A yoke is designed to bring equal loads of responsibility and work to a team (see note 2 at Mt. 11:29, p. 182). The Greek word that was translated "unequally yoked together" is "heteroaugeo," meaning "to yoke up differently, i.e. (fig.) to associate discordantly." This pictures a team of animals that are unmatched and therefore unsuited for the task.

Paul is saying that it is an abnormal situation to yoke a believer, who has the Spirit of Christ within, to an unbeliever, who is motivated by the spirit of the world. It's like trying to mix water with oil; it cannot be done.