Why do we call marriage an eternal union and a sacrament if, in heaven, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage? Will I see and recognize my wife in heaven, and what will our relationship be like?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

The teaching of the Church on the Holy Mystery of Matrimony (, mysterion—a Greek loanword used in Coptic) addresses this exact concern.

The idea that marriage is purely temporary, or that spouses will be complete strangers in the Kingdom of Heaven, is a misunderstanding of what Christ taught and what a Holy Sacrament accomplishes.

1. Why Is Marriage a Holy Mystery (Sacrament)?

Unlike the Protestant view, which often reduces marriage to an earthly contract or mere civil institution, the Church recognizes Matrimony as one of the seven Holy Mysteries established by God.

St. Paul reveals the profound nature of this union:

"‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:31–32)

A Sacrament is an outward, visible sign through which we receive an invisible, heavenly grace through the Holy Spirit. In the Rite of Crowning:

• The Holy Spirit descends to bind two individuals into one spiritual and bodily unit.
• The priest crowns the couple with heavenly crowns—symbols of purity, victory over sin, and self-sacrificing love (resembling the crowns of the martyrs).
• The goal of marriage is mutual salvation: helping one another acquire holiness and enter the Kingdom of God.

Because the primary objective of Christian marriage is eternal salvation, marriage has a directly eternal consequence. It is not an end in itself; it is a vehicle to lead both husband and wife to Christ.

2. What Did Christ Mean in Matthew 22:30?

When the Sadducees—who did not believe in the resurrection—approached Christ with the scenario of a woman who married seven brothers sequentially, they asked whose wife she would be in the resurrection. Our Lord answered:

"For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven." (Matthew 22:30)

To understand this correctly, look at what changes in eternity:

1. No Physical/Carnal Union: The earthly, biological functions of marriage—reproduction, physical procreation, and sexual union—exist because of mortal life in a fallen world. In Heaven, there is no death, so there is no need for reproduction to preserve the human race.
2. No Property or Legal Contracts: The phrase "given in marriage" refers to the earthly, legal, and social arrangements of this present age.
3. No Exclusivity of Flesh: On earth, you cannot be "one flesh" with everyone. In Heaven, all the redeemed dwell in complete, unhindered communion with God and one another.

Christ did not say that you will not know your spouse, that your shared life was an illusion, or that holy love is wiped out.

3. Will You See and Know Your Wife in Heaven?

Yes, absolutely. You will not lose your identity, your memory, or your holy attachments in Heaven.

Consider the following:

• Love Never Fails: St. Paul writes, "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8). The spiritual love, sacrifice, and prayers shared between a husband and wife do not vanish into nothingness at the grave. If love is from God, it endures forever.
• Recognition of Persons: In the Holy Scriptures, personal identities remain intact after death. At the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, Moses and Elijah were distinctly known and recognized. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16), Abraham and Lazarus are known and identifiable.
• The Communion of Saints: We pray for and commune with departed saints right now. If we maintain fellowship with saints across the boundary of death, you will certainly recognize and rejoice with the very person God gave you to walk the path of salvation with on earth.

4. What Will Your Relationship Look Like "Up There"?

Your relationship will not be diminished; it will be transfigured and elevated.

On earth, even the deepest marital love is imperfect. It is hindered by human weakness, selfishness, sickness, misunderstandings, and physical limitations. In the Kingdom of Heaven:

• You will behold your wife fully transformed in the light of the Resurrection, free from all sin, sorrow, and pain.
• The bond you forged in Christ through the Holy Spirit will be perfected. You will see her not merely as your earthly partner, but as a co-heir of the Kingdom, radiant in holiness.
• You will not love her less; you will love her infinitely more, because you will love her through the unclouded love of God Himself.

Christian marriage is not an obstacle that gets thrown away at the gate of Heaven; it is the path upon which you and your wife run together to enter that gate. Once inside, the love that helped bring you there remains forever.