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Preparation of the Groom
During the betrothal the bridegroom would spend his time in preparation building an extension onto his father's house for them to live. Since customs forbade premarital sexual relations before the nuptials, they would spend a year apart while the bridegroom built their house. This mandatory time apart would prove the purity of the bride and that no sexual relations had taken place, because if they had she took a chance on becoming pregnant.
Once the bride accepted the groom’s proposal, the groom would make the journey back to his father's house to start construction on their new home. As stated earlier, this was usually an extension of the father's house.
Parallels to the Church. . .
We accept the proposal of Christ through the communion. At Christ’s death, He journeyed back to heaven from whence He came, to prepare a place for us [1]. It is my contention that as Christians, we are the temple of God [2] making us the many mansions that Christ spoke of in John 14:2. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ is spiritually preparing our temple for His return.
_______________________
[1] John 14:3
[2] 1 Corinthians 3:16
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Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
JEWISH MARRIAGE CUSTOMS: Part Ten
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The Veil
The woman, upon her betrothal would henceforth cover her face with a veil whenever she went into the public arena. When the woman veiled her face in public, it meant that she was unavailable and that she was setting herself aside for the one who had just bought her for a price. It meant that she’s chosen and consecrated unto her bridegroom.
Parallels to the Church. . .
The veil is symbolic of separation or setting oneself apart [1] for Christ. Before the Cross, it was separation from God. After the Cross, it is the separation from the world, which has to do with our consecration to God.
v19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you [2].
When we veil our faces, we are saying to the world that we are unavailable and are staying true to Jesus and not committing spiritual adultery. Christians are the lights of the world [3] and we need to stop our unholy alliances.
v15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them [4].
During the time of our betrothal to Christ and wearing our symbolic veil, we are not to be distracted by false teachers [5], or worldly things [6]. We are in the world, but we are not of the world [7].
________________________________
[1] 2 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Peter 15:1
[2] John 15:19
[3] Matthew 5:14
[4] 1 John 2:15 NIV
[5] 2 John 7-11
[6] 1 John 2:15
[7] John 17:14
.
The Veil
The woman, upon her betrothal would henceforth cover her face with a veil whenever she went into the public arena. When the woman veiled her face in public, it meant that she was unavailable and that she was setting herself aside for the one who had just bought her for a price. It meant that she’s chosen and consecrated unto her bridegroom.
Parallels to the Church. . .
The veil is symbolic of separation or setting oneself apart [1] for Christ. Before the Cross, it was separation from God. After the Cross, it is the separation from the world, which has to do with our consecration to God.
v19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you [2].
When we veil our faces, we are saying to the world that we are unavailable and are staying true to Jesus and not committing spiritual adultery. Christians are the lights of the world [3] and we need to stop our unholy alliances.
v15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them [4].
During the time of our betrothal to Christ and wearing our symbolic veil, we are not to be distracted by false teachers [5], or worldly things [6]. We are in the world, but we are not of the world [7].
________________________________
[1] 2 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Peter 15:1
[2] John 15:19
[3] Matthew 5:14
[4] 1 John 2:15 NIV
[5] 2 John 7-11
[6] 1 John 2:15
[7] John 17:14
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
JEWISH MARRIAGE CUSTOMS: Part Nine
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Preparation of the Bride
The preparation for the bride was a time of separation, purification, anticipation, and preparation for the groom's return. The bride would take what they called a mikvah, which is a bath of purification. Even today, Jewish brides need to obtain a certificate to show that they have acquired the ceremonial mikvah.
Parallels to the Church. . .
The mikvah is the washing of the Word. We are to remain pure to Jesus and not fornicate ourselves to other god's and committing spiritual adultery. Spiritual adultery would not only be adultery with other gods, but is the act of loving and even spending more time with anything or anyone more than we do with God. Chapter five of Ephesians tells us about the parallel of mikvah to the church.
v25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
v26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word,
v27 and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless [1].
v11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God [2].
The mikvah is also the baptism of water either through immersion or by sprinkling. There is a baptism of the Holy Spirit as well.
v19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [3]
v16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost [4].
The parable of the ten virgins [5] tells us always to be ready with our flasks of oil continually full and prepared for the trip. The oil is always representative of the Holy Spirit of God. So be sure that we replenish daily with the infilling of the Holy Spirit [6].
Do not be like the five unwise virgins whose flasks were empty, but to always be ready for His return, for we know not the hour of His return [7]. We should make certain that our light shines [8] before the world and that we are always ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us [9].
Our focus should be on Jesus Christ and His return, not the world’s plan. God changes not and what Christ wrote will stand and will happen. So let the world worry about the last days and we can prepare ourselves for the return of our husband.
As the bride of Christ, how can we prepare ourselves for His coming? The baptism of water is the act of separating ourselves from the world and setting ourselves apart. Being in our prayer closet, every day is prudent. Reading His Word daily and going to church regularly is a good way to prepare for His return.
We can use our spiritual gifts for the edification of the body and for our own growth. Fulfilling the great commission given to us by our Lord [10] is the last thing God told us to do, so we should continue to do so.
It is all about relationship. Ministering to the Lord Jesus Christ and praying for His return is among the things that we could be doing. Our focus should be on Him, especially at this hour [11]. First Thessalonians 5:12-22 gives us some things to do to prepare ourselves for His return.
___________________________________
[1] Ephesians 5:25-27 NIV
[2] 1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV
[3] Matthew 28:19
[4] Acts 11:16
[5] Matthew 25:1-13
[6] Luke 11:13
[7] Matthew 24:42
[8] Matthew 5:16
[9] 1 Peter 3:15
[10] Mark 16:15
[11] Colossians 3:1-3
.
Preparation of the Bride
The preparation for the bride was a time of separation, purification, anticipation, and preparation for the groom's return. The bride would take what they called a mikvah, which is a bath of purification. Even today, Jewish brides need to obtain a certificate to show that they have acquired the ceremonial mikvah.
Parallels to the Church. . .
The mikvah is the washing of the Word. We are to remain pure to Jesus and not fornicate ourselves to other god's and committing spiritual adultery. Spiritual adultery would not only be adultery with other gods, but is the act of loving and even spending more time with anything or anyone more than we do with God. Chapter five of Ephesians tells us about the parallel of mikvah to the church.
v25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
v26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word,
v27 and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless [1].
v11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God [2].
The mikvah is also the baptism of water either through immersion or by sprinkling. There is a baptism of the Holy Spirit as well.
v19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [3]
v16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost [4].
The parable of the ten virgins [5] tells us always to be ready with our flasks of oil continually full and prepared for the trip. The oil is always representative of the Holy Spirit of God. So be sure that we replenish daily with the infilling of the Holy Spirit [6].
Do not be like the five unwise virgins whose flasks were empty, but to always be ready for His return, for we know not the hour of His return [7]. We should make certain that our light shines [8] before the world and that we are always ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us [9].
Our focus should be on Jesus Christ and His return, not the world’s plan. God changes not and what Christ wrote will stand and will happen. So let the world worry about the last days and we can prepare ourselves for the return of our husband.
As the bride of Christ, how can we prepare ourselves for His coming? The baptism of water is the act of separating ourselves from the world and setting ourselves apart. Being in our prayer closet, every day is prudent. Reading His Word daily and going to church regularly is a good way to prepare for His return.
We can use our spiritual gifts for the edification of the body and for our own growth. Fulfilling the great commission given to us by our Lord [10] is the last thing God told us to do, so we should continue to do so.
It is all about relationship. Ministering to the Lord Jesus Christ and praying for His return is among the things that we could be doing. Our focus should be on Him, especially at this hour [11]. First Thessalonians 5:12-22 gives us some things to do to prepare ourselves for His return.
___________________________________
[1] Ephesians 5:25-27 NIV
[2] 1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV
[3] Matthew 28:19
[4] Acts 11:16
[5] Matthew 25:1-13
[6] Luke 11:13
[7] Matthew 24:42
[8] Matthew 5:16
[9] 1 Peter 3:15
[10] Mark 16:15
[11] Colossians 3:1-3
.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
JEWISH MARRIAGE CUSTOMS: Part Eight
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Bride Price (Mohar)
According to Jewish marriage customs, it was mandatory, by law, that the groom negotiated and paid a price to the father of the bride. The price (Mohar) was normally in the form of currency and was compulsory. The bride price was high so as to compensate the parents for the raising of that female child and as an indication of the value that the groom placed on her.
Sometimes the bride price was sheep or it could very well have been anything that they agreed upon [1] and I mean anything, as 1 Samuel 18:25 declares. David doubled that and gave Saul 200 [2]. I am guessing it was an “in your face type of thing,” because the price was to render David dead.
Parallels to the Church. . .
As stated above, it was legally binding and mandatory that the groom negotiated and paid a price (Mohar), to the father of the bride. I bet that everyone caught this one. (You guys are catching on.) Jesus has bought us for a price [3], as required by law [4], and the currency with which He paid, was His own life [5] and the Blood of the Covenant. He has paid for us in full [6]. We are not our own [7]. Jesus must place a high value on His bride [8] that He would pay for her with His own life [9].
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 1 Corinthians 7:23
From here Christ traveled back home to his Father's house to prepare a home for us, his new Bride.
________________________________________________________________
[1] Genesis 24:53; 29; 34:12; 1 Samuel 17:25; 18:25; Hosea:3:3
[2] 1 Samuel 18:27
[3] 1 Corinthians 6:20
[4] Romans 8:3, 4
[5] John 3:16; Mark 14:36
[6] 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18
[7] 1 Corinthians 6:19
[8] John 3:1
[9] Ephesians 5:25
.
Bride Price (Mohar)
According to Jewish marriage customs, it was mandatory, by law, that the groom negotiated and paid a price to the father of the bride. The price (Mohar) was normally in the form of currency and was compulsory. The bride price was high so as to compensate the parents for the raising of that female child and as an indication of the value that the groom placed on her.
Sometimes the bride price was sheep or it could very well have been anything that they agreed upon [1] and I mean anything, as 1 Samuel 18:25 declares. David doubled that and gave Saul 200 [2]. I am guessing it was an “in your face type of thing,” because the price was to render David dead.
Parallels to the Church. . .
As stated above, it was legally binding and mandatory that the groom negotiated and paid a price (Mohar), to the father of the bride. I bet that everyone caught this one. (You guys are catching on.) Jesus has bought us for a price [3], as required by law [4], and the currency with which He paid, was His own life [5] and the Blood of the Covenant. He has paid for us in full [6]. We are not our own [7]. Jesus must place a high value on His bride [8] that He would pay for her with His own life [9].
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 1 Corinthians 7:23
From here Christ traveled back home to his Father's house to prepare a home for us, his new Bride.
________________________________________________________________
[1] Genesis 24:53; 29; 34:12; 1 Samuel 17:25; 18:25; Hosea:3:3
[2] 1 Samuel 18:27
[3] 1 Corinthians 6:20
[4] Romans 8:3, 4
[5] John 3:16; Mark 14:36
[6] 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18
[7] 1 Corinthians 6:19
[8] John 3:1
[9] Ephesians 5:25
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