Jewish Wedding

1
Jewish Wedding Customs
Jesus His Bride - The Church
Compared To
When a young man saw the girl he wanted to marry,
he and his father would approach the girl and her
family with a marriage contract (covenant)
The Covenant
Heb. 88 says Jesus has made a New Covenant
(contract) with each of us. He desires for each
of us to be part of His Bride.
If contract was accepted, the Groom would pour
wine for the two of them to drink. For the
Groom it signified his willing-ness to sacrifice
himself in order to have this bride. For the
Bride it showed her willingness to enter into
this marriage.
Luke 2242 says Christ was willing to drink his
cup. In Matt. 2023, He said we would also drink
of His cup. Matt. 2627-28 says He took the
cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
Drink ye all of it. We celebrate regularly by
observing the Lords table.
The Cup
The groom was required to pay the dowry. The
idea was to set the price so that this bride
would be a costly prize. To marry this chosen
girl, he would pay dearly.
The Price
Jesus paid the ultimate price His own life.
Paul said we have been bought with a price (1
Cor. 723 619-20)
When the matter was settled, the groom would make
a short speech about going to his fathers place
to prepare his bride a place, according to his
fathers specifications. He would leave and
return to his fathers place. During her waiting
period, the bride was referred to as being set
apart, or bought with a price.
Jesus told his disciples He was going to His
Fathers home to prepare us a place. (John
142) As His bride, we have been set apart, and
we are to act in a way that indicates we have
been spoken for. We are to remain a chaste and
pure bride.
The Departure
No one knows the time of his return (Matt.
2436). The Lord will return (1 Thess.
416-17). He will be returning like a thief in
the night. (2 Peter 310 Rev. 33) We will
rise to meet him in the air, then go to His
Fathers home.
The exact moment of the return was known only by
the father. When the time came, a friend of the
groom would go ahead and shout The bridegroom
cometh. The bride had to be ready, for there
was no time for further preparation.
The Return
The Bridal Chamber
After reaching the fathers home, and the
ceremony, the couple would enter the bridal
chamber for 7 days. The grooms father would
assemble the rest of the guests. (See Judges 14
Gen. 29)
Christ and His Bride will be in the bridal
chamber for 7 years. The 7 days very much
parallels the 7-year Tribulation on earth. This
most closely correlates to the Pre-Trib. Rapture
position.
The Marriage Supper
Guests have been invited to the Feast to show off
the beauty of the Bride and Groom. In Rev. 197,
the Bride is now called The Wife.
At the end of the week, the couple would make
their long awaited presence to the cheers of the
crowd. There would be a great feast A Marriage
Supper.
The New Home
After the marriage supper, the bride and groom
would depart from the fathers home to the place
the groom had prepared.
The place Jesus has prepared for us is called the
New Jerusalem (Rev. 219-10). We will forever be
with Christ.