Sermon Tone Analysis

The Bride of Christ

It is a metaphor that illustrates the relationship between Christ and His followers

Eph 5:

Christ is the Bridegroom-

Matthew

Jesus calls Himself the Bridegroom

Communion: Part of the wedding Convent

The Betrothal:

First-century Jewish marriages began with a betrothal period that normally lasted about a year.

During this time, the couple was considered married and referred to as husband and wife even though they did not yet live together or consummate the marriage.

These betrothals were legally binding, such that if someone died during this phase of the marriage, the surviving spouse was considered a widow or widower.

The betrothal was binding and could only be undone by a divorce with proper grounds, such as the bride being found not to be a virgin, (see Joseph and Mary - v18-19 ) The young man prepared a Ketubah, or marriage contract (or covenant) which he presented to the intended bride and her father.

Included in this was the " Bride Price ", which was appropriate in that society to compensate the young woman's parents for the cost of raising her, as well as being an expression of his love for her.

Completely different from our culture

The New Testament uses this betrothal language in describing Jesus and the Church in 2 Corinthians 11:2–3.

The Church is presently betrothed to the Lamb while awaiting the marriage and wedding feast upon Christ’s return (Rev 19:7–9).

At that time, Jesus will present His pure, faithful bride to Himself (Eph 5:27).

There is a New covenant

The Bride Price has been Paid

,

The Bride Price was Paid

The love of God Demonstrated for you and for me

Acceptance

To see if the proposal was accepted, the young man would pour a cup of wine for his beloved and wait to see if she drank it.

This cup represents a blood covenant.

If she drank the cup she would have accepted the proposal and they would be betrothed.

The young man would then give gifts to his beloved, and then take his leave.

The young woman would have to wait for him to return and collect her.

John 6:53-58

The wedding chamber and the Chuppah

Before leaving the young man would announce, " I am going to prepare a place for you ", and  "I will return for you when it is ready".

The usual practice was for the young man to return to his father's house and build a honeymoon room there.

This is what is symbolized by the chuppah or canopy that is characteristic of Jewish weddings.

He was not allowed to skimp on the work and had to get  his father's approval before he could consider it ready for his bride.

If asked the date of his wedding he would have to reply, "Only my father knows."

Meanwhile the bride would be making herself ready so that she would be pure and beautiful for her bridegroom.

During this time she would wear a veil when she went, out to show she was spoken for (she has been bought with a price)

Meanwhile the bride would be making herself ready so that she would be pure and beautiful for her bridegroom.

During this time she would wear a veil when she went, out to show she was spoken for (she has been bought with a price)

The Wedding

When the wedding chamber was ready the bridegroom could collect his bride.

He could do this at any time so the bride would make special arrangements.

It was the custom for a bride to keep a lamp, her veil and her other things beside her bed.

Her bridesmaids were also waiting and had to have oil ready for their lamps.

When the groom and his friends got close to the bride's house they would give a shout and blow ashofar to let her know to be ready.

When the wedding party arrived at father's house the newly weds went into the wedding chamber for a seven day honeymoon and the groom's best friend stood outside waiting for the groom to tell him that the marriage had been consummated.

The proof of this was the bed-sheet bearing the blood shed by the bride as a result of her first sexual intercourse.

This is notable for two reasons.

It speaks of purity before marriage, but it also shows a blood covenant (the most solemn and binding kind) such as God's covenant with his people.

Then all the friends really started celebrating for the seven days that the couple were honeymooning.

When the couple emerged there would be much congratulation and the Marriage Supper could begin.

Rev 19:7

Our Part- is the acceptance

The communion cup is us saying “we accept the price paid”

The price was expensive

it was a cross

and it was paid in full

Will we accept the price paid