Jewish Wedding Custom - The Kiddush Betrothal Cup Symbolism for Christians
Posted: Wednesday, April 01, 2009
by Rebecca Park Totilo
Rebecca at the Well & Heal With Essential Oils
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
-1 Peter 1:15-16
The Hebrew word for marriage is Kiddushin, which means "sanctification or holiness." It comes from the root word Kodesh which means "holy, to be set apart," and Kadash, which means "sanctified and separated from evil." God has elevated marriage to a holy state by introducing Himself to the relationship-thus we have "Holy Matrimony." Just as God is holy, we are to be holy as it says in Leviticus 11:44: "For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy."
In biblical times, an Israeli bridegroom proposed to his beloved by offering the Kiddush cup, which means "cup of sanctification or holiness." If his chosen accepted his marriage proposal, she sipped from the cup and was now betrothed and promised in marriage to him.
Yeshua kept the same wedding custom after the Passover meal, offering the Kiddush cup to His disciples. Now, when believers take Holy Communion, they are entering into or renewing their wedding vow to Yeshua, our Bridegroom. However, as we see in Revelation 18, Satan entices all to drink from His cup of wine of wrath and commit fornication with him. The church is entirely espoused to Yeshua, but not all members will make it to the altar. The bride must remain faithful to Him by not partaking in the ways of the world, remaining separate.
Revelation 18:3 says:
For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
In the ancient times, the Jewish betrothal occurred one or two years before the actual wedding (or nuptials) and involved making a covenant. The Hebrew word for "covenant" is B'rit, and this was actually quite more serious than an engagement today. In biblical times, a covenant was final, sealed in blood, and legally binding, as we see in the relationship between Mary and Joseph. Matthew 1:18-19 says:
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
While Mary and Joseph were espoused (betrothed), he thought to put her away (divorce her) since he believed she had been unfaithful. Their covenant was so binding that it would require a bill of divorce to break.
This same word "espoused" in Matthew 1:18-19 is used by Paul as he reminds the believers at the Corinthian church to remain faithful. It says in 2 Corinthians 11:2: "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chase virgin to Christ."
The entire body is espoused to the Messiah; however, not all will be at the wedding. Many believers today are unfaithful and there is a possibly the Lord will "put them away." This does not mean the loss of their salvation, but a loss of rewards when Yeshua returns, as seen in 1 John 2:28, Titus 3:8 and 2 John 1:8.
To be a part of the Bride of Christ is a great reward to those Christians who have lived a pure and holy life for the Messiah. Some may not remain fully devoted to Him and will set their affections on other things above Yeshua, thus committing spiritual adultery. 2 Corinthians 11:3 says, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." Yeshua desires His people to be watchful and pray. Luke 21:36 tells us, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."
To learn more about the Jewish wedding customs, visit Rebecca's website at: http://RATW.org. She has written several books for the bride of Christ including, Who Is The Bride? for believers to learn how to make themselves ready for the Messiah's return.
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