Biblical Context: Weddings

“The kingdom of heaven is like ten virgins who took lamps out to meet the groom. Five were fools and five were wise. When the fools took their lamps, they didn’t take oil, but the wise took pots of oil with their lamps. Now the groom was late and they all got tired and fell asleep. Then at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the groom! Come meet him!’ Then all the virgins got up and lit their lamps, but the fools said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil – our lamps are going out.’ But the wise said, ‘No, there won’t be enough for both of us. Go to the sellers and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were away to buy more, the groom came and those prepared went in to the wedding reception with him, and the door was shut. The other virgins came later, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open up for us!’ But he answered, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ So watch out, because you don’t know the day or the time.”

— The Story of Jesus 28.4

[adapted from Mt 25:1-13]

Jewish weddings were important affairs, but little is known about how exactly they occurred in ancient times. However, some events can be deduced from the Bible and Middle Eastern traditions. Apparently, the groomsmen would escort the bride and her wedding party to the groom’s house at night. Her escorts (friends and family) would bring furniture and decorations for the new home. The groom, however, would be elsewhere, preparing his own wedding party. Later that night, the groom’s party would light torches and proceed to the waiting bridal party, amidst cheers and shouts as he approached the house. An enormous feast would ensue, with various speeches and poems of congratulations. Jewish hospitality was a sacred duty and declining an invitation to a wedding reception was very insulting. The marriage was finally consummated by the entrance of the couple into the wedding chamber, which was the wife’s canopied bed.

Draw me after you, let’s run! The king has brought me into his bedrooms.

– Song of Songs 1:4 

“When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man not dressed in wedding clothes. He asked him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless. Then the king told his servants, ‘Tie him up, hand and foot, and throw him outside into the dark, where there will be weeping and teeth grinding.’”

— The Story of Jesus 26.3

[adapted from Mt 22:11-13]

Gamos is the Greek word for “wedding” or “wedding feast,” similar to a modern wedding reception. During Judean weddings, it may have been customary for the host to provide wedding clothes for his guests, especially if they were poor.

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