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Jewish Marriage Customs


Jewish Marriage Customs


Matthew 1:18–23



  B.      Presentation by advent (Matthew 1:18–2:23) (Luke 2:1–7)


  1.      HIS ORIGIN (Matthew 1:18–23)

Matthew 1:18–23. The fact that Jesus was born “of Mary” only, as indicated in the genealogical record (v. Matthew 1:16), demanded further explanation. Matthew’s explanation can best be understood in the light of Hebrew marriage customs. Marriages were arranged for individuals by parents, and contracts were negotiated. After this was accomplished, the individuals were considered married and were called husband and wife. They did not, however, begin to live together. Instead, the woman continued to live with her parents and the man with his for one year. The waiting period was to demonstrate the faithfulness of the pledge of purity given concerning the bride. If she was found to be with child in this period, she obviously was not pure, but had been involved in an unfaithful sexual relationship. Therefore the marriage could be annulled. If, however, the one-year waiting period demonstrated the purity of the bride, the husband would then go to the house of the bride’s parents and in a grand processional march lead his bride back to his home. There they would begin to live together as husband and wife and consummate their marriage physically. Matthew’s story should be read with this background in mind.


Barbieri, Louis A., Jr. Matthew.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 18–20. Print.

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