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Paul the Matchmaker
Paul the Matchmaker
I just saw Fiddler on the Roof. The song “Matchmaker” made me think of 2 Corinthians 11:2, where Paul says, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.”
Ancient Jewish marriage customs were somewhat different than modern American customs. Colin Kruse says in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary, p. 183, “Marriage among the Jews of Paul’s day involved two separate ceremonies: the betrothal, and the nuptial ceremony which consummated the marriage. Usually a year elapsed between the two.”
But this betrothal was more binding than our idea of engagement. Kruse continues, “During that period the girl was regarded legally as the man’s wife, while socially she remained a virgin. The betrothal contract was binding and could be broken only by death or a formal written divorce. Unfaithfulness … was regarded as adultery and punishable as such.” In fact, the woman would be called the bride or wife even before the marriage feast. Recall Mary and Joseph (Matthew 1:18-19). Other historians of Jewish culture agree (see Fred Wight Manners and Customs of the Bible, p. 124-134; Alfred Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life, p. 133-147; Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, “Marriage,” Vol. 4, pp. 92-102).
So, to return to 2 Corinthians 11, Paul views himself as the matchmaker through whom a couple are betrothed. In this case, Christians and Jesus Christ. This has some important implications for us:
We Are Faithfully Betrothed to Christ. When we learn about the Lord and decide to join ourselves to Him, we are pledging ourselves to be faithful. As Paul describes in Ephesians 5:22-33, we are married to Christ, and we obey Him as head, and He nourishes and cherishes us as His own flesh. Marriage was a favorite illustration for loyalty to God even in the old prophets (see Isaiah 54:4-8, Jer. 2:2, Ezekiel 16:8-43, Hosea 1:1-4:19).
Yet, outside influences attempt to break up this holy relationship. Paul goes on to warn us not to allow our minds to be “led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3), and to beware of those preaching “another Jesus whom we have not preached” (11:4). Satan is attempting to destroy our marriage to Jesus with unfaithfulness of the mind. That’s why James calls friendship with the world not just sin, but adultery (James 4:5)! We Eagerly Await the Marriage Feast. Though we are married to Christ, we still wait for our joy to be made full. We are betrothed, but not yet fully united.
In ancient wedding feasts, the groom and the wedding party would retrieve the bride from her home and bring her to the wedding hall. The festivities usually lasted a week and were among the most memorable and delightful occasions in a community. Such a joyous occasion awaits us, too! Toward the end of the book of Revelation, after the church’s enemy has been destroyed, begins the long-awaited “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:7-9). From this point on, John sees no more visions of the saints suffering, but rather sees the joys they shall receive in being united with Christ eternally in heaven. The centuries between Christ’s sacrifice and His glorious return—the era in which we currently live—is the betrothal period. The feast will last not for days or weeks, but for all eternity!
The Minister as Matchmaker. How wonderful to see Paul keep the proper perspective about his role! Paul is not attracting followers to himself. The church is not his, and Christians are not loyal to him. Instead, he introduces sinners to their God, and then gets out of the way. He stands back and rejoices as the two are joined together, happy to give the glory and attention to God.
At the same time, Paul feels obligated to ensure that the bride remains pure until the marriage feast finally arrives and the two are joined forever. Long ago, God announced “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:5). Paul appreciates God’s spirit of holy desire and demands that Christians be faithful and pure. Paul’s joy will be made full when he stands before God in heaven and sees all the people attending together the eternal wedding feast!
—John Guzzetta
