Elliott Baptist Church - Marriage/Family Series

Dr. Cecil A. Fayard Marriage/Family Sermon Series

The True Significance of Wedding Traditions
Part 7

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A SPECIAL INVITATION TO THE RECEPTION.
1. The invitation to the reception is symbolic of the invitation to salvation.
  1. In the teaching ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, He used the invitation to the wedding feast as an illustration of inviting people to partake of salvation.
  2. The wedding feast is free to all those guests who were invited.
    1. Salvation is free to all who will receive it.
    2. Salvation is not of works; it is by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).
2. All who respond to the invitation of Christ, whether good or bad, must enter on His terms.
  1. You cannot come by your way, you must come His way. Jesus is the way (John 14:6).
  2. The man who came to the wedding feast without the proper wedding attire in the wedding parable was cast into outer darkness (Matthew 22:1-14).
THE MEANING OF SERVING FOOD AT THE RECEPTION
1. One of the root meanings of the word covenant is to feed. Food is part of the covenant celebration.
2. Following the marriage, a wedding feast was customary to further symbolize the unity of the couple.
  1. Entering into a meal is itself a form of covenant.
  2. It is very significant that the first event of Christ's public ministry was attending a wedding feast. Our Lord's first miracle took place during that occasion (John 2:1-11).
WHY THE COUPLE FEED CAKE TO EACH OTHER
1. This act symbolizes their becoming one flesh.
  1. By feeding cake to each other they are saying, "This represents my body. As you eat it, I am becoming part of you; and as I eat the cake you give to me, you become a part of me."
  2. "The two shall become one."
2. The obvious New Testament confirmation of this symbolism is in the Lord's Supper. Jesus took the bread, broke and gave it to His disciples says, "....Take, eat: This is my body, which is broken for you..." (I Corinthians 11:24-25).
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GUESTS THROWING RICE AT THE COUPLE
1. The throwing of rice symbolizes marriage fruitfulness. When a covenant was completed, both parties would often establish a memorial garden.
2. In the marriage covenant, the garden represents the children who are to grow up as olive plants around the family table (Psalm 128:3).
  1. Through children God desires to enrich and reward the marriage covenant.
  2. Psalm 127:3-5.

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Dr. Cecil A. FayardMarriage/Family Sermon Series

Dr. Cecil A. Fayard
Marriage/Family Sermon Series