16 Bible Verses about Marriage, Customs Concerning

Now the manner of Christ's birth was this: his mother Mary being promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she became pregnant by the holy Spirit. but Joseph her husband, being a good-natur'd man, and unwilling to expose her to publick shame, he designed to put her away privately. but while he was revolving this in his mind, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, the off-spring of David, don't make any difficulty of taking Mary for thy wife: for her pregnancy is from the holy Spirit.

to a virgin contracted to a man; whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. and the virgin's name was Mary.

but did not cohabit with her as a wife, before she had-brought forth her first-born son; whom he named JESUS.

if any man thinks it would be a reflexion upon his manhood to be a stale batchelor, and so ought to marry; let him follow his bent, he is at liberty, let such marry. but he that has been steady in his purpose, and finds no necessity to alter it; if he is a master of his passion, and is heartily determin'd to keep his virginity, it is well. so that he who marries, does well; but he who lives single, may have less trouble.

and I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descend from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

the bridegroom is he that hath a right to the bride: as for the friend of the bridegroom, who is nigh his person and heareth him, he greatly rejoyces at the voice of the bridegroom: upon this account my joy is compleat.

Jesus answer'd them, can the bride-men mourn, while the bridegroom is with them? the day indeed will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then will be the time to fast.

Jesus answered, can the bridemen fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

to which he answered, would you have the bridemen fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

The kingdom of the Messiah will then be such, as when ten virgins took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. five of them were wise, and five were foolish. they that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:read more.
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. while the bridegroom tarried, they were drowsy and slept. and at midnight there was a sudden cry, see the bridegroom comes; go and meet him. then the virgins all arose, and trimmed their lamps. and the foolish said to the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out. but the wise answered, for fear there should not be enough for us and you, go rather to those that sell; and buy for your selves. and while they were gone to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready, entred with him into the hall, and the door was shut.

the kingdom of the Messiah is such, as when a certain king made a wedding-feast for his son.

and he said unto me, "write, happy are they who are invited to the marriage-supper of the lamb." and he said to me, "thus I have delivered the real oracles of God."

he sent out his servants to call those that were invited to the wedding: but they would not come. then he sent out other servants, saying, tell those who are invited, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and every thing is ready: come to the entertainment.

but instead of showing any regard, they went their ways, one to his farm, another to his traffick. others seiz'd his servants, outrageously abused them, and slew them. when the king was informed of this, he was greatly incensed, and having order'd his forces to march, he put those murderers to death, and laid their city in ashes.

but they were all of a mind in making some excuse: the first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, which I must needs go and see: therefore pray excuse me. another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, which I am going to prove: I beg you to excuse me. another said, I have married a wife: 'tis therefore impossible for me to come.read more.
so the servant return'd, and related the whole matter to his master, who in resentment said to his servant, go immediately into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring hither the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind.

but upon the king's coming in to see the guests, he observ'd one there without a wedding garment: and he said to him, friend, how came you in hither, without a wedding garment? and he was speechless.