As believers in the 21st century, we benefit from every modern convenience. Study tools have never been more readily available and knowledge is increasing just as Daniel said it would. However, we suffer from a sizable disconnect from ancient times and the culture of the Bible that places us at a disadvantage. Jesus and the disciples employed widely experienced, common, and readily understandable examples from the culture of the day to help the original audience understand the depth of their teaching. Unfortunately, today their experiences are often foreign to us. The common of the ancient world is often rare today, and most of all, what was readily understandable then has been obscured in 2000 years of cultural change. Imagine, for a moment, a Hebrew man of the first century trying to understand something as common to us as a cell phone. The difficulty may be similar to how out of touch we can be with the most basic elements of Hebrew society in first century. If words like Shiddukhun, Eyrusin, and Nissuin all seem foreign to you then you are in for a special treat today! They all have to do with 1st century Jewish weddings and, I believe, unlock some of the most misunderstood subjects in the scripture. I pray you are encouraged in your marriages and most of all in your union with Messiah.
