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What role do kisses play in the Bible?
The first recorded use of kisses in Scripture
may have come when God (the member of the Godhead who became Jesus Christ) gave
consciousness to the first human being.
“Then the LORD God
formed man of the dust of the ground (the name "Adam" means
"made of red earth" or clay), and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7, HBFV throughout)
Kisses and Jewish Tradition
Jewish legend states based on Deuteronomy 34:5
that the death of Moses was accomplished through a kiss given by God.
Jewish tradition also states that when a person
dies he is given last kisses before his eyes were closed and the body prepared
for burial.
Tradition additionally infers, based upon a
unique rabbinical interpretation of Psalm 62:12, that there were 903 ways of
dying. The best and gentlest of these, compared to drawing a hair out of milk,
was called 'death by a kiss.'
The Old Testament
The aging Isaac erroneously kissed Jacob,
thinking it was his oldest son Esau, and gave him the birthright blessing (Genesis 27:24-27).
Jacob kissed his cousin and future wife
Rachel the first time he met her (Genesis 29:11).
Despite earlier chicanery, Esau greeted his
brother with this show of affection (Genesis 33:4).
Joseph greeted his brothers, who had sold him
as a slave because they envied him, with this sign of forgiveness (Genesis 45:14-15).
Israel kisses his grandsons (through Joseph)
before placing the family name upon them (Genesis 48:8-10).
When death came to Israel Joseph gave him
this sign of love (Genesis
49:33-50:1).
Joab, King David's army commander, murdered
rival general Amasa by pretending to give him this symbol of greeting on the
cheek (2 Samuel 20:8-10).
What SPECIAL relationship does God want with us?
The New Testament
The New Testament records that Christians gave
each other kisses as a sign of greeting and love (see Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2
Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26, 1 Peter 5:14).
There has been much speculation over the meaning
of this practice (known as the "kiss of charity" in the KJV
translation of 1 Peter 5:14), but it certainly was not a homosexual or
lesbian-type show of affection.
The most famous of all kisses in the Bible,
however, is the one Judas gave to Jesus (the kiss of betrayal or death). It was
given in the Garden of Gethsemane, the place where Jesus and the disciples went
to after they finished celebrating their last Passover together:
48 Now the one who was betraying Him
(Judas Iscariot) gave them (armed officers and other men provided by religious
leaders who wanted to kill Christ) a sign, saying, "Whomever I shall kiss,
He is the One. Arrest Him!" 49 And as soon as he came
to Jesus, he said, "Hail, Rabbi," and earnestly kissed Him. 50 But
Jesus said to him, "Friend, for what purpose have you come?" Then
they came and laid their hands on Jesus, and arrested Him. (Matthew 26:48-50, Mark 14:43-46 and Luke 22:47-48)
Kisses of respect were not unusual during the
time of Christ. In the first century, it was customary for a student to greet a
teacher in such a manner.
Ironically, Judas’
feigned token of affection precipitated Jesus' last miracle before his death
when he had to heal a servant's ear Peter impulsively chopped off in an attempt
to protect Christ (Luke
22:49-51).
Kisses in the Bible have the power to cheer, the
power to hurt, and the power to strengthen or to murder.
They
can sometimes signify death or symbolize life.
The best one, however, is the one that says, "Thank you," or "You are special," or "I love you."
Would you want to have a deeper relationship with God?
God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life by receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, and have eternal life.
Say the following prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to your Word, I am now born again.
Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Please use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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