Message 21 - 1thessalonians Chapter 5:26 - Greet One Another With A Holy Kiss But What Is A Holy Kiss? Series

MESSAGE 21 - 1THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5:26 - GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH A HOLY KISS BUT WHAT IS A HOLY KISS?

[B]. WHAT IS A HOLY KISS?

{{1Thessalonians 5:26 “Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.”}}

There are three other places in the New Testament where Paul asks that the saints greet one another with a holy kiss. They are here – {{Romans 16:16 “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.” 1Corinthians 16:20 “All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.” 2Corinthians 13:12 “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”}} And one reference in Peter – {{1Peter 5:14 “Greet one another with a kiss of love.”}}

Let us just consider the background for The Kiss of Greeting and Welcome. The custom of combining greeting with a kiss was oriental, and especially Jewish, and in this way, became Christian. The kiss is distinguished from an ordinary greeting of natural affection or friendship. It belongs to God, and the new society of His children. The kiss, as a mark both of friendship and of reverence, is still most common as ever in the Middle East. The kiss is common in eastern lands in salutation, etc., on the cheek, the forehead, the beard, the hands, the feet, but not the lips. In fact it is common in France, with both men and women generally. The British stiff upper lip society has shied away from it but is still found among women; men to women to a lesser extent and not at all man to man, except in some parts of Europe.

This is in absolute contrast to the kiss of intimacy found between husband and wife such as this verse portrays - {{Song of Solomon 1:2 “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine.”}} Song of Solomon is much more than an intimate interaction between two lovers (in the biblical sense – the bride and groom). It is actually an interesting study of the closeness of the Lord Jesus with His Church – Bride and Bridegroom – Christ and the Church.

W. E. Vine (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words) [[“There was to be an absence of formality and hypocrisy, a freedom from prejudice arising from social distinctions, from discrimination against the poor, from partiality towards the well-to-do. In the churches, masters and servants would thus greet one another without any attitude of condescension on the part of, or disrespect of the other. The kiss took place between persons of the same sex.”]]

From Manners & Customs of the Bible Lands: [[“Kissing. Guests in Holy Land homes expect to be kissed as they enter. When entertained by a Pharisee, Jesus commented on his reception by saying to him, “You gave me no kiss.” Luke 7 v 45. The difference between the Oriental and the western way of greeting each other, is made clear by one who lived in Palestine for many years. “Here (Britain), men shake hands when they meet and greet, but in Palestine, instead of doing this, they place their right hand on their friend’s left shoulder and kiss his right cheek, and then reversing the action, place their left hand on his right shoulder, and kiss his left cheek… (page 74).]]

Christian greeting is wishing all temporal, spiritual, and eternal happiness, to one another; and which, as it should be mutual, should be also hearty and sincere, and this is meant by the "holy kiss"; the allusion is to a common custom in most nations, used by friends at meeting or parting, to kiss each other, in token of their hearty love, and sincere affection and friendship for each other; and is called "holy", to distinguish it from an unchaste and lascivious one, some would say.

Paul uses the term “holy kiss”, and the supposition there, is that there is such a thing as an unholy kiss. You have black and white; yes and no; hot and cold. Now what could an unholy kiss be, if there is such a thing? Well, in my opinion, I don’t think it is something like kissing a prostitute. I don’t think it has that in mind. Paul says to greet one another with that holy kiss, so let’s confine it to the Christian circles.

Have you ever had someone come to visit you, and it was most inconvenient, and you were wishing they had stayed at home? Well when they arrive, you might say, “Come in. It’s great to see you. Come on in.” Yet, you were really wishing they had not come just then. Well, you conveyed a false impression to them. We all do it, I think. We would not say to a friend, “Get lost. I don’t want to see you right now.” Well, among Christians, I think an unholy kiss is a false one; not genuine, just pretend.