Three Important Kisses

Some people don't realize that the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. speaks of kissing. Do you know the three different types it mentions?

For instance, the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. doesn't address technique—how one actually kisses. And it doesn't explain how many calories one burns through kissing or how many muscles are involved. People can figure these things out themselves. (Yes, studies have been done that reveal that smooching burns between 12 and 30 calories every 15 minutes, varying according to a person's weight, and research indicates that 146 muscles are involved in kissing.)

When it comes to kissing, the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. records three different types: the kiss of allegiance, the kiss of friendship and the amorous kiss. Let's briefly consider each one.

The kiss of allegiance

This type of kiss indicates one's respect for an authority figure such as a king or ruler. After anointing Saul king of Israel, the prophet Samuel "kissed him" as a sign of respect (1 Samuel 10:1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
See All..., emphasis added throughout).

The kiss of allegiance is also found in idolatry. Speaking of this sinful practice, Hosea wrote: "Now they sin more and more, and have made for themselves molded images, idols of their silver, according to their skill; all of it is the work of craftsmen. They say of them, 'Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!'" (13:2).

God, having observed people kissing idols—for He sees everything (Job 34:21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
See All...)—told Elijah (who thought he was the only one remaining who served God), "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him" (1 Kings 19:18Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
See All...).

The authority figure to whom we should give our allegiance is God. Anticipating Jesus' return to earth to establish the Kingdom of God, Psalm 2 gives the rulers of the earth some important advice: "Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son [that is, the Son of God, Jesus], lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" (verses 10-12).

Of all the types of kisses in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., that of allegiance to God is by far the most important. In summarizing God's instructions into two great commandments, Jesus said, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength'" (Mark 12:29-30 [29] And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
[30] And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

See All...).

When we give our allegiance to God, His instructions will guide the decisions we make regarding the remaining types of kisses.

The kiss of friendship

A kiss was a common way of showing friendship in the Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings.. Parents kissed their children (Genesis 27:27And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
See All...), and there are numerous examples of relatives greeting each other with a kiss and kissing each other good-bye (Genesis 29:10-15 [10] And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
[11] And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
[12] And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.
[13] And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
[14] And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
[15] And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

See All...; 31:55; 33:4; 45:15; Exodus 18:7And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
See All...; Ruth 1:9The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
See All...). This nonromantic type of kiss was offered to everyone in the extended family.

In addition to relatives kissing each other, a kiss was also common in friendships (see the example of DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20:41And as soon as the lad was gone, DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. exceeded.
See All...). Continuing this tradition of kissing as a sign of friendship, Paul encouraged Christian brethren in the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (Romans 16:16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
See All...; 1 Corinthians 16:20All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
See All...). Of course, this was more than just a tradition; it was done in fulfillment of Christ's teaching that spiritual brethren are to love one another (John 13:34-35 [34] A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
[35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

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Providing explanation of this instruction to greet brethren in Christ with a "holy kiss," the Expositor's BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. Commentary notes: "The reminder that it is a 'holy' kiss guards it against erotic [sexual] associations. It was a token of the love of Christ mutually shared and of the peace and harmony he had brought into their lives."

In our world today, each family and culture has its own customs and traditions. If your family members greet each other with hugs or handshakes or even with just a verbal hello instead of kisses, that's fine. The key here is showing respect and goodwill. The same is true in greeting Church brethren and friends. Go with the custom of the area and the preference of the person. Don't make anyone uncomfortable with how you show friendship.

The amorous kiss

The amorous kiss is a passionate experience that often stimulates the desire for additional intimacy. Instead of a simple peck on the cheek as one might give a friend, this kind of kiss is usually on the lips. As the lover in the Song of Solomon proclaims, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth —for your love is better than wine" (1:2).

Because this kind of kissing often leads to further sexual activity (Proverbs 7), these kisses should be reserved for marriage. As Song of Solomon 2:7I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
See All... advises, "Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases." The best time for learning how to kiss this way is when you are married.

As we've just seen, kissing is a pretty important subject. For more good advice on having a better relationship with God, knowing how to choose friends, and learning how to best plan your love life be sure to continue reading Vertical Thought . VT