Question: Deuteronomy 7:3-11 forbids the Jews to marry people from other nations (Gentiles). How ...

Question: For years I have been taught and believed that the Church is “the bride of Christ,” based upon Ephesians:5:23-32 [23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. [24] Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. [25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. [28] So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. [29] For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: [30] For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. [31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. [32] This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
See All.... Recently, however, I was asked how the church could be the “bride of Christ” when Revelation:21:9-10 [9] And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. [10] And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
See All... specifically states “that great city, the holy Jerusalem” is “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”? In addition, Deuteronomy:7:3-11 [3] Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. [4] For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. [5] But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. [6] For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. [7] The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: [8] But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. [9] Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; [10] And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. [11] Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
See All... forbids the Jews to marry people from other nations (Gentiles). How could Jesus, then, “the king of the Jews” who came “to fulfill the law,” possibly marry the “church” which is made up of Gentiles? In so doing it would seem He would be breaking the very law He came to fulfill. I have searched the Scriptures and haven’t been able to answer this question. Can you explain this for me?

Response: First of all, no city could be the bride of Christ. It could only be the redeemed who will inhabit it who are Christ’s bride. These are seen at their marriage collectively to the Lamb in Revelation:19:7-8 [7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. [8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
See All... and in their triumphal return to reign over the earth with Christ in verse 14. If these are not the church, then who are they? Nor would the fact that Gentiles can be saved and thus become part thereof mean that for Christ to be married to the church “would be breaking the very law He came to fulfill.” Christ would not be marrying Gentiles because one who is saved has ceased to be a Gentile and is “in Christ...a new creature” (2 Cor:5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
See All...). In the church there is “neither Greek [Gentile] nor Jew” (Col:3:11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
See All...), for he “hath made both [Jew and Gentile] one” (Eph:2:14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
See All...).