diff --git a/bridge/discord/handlers.go b/bridge/discord/handlers.go
index 34cef55480..eb1691083d 100644
--- a/bridge/discord/handlers.go
+++ b/bridge/discord/handlers.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package bdiscord
 
 import (
+	"time"
+
 	"github.com/42wim/matterbridge/bridge/config"
 	"github.com/bwmarrin/discordgo"
 	"github.com/davecgh/go-spew/spew"
@@ -63,6 +65,13 @@ func (b *Bdiscord) messageTyping(s *discordgo.Session, m *discordgo.TypingStart)
 	b.Remote <- rmsg
 }
 
+// Discord sends spurious updates for messages that haven't been edited, or
+// haven't been edited recently. Messages from as far back as 5 years ago have
+// been observed to be updated, always with a URL or embedded content.
+//
+// These need to be ignored because it's confusing when out of date messages
+// are bridged as new messages with no context to protocols that don't support
+// edits. Edited messages normally arrive as updates immediately.
 func (b *Bdiscord) messageUpdate(s *discordgo.Session, m *discordgo.MessageUpdate) { //nolint:unparam
 	if m.GuildID != b.guildID {
 		b.Log.Debugf("Ignoring messageUpdate because it originates from a different guild")
@@ -73,6 +82,12 @@ func (b *Bdiscord) messageUpdate(s *discordgo.Session, m *discordgo.MessageUpdat
 	}
 	// only when message is actually edited
 	if m.Message.EditedTimestamp != nil {
+		// message must have been edited recently
+		delay := time.Now().Sub(*m.Message.EditedTimestamp)
+		if delay >= time.Duration(6) * time.Hour {
+			return
+		}
+
 		b.Log.Debugf("Sending edit message")
 		m.Content += b.GetString("EditSuffix")
 		msg := &discordgo.MessageCreate{