The Parables of Jesus: Pt. 9 A Wedding supper requiring proper attire.
Good morning...
This is a parable we see lived out today. We may have invited family, friends, co-workers to our homes for a Bible study or to our local churches and they may have come up with every excuse you can think of.
On the other hand, some people that you might not think would come have a desire to attend a church service or a Bible study. God is still graciously inviting people to come and dine.
Invite these friends, family members, or co-workers to watch your church on you tube or on this blog until things get back to normal or a new normal for us.
Parable of those bidden to a wedding not coming.
Matthew 22:1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
In this parable Jesus compares the offer of the kingdom of heaven to Israel hosting a wedding feast that was planned, prepared and those invited guests chose not to attend. It is addressed to the same group of priests and Pharisees and the wedding banquet is a depiction of the millennial kingdom.
Again we see the heavenly Father in view by the use of the phrase "a certain king." This king prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent servants out to let the invited guests know that it was now time to come to the feast.
The first ones invited refused to come.
Matthew 22:3-6 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
The certain king sent out his servants to call all who were invited and they would not come. This is a picture of the Father sending His prophets to invite the nation Israel into His kingdom. Israel is rejecting the offer from the Messiah to establish the kingdom.
More servants were sent with additional details of the lavish feast that was prepared but the invitees mocked the servants and continued to do what they wanted to do. Other servants, a remnant, were horribly mistreated and then killed. Again, the picture is of Israel consistently rejecting the kingdom of heaven.
The servants represent prophets God sent to the nation over many years.
Hebrews 11:36-38 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
The messengers from Jehovah were often made fun of. Some were whipped or scourged. Many were imprisoned and placed into bonds of some sort. Others were martyred by stoning, slain with the sword or cut into pieces. Others bore the physical stigma of wandering while clothed with sheepskins, goatskins and poverty as they lived in caves or dens.
A broader invitation is sent out.
Matthew 22:8-10 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
This is a picture of Israel being set aside because they were not worthy to come. The nation rejected their King and Messiah and the gospel was now going to go forth to include Gentiles or non Jewish people in the world.
The servants going out is a picture of the apostles in the book of Acts preaching the gospel. It is also a picture of the early church under persecution fleeing Jerusalem and spreading the gospel wherever they went. The book of Acts gives us details of the gospel going to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles.
Both good and bad were gathered together in this invitation and this reminds us that all must respond to the gospel by being born again. Just as the church is full of wheat (the saved) and tares (the lost) so this wedding feast has guests both good and bad.
Invitees must be wearing the appropriate garment.
Matthew 22:11- And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
The King who is a picture of our heavenly Father came in to inspect the feast prepared for the marriage of His son. He saw a man who was not wearing a proper wedding garment. He asked how the man came in inappropriately attired and the man was speechless.
The King had his servants bind that man hand and foot and he was cast into outer darkness. This goes along with previous parables showing the angels coming to separate good fish from bad fish, wheat from tares and now good guests from bad guests.
Christ Jesus is the final judge in these things because the Father committed all judgment to His Son.
The last verse is related to Matthew 7 where we are taught that there is a wide gate and a broad way that represents the world headed toward hell. There is also a straight gate and a narrow way that leads to eternal life. This is why the parable ends up saying that there are many called but only few choose the straight gate and the narrow way.
Points to Ponder...
This is a parable we see lived out today. We may have invited family, friends, co-workers to our homes for a Bible study or to our local churches and they may have come up with every excuse you can think of.
On the other hand, some people that you might not think would come have a desire to attend a church service or a Bible study. God is still graciously inviting people to come and dine.
Invite these friends, family members, or co-workers to watch your church on you tube or on this blog until things get back to normal or a new normal for us.
Parable of those bidden to a wedding not coming.
Matthew 22:1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
In this parable Jesus compares the offer of the kingdom of heaven to Israel hosting a wedding feast that was planned, prepared and those invited guests chose not to attend. It is addressed to the same group of priests and Pharisees and the wedding banquet is a depiction of the millennial kingdom.
Again we see the heavenly Father in view by the use of the phrase "a certain king." This king prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent servants out to let the invited guests know that it was now time to come to the feast.
The first ones invited refused to come.
Matthew 22:3-6 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
The certain king sent out his servants to call all who were invited and they would not come. This is a picture of the Father sending His prophets to invite the nation Israel into His kingdom. Israel is rejecting the offer from the Messiah to establish the kingdom.
More servants were sent with additional details of the lavish feast that was prepared but the invitees mocked the servants and continued to do what they wanted to do. Other servants, a remnant, were horribly mistreated and then killed. Again, the picture is of Israel consistently rejecting the kingdom of heaven.
The servants represent prophets God sent to the nation over many years.
Hebrews 11:36-38 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
The messengers from Jehovah were often made fun of. Some were whipped or scourged. Many were imprisoned and placed into bonds of some sort. Others were martyred by stoning, slain with the sword or cut into pieces. Others bore the physical stigma of wandering while clothed with sheepskins, goatskins and poverty as they lived in caves or dens.
A broader invitation is sent out.
Matthew 22:8-10 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
This is a picture of Israel being set aside because they were not worthy to come. The nation rejected their King and Messiah and the gospel was now going to go forth to include Gentiles or non Jewish people in the world.
The servants going out is a picture of the apostles in the book of Acts preaching the gospel. It is also a picture of the early church under persecution fleeing Jerusalem and spreading the gospel wherever they went. The book of Acts gives us details of the gospel going to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles.
Both good and bad were gathered together in this invitation and this reminds us that all must respond to the gospel by being born again. Just as the church is full of wheat (the saved) and tares (the lost) so this wedding feast has guests both good and bad.
Invitees must be wearing the appropriate garment.
Matthew 22:11- And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
The King who is a picture of our heavenly Father came in to inspect the feast prepared for the marriage of His son. He saw a man who was not wearing a proper wedding garment. He asked how the man came in inappropriately attired and the man was speechless.
The King had his servants bind that man hand and foot and he was cast into outer darkness. This goes along with previous parables showing the angels coming to separate good fish from bad fish, wheat from tares and now good guests from bad guests.
Christ Jesus is the final judge in these things because the Father committed all judgment to His Son.
The last verse is related to Matthew 7 where we are taught that there is a wide gate and a broad way that represents the world headed toward hell. There is also a straight gate and a narrow way that leads to eternal life. This is why the parable ends up saying that there are many called but only few choose the straight gate and the narrow way.
Points to Ponder...
- This parable invites the Jewish nation to respond to their King, Jesus Christ.
- Their response was rejection.
- The Father then directed the invitation to include a much bigger group of people, the Gentiles.
- Even though we are all invited we must be born again to be properly dressed for this feast.
- There will be a final separation and judgment of those who are not born again that leads to eternal punishment.
- Those who are born again will enjoy the marriage supper of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
This simple but powerful parable is a good reminder. The gospel is still going out and the grace of God still extends salvation to all mankind but each person must respond to the call to be born again.
One day, this period of grace will be over and the Father in heaven will pour out His wrath on all those on earth who rejected His Son, Jesus Christ. This all unfolds in the book of Revelation.
My prayer is that all who are born again will be good witnesses and testify to others about their need to be born again. I pray that we will be the workers who cheerfully go out and help bring in the harvest of souls. May our Lord grant us the privilege of leading someone to Christ as He fills His banquet hall.
Bob
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