In The Word
Read: Matthew 22:1-14
Parable of the Marriage Feast
22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying,2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who held a wedding feast for his son. 3 And he sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened cattle are all butchered and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!”’5 But they paid no attention and went their separateways, one to his own farm, another to his business,6 and the rest seized his slaves and treated them abusively, and then killed them. 7 Now the king was angry, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. 8 Then he *said to his slaves, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 So go to the main roads, and invite whomever you find there to the wedding feast.’ 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.
11 “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he *said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
This is a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven. We see the Father’s heart through this story and how He desires as many that will come to be a part of His kingdom. It’s interesting how He uses a wedding to depict and explain His kingdom. Most people enjoy going to weddings, because they are a joyous time. It’s a time of fellowship, love, commitment, unity, music, food, and the witnessing of a miracle of two people coming together as one. Who would not desire to be a part of that? Well, according to this parable, those that were so caught up in doing their own thing that they didn’t have time to give to such an event.
Remember, we are talking about a King’s event. This is a monarchy, not a democracy. Everything the people had was at the pleasure of the King. The farms and businesses belonged to the King, not to the people. The people were allowing something the King had given them to be used as an excuse not to come to the King’s event. How ungrateful they had become.
So, the King had his servants invite anyone they could find to come, even if they had to travel some distance to find them. However, not everyone that came was prepared, and they were kicked out and punished for coming to such an occasion dressed disrespectfully.
We must ask ourselves these questions: have we become too busy with the things God has given us to be involved in the business of His kingdom? Are we dressed for the Wedding? For all those baptized into Christ have clothed themselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27). Remember, many are called, but few are chosen.