The Parable of
the Marriage Feast
MEMORY VERSE:
“Go ye therefore into the highways, and
as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.” (Matthew 22:9)
TEXT:
Matthew 22:1-14
Two things we need to know about parables of Jesus Christ. The
parables of Jesus Christ are simple and illustrative stories that
drive home both moral and spiritual maxims through which a man of
understanding may draw inspiration to live righteously. In all the
parables of Jesus Christ, He used enduring symbols and day-to-day
things that existed during His time and continue to exist in our
time for His illustrations of the spiritual precepts. Even if the
principles are forgotten, the enduring illustrative stories stick to
mind. If you remember the story relating to the parable the precepts
of parable will kick in. Talking about the endurance of the parable
of Jesus Christ, the philosophy and the wisdom of new ages cannot
outlive the parable of Jesus Christ. This is one of the ways the
laws of God are written upon the hearts of believers. Another
example is in Deuteronomy 31:19, 22 God commanded Moses to write the
word of the law into song and teach the Israelites so that it can be
a witness against them. I also believe the psalms are written in a
poetic manner so that people may desire to sing them.
Secondly, the parable of Jesus Christ is part of the fulfillment of
the Law of Moses and prophetic declarations of the prophets.
In Psalm 78:1-4 “Give
ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my
mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings
of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation
to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful
works that he hath done.”
Also in Matthew 13:34
“All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and
without a parable spake he not unto them.” Lastly
in Matthew 5:17 “Think not that
I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfill.”
Vs 1-3 In accordance to the custom of the Jews at this time, a host
always sends two invitations to the worthy invitees to their social
events like Marriage Feast. The first invitation announces the event
and date. This is similar to the present day practice of RSVP in the
invitation cards. The host is able to estimate the number of
expected guests that will be coming. The first invitation was
through the Law of Moses and the prophetic declarations and warnings
of the Prophets about the coming of the Savior.
The Messianic prophecy was first mentioned in Genesis 3:15. About
700 years before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, Prophet Isaiah
vividly prophesied the birth of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 6:9) In verse
3, virtually all the books of the Old Testament informed the worthy
invitees, the natural branch, the house hold of Israel about Messiah
in order to prepare their minds ready for the Savior. All these
merciful overtures of God towards them were His ways to invite His
worthy children.
Ø
The Israelites rebelled against Moses, they rejected the commandment
of God.
Ø
They rejected Samuel their spiritual leader and demanded for king
like other nations of the world, they became worldly and began to
bow down to idol god of Baal, and deep their hands in all kinds of
abominable practices.
Ø
The Israelites imprisoned, maimed and killed the prophets of God
especially during the reign of Ahab. The remnants of the prophets of
God that were not killed were hiding. Obviously these people
despised the grace of God.
People are still rejecting God today:
Ø
Some pre-occupied themselves with personal pursuits, material
considerations and sporting activities, thereby relegating the call
of God to the background.
Ø
Some misconstrued salvation to be an impediment to their sinful
enjoyment
Ø
Pride and fame are standing against the salvation of the famous
people—they never realize that the greatest fan they should desire
to crave for is God.
Ø
Some people misapplied the wisdom that God gave man to the detriment
of the word of God—The so-called seasoned lawyers used their legal
wisdom to remove ten commandment from the schools in US so that
children were deprived of the knowledge of the law of God
Back to our text in vs. 4-6, As if this was not enough, God
presented another opportunity to the household of Israel. The second
invitation came through our Lord Jesus the Author of our Salvation.
He invited the worthy people of God by the demonstrating the
miraculous power of the kingdom of God. Their sick were healed their
dead were raised. They rejected His message and treated Him with
disdain. They gave unreasonable excuses. They called Jesus Christ
evil names. They did not only reject the Savior, the priest and
other religious leaders of His time—the Pharisees and the Sadducees
ganged up and conspired against Him. They killed the Son of God on
the Cross of Calvary.
In vs 7-9, The natural branch—the household of Israel rejected God’s
spiritual offers and the king also rejected them. The rejection of
the second invitation by the natural branch triggered off the last
invitation that began with the disciples of Jesus Christ, extended
to the unworthy sinners— the Gentiles— in the highways of life. The
word highway indicated that the people were operating in the
fast-lanes of sinfulness, wickedness and recklessness. They were
idolaters, adulterers and people that are engrossed with various
kinds of filthiness of abominations.
These kinds of people were invited to the commonwealth of the love
of God. Without hesitation, they responded with gladness. They came
to the marriage feast. They embraced salvation. From their reckless
highway of spiritual decadence to the spiritual wedding feast,
transformation had taken place in their lives. The unworthy gentiles
became worthy and precious people of God. (I Peter 2:9-10)
God is still calling the sinner today. Matthew 28:19-20 The
disciples of Jesus Christ as well as the present day believers, we
are to invite the people from all walk of life to the kingdom of God
through our personal and corporate evangelism.
In vs 11-13, It is quite typical to all the host of a social
gathering to be going from one table to the other to say thanks to
the invitees that attended his feast. In the same way, an
unexpected visitation of God will come to us. In the process of the
king’s visitation, he saw a man without a wedding garment. We may
ask ourselves, “What did the king in the parable see in this man
that made him conclude that he did not wear wedding garment?
Ø
The king saw that the person was not dressed in the garment of
righteousness.
Ø
He was not arrayed in the robe of holiness.
Ø
He was not wearing the helmet of salvation and his feet were not
shod with the gospel of truth.
Ø
Nothing was pointing to humility in his spiritual appearance and his
utterances.
Ø
There is no indication of the fruit of the spirit in the person’s
life—because he still sowing the seed of discord among brethren. He
is
God is watching for these unique spiritual qualities among His
children. Anyone that is not enrobed in these choice garments is not
spiritually well dressed. Invariably according to the king’s
observation, the person is spiritually naked. The king ordered him
to be kicked out of the wedding feast.
Let us relate this parable to ourselves, the king was not looking at
our outward appearance, but he was particular about the garment of
our hearts. Look inward brethren and ask yourself a pertinent
question, “How well dressed is my heart before the Lord?”
We may be of the opinion that it is not expected that a person that
answered promptly to the wedding invitation and came from the
highway directly to the wedding feast to be in the wedding garment.
From the highway to the wedding feast is a journey of life. It is
the moment we embrace salvation till the angels welcome us to the
presence of God. If we sincerely journeyed on with God hand-in-hand
with one heart, in truth and in spirit to the wedding feast, within
that short distance of life, divine transformation will take place.
Have you experience this transformation in your life?
Vs. 14 “Many are called but few are chosen…” Several times our
pastor has been saying in this auditorium, that not all the people
that are consistent in Christian gathering are born again. He is not
pointing accusing finger to anyone rather, he is only challenging
you and me to check our spiritual garment. It is your spiritual
garment before God that will determine whether you are accepted of
the Lord. Your spiritual garment must measure up to the righteous
standard of God. It is my prayer that you will receive commendation
instead of condemnation at last, in Jesus name.
Finally Brethren, there are two types of spiritual invitations. In
John 10:10 “The
thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I
am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly.”
The
Heavenly Father is gently knocking at the door of your heart this
morning waiting for you to open the door. He is telling you to let
go of the spiritual entanglements. God is inviting you to the
banquet of His love in order to position you for His eternal
blessing. Simultaneously Satan that came through the window is also
after your heart. The enemy comes with enticing words and alluring
materials and catalogue of distractions in order to steal to kill
and to destroy, and finally to ensnare your soul in eternity of hell
fire. When a man rejects the invitation of God, impliedly he accepts
the invitation and condemnation of Satan. That is why I am so sure
that you have an important decision to make today. While you are
still contemplating, an appeal goes forth to you this morning,
“Please, do not reject the invitation of Christ.”
