The Wedding Feast

Mt. 22: 1-14

Jesus was using parables to teach the people some very important truths about the kingdom of heaven This kingdom could be compared to a wedding feast that the King is giving for His Son. He sent His servants out to call those invited to the wedding, but they would not come. He did this again telling his servants to say the the the oxen and fat calves had been slaughtered, but still they did not come. One went to his farm, and another to his business, while others mistreated his servants to the point of killing them. The king was angry and sent His troops to destroy those people and burn their city. Then He said to His servants, those who were invited were not worthy. Go to the main roads and invite as many as you can to the wedding feast. They did and the wedding feast was full, but when the king came in he saw a man with no wedding garment. The king said, Friend how did you get in here without a wedding garment? The man was speechless. Then the king said, Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called but few are chosen. 

Did the Pharisees understand any of this parable? Were their hearts pricked? Did they know they were the ones that were rejecting the Son? The very next verse says they plotted to entangle Him in His words. Sad, so sad when people are so steeped in their religion that they can't see the truth from error. The Father's invitation was rejected by the Jews. His servants, the prophets, John the Baptist, and Jesus Himself, were rejected. More than that, their rejection meant the killing the servant who came  not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." 

The invitation was then given to those on the main roads, that is the Gentiles who eagerly came to the feast. But when the King came into the feast, He immediately spotted the one without the proper garment. He was cast into outer darkness. There is only one way to get into the wedding feast, that is clothed in the righteousness of the Son with sins forgiven and covered by His blood. It reminds me of Mt. 7. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Those rejected said, did we not prophesy in Your name,and cast out demons and do mighty works? And Jesus said to them, I never knew you.; depart from me you workers of lawlessness. There is no substitute for the blood of Jesus. Those who do great works in their flesh may look good on the outside, but on the inside there is all manner of sin. The counterfeit will not make it!  Those saved who are called by the Father and indwelled by the Spirit will hear the call and run for the wedding feast of the Lamb. They are the long-awaited bride dress in garments of pure white. What a glorious day! 

Father,

Prepare my heart for this great day. Teach me so that I may grow more nad more each day into the image of Your Son. Thank You for sending Jesus so that I might be made Yours. 

In the name of the Servant-Son,

Amen