Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” (NLT)
Jesus often used parables to help people understand the principles He was teaching. This parable of the wedding feast is one that I have always had a hard time grasping, but now that I understand it is a brilliant illustration of our part in receiving the gift of Jesus. I would like to take the time to explain this parable today in hopes that it will bring you a deeper understanding of Jesus' heart.
In the beginning of this story there is a king (representing Jesus) who holds a feast and invites a certain set of people. The magnificent feast described represents the glorious gifts of God. He gives us everything we need and abundantly more. As for the guests originally invited in the story, they are representative of a people. If you have read any of the Old Testament, you will know that it is all about the Jewish people and God's covenant with Abraham. The Jews are God's chosen people and they are the ones He first offered Himself to. But again and again they refused to accept or follow God and continually went off on their own. So God sent down His prophets to warn His people just as the king sent his messengers in our story.
After they still didn't listen, the king in our story decided to open his feast up to everyone. This is representative of Jesus making Himself available to gentiles (non Jews). Now we all have access to the same God that many Jews have rejected and all the extravagant gifts that come with Him. We are invited to the feast! Now the last part of the parable refers to someone who has made it to the feast without proper clothes for a wedding. This individual represents someone who claims to be a Christian, but who turns out not to be. The king recognizes this person and throws him out of the feast. It illustrates how God can see right through to our hearts. There is no fooling Him on whether we follow Him or not. He knows those that are His.
The last sentence really ties it all together. Many are called, but few are chosen. Otherwise stated-- many are invited, but few show up. God has extended the invitation to His magnificent feast to us all, but few have accepted. As for you, have you accepted the free gift of eternal life in paradise?
“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” (NLT)
Jesus often used parables to help people understand the principles He was teaching. This parable of the wedding feast is one that I have always had a hard time grasping, but now that I understand it is a brilliant illustration of our part in receiving the gift of Jesus. I would like to take the time to explain this parable today in hopes that it will bring you a deeper understanding of Jesus' heart.
In the beginning of this story there is a king (representing Jesus) who holds a feast and invites a certain set of people. The magnificent feast described represents the glorious gifts of God. He gives us everything we need and abundantly more. As for the guests originally invited in the story, they are representative of a people. If you have read any of the Old Testament, you will know that it is all about the Jewish people and God's covenant with Abraham. The Jews are God's chosen people and they are the ones He first offered Himself to. But again and again they refused to accept or follow God and continually went off on their own. So God sent down His prophets to warn His people just as the king sent his messengers in our story.
After they still didn't listen, the king in our story decided to open his feast up to everyone. This is representative of Jesus making Himself available to gentiles (non Jews). Now we all have access to the same God that many Jews have rejected and all the extravagant gifts that come with Him. We are invited to the feast! Now the last part of the parable refers to someone who has made it to the feast without proper clothes for a wedding. This individual represents someone who claims to be a Christian, but who turns out not to be. The king recognizes this person and throws him out of the feast. It illustrates how God can see right through to our hearts. There is no fooling Him on whether we follow Him or not. He knows those that are His.
The last sentence really ties it all together. Many are called, but few are chosen. Otherwise stated-- many are invited, but few show up. God has extended the invitation to His magnificent feast to us all, but few have accepted. As for you, have you accepted the free gift of eternal life in paradise?
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