Jesus told the Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22:1-14.

The Parable Jesus spoke to the Jewish religious and political leaders during His final week in Jerusalem was the Parable of the Wedding Feast.

It was customary in Jewish Society that the parents of the betrothed draw up the marriage contract which the bride and groom must sign.

The couple was considered married at this point, but they would separate until the actual time of the ceremony.

The bride would remain with her parents, and the groom would leave to prepare their home.

When the home was ready, the groom would return for his bride without notice. The marriage ceremony would then take place, and the wedding banquet would follow.

In His parable, (Jesus compares heaven to a wedding banquet that a king God) had prepared for his son (Jesus) (Matthew 22:2).

Many people had been invited, but when the time for the banquet came and the table was set, those invited refused to come (verses 4-5).

We can interpret this to mean that Jesus invited the Jews to accept him, but they refused.

 In fact, the king’s servants (the prophets) who brought the joyful message were mistreated and even killed (verse 6).

The king (“God”) enraged at the response of those who had been invited, sent his army to avenge the death of his servants (verse 7).

“God” is patient but will not tolerate wickedness forever.

He then sent invitations to anyone his servants could find good or bad with the result that the wedding hall was filed (verses 8-10). This would be the Gentiles or the rest of us but we would have to follow certain conditions. We are to wear the right wedding clothes or robe. The robe he is referring to is the robe of righteousness.

During the feast the king noticed a man “who was not wearing wedding clothes” (verse 11).

The man did not want to follow the conditions. This represents a person that loves the invitation of hearing The Gospel, want to join the festivities but who refuses to put on the robe of righteousness. (It was an insult not to put on the robe when offered at a wedding feast)

How sad to be offered and refuse the blessings of “God”.

Jesus then ends the parable with this statement: “For many are invited, but few are chosen” (verse 14).

Will you be ready to accept “God’s” invitation or will you rebel against it.

All should respond to the Father’s invitation if they desire to enjoy the spiritual blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Some try to obtain salvation based upon their own good work or by salvation without repentance and obedience.

Repentance and faith begin your journey to the wedding ceremony but obedience and service qualify you to remain for the great feast of the Lamb.

To summarize the point of the Parable of the Wedding Feast, God sent His Son into the world, and the very people who should have celebrated His coming rejected Him, bringing judgment upon themselves.

As a result, the kingdom of heaven was opened up to anyone who will set aside his own righteousness and by faith accept the righteousness God provides in Christ. Those who spurn the gift of salvation and cling instead to their own “good” works will spend eternity in hell.

The self-righteous Pharisees who heard this parable did not miss Jesus’ point. In the very next verse, “the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words” (Matthew 22:15). The Parable of the Wedding Feast is also a warning to us, to make sure we are relying on God’s provision of salvation, not on our own good works or religious service.

Time is running out my brothers and sisters. Take this information to heart and be ready to attend the Wedding Feast when you are invited.

Source(s)

www.gotquestions.org

www.graspinggod.com

Rev Ann Hampton, P.S.