Chapter 90
PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET
Matthew 22:1-14
Before we begin our study, let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Father God, we ask You to please move upon us and cause us to better understand and take to heart the message of this parable.
Amen
INTRODUCTION
We begin our study by reading the following parable:
[1] And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: [2] “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, [3] and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. [4] Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ [5] But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. [6] And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. [7] But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. [8] Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. [9] Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ [10] So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. [11] “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. [12] So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ [14] “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
To help us understand this parable, let us note that:
1. The king represents God the Father.
2. The son represents God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
3. Those who were initially invited to the feast represent the Israelites.
4. Those on the highway represent the Gentiles.
5. The wedding feast represents the time after the resurrection when all who have been granted eternal life (The Bride) and are united with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
With the above correlations in mind, one comes to the realization that the parable covers the following three periods of time:
1. The time prior to and during Jesus’ physical arrival on earth..
2. The time period after Jesus’ physical death and resurrection.
3. The time period of the wedding feast.
With the above background in mind, we begin with,
THE TIME PRIOR TO JESUS’ PHYSICAL ARRIVAL ON EARTH
This is the time written about in,
Matthew 22:1-3
[1] And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: [2] “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, [3] and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.”
Let us notice the following verse,
3a … Those who were invited during this time period were the Israelites.
3b… One of the many servants sent to invite the Israelites was,
JOHN THE BAPTIST
To see this let us read about his mission or ministry, we go to,
John 1:6-8
[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. [8] He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. [9] That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. [11] He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Let us notice the following verses,
7 … The Light refers to Jesus Christ (see John 8:12).
10 … Even thought the world was created through Jesus Christ, the peoples of the world did not know Him.
11 … Jesus came to save His own, the Israelites. However, as Jesus foretold in the parable they did not receive Him.
This now brings us to,
THE TIME AFTER JESUS’ PHYSICAL DEATH AND RESURRECTION
To read about this period of time we begin with,
Matthew 22:4
[4] Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’
Let us expand upon the first part of verse 4 in a little more depth,
4a … Notice at this time the banquet or feast was prepared.
In other words, as we reviewed in previous studies, atonement for the forgiveness of our sins was made and our redemption by God was imminent.
It must be pointed out that not all of the Israelite population rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For example, on the day of Pentecost when the Apostle Peter presented to the Israelites the Gospel of Jesus Christ, approximately 3,000 souls gladly accepted God’s invitation to the wedding of His Son. This is recorded in,
Acts 2:36-37
[36] “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” [37] Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Let us now read Peter’s response as recorded in,
Acts 2:38-41
[38] Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” [40] And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” [41] Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Let us notice the following verses,
38 … Even though what Peter said is often called the invitation to become a born-again believer in Jesus Christ and be filled with God the Holy Spirit, it is also the invitation to the wedding feast for God the Father’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
39 … This invitation and promise was for the following four types of individuals: (1) Those that were present at the time of Peter’s speech, (2) Their children, (3) Those that were not present or far away, and (4) Those who God will call throughout the upcoming ages (both Jew and Gentile alike).
41 … Approximately three thousand people accepted God’s invitation.
Unfortunately, as stated in the parable, many Israelites rejected God’s call. To see this we go to,
Matthew 22:5-7
[5] But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. [6] And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. [7] But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
In verses 6 and 7 Jesus foretold the following three things were going to occur: (1) His servants would be spitefully treated, (2) Some servants would be killed, and (3) The king would destroy them and their city. Let us now see how all three of Jesus’ prophecies were fulfilled.
First of all, the New Testament records the fact that,
The apostles were beaten and spitefully treated
For example, let us read what happened when the apostles, for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, were brought before the Jewish ruling council. To read a short summary of what occurred, we begin by reading from,
Acts 5:27-33
[27] And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, [28] saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” [29] But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. [30] The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. [31] Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. [32] And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” [33] When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.
Even though the council wanted to kill them, Gamaliel, a Pharisee, advised them to keep the apostles alive. His advice is recorded in,
Acts 5:38-39
[38] And now I say to you, “keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; [39] but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”
The response of the council is recorded in,
Acts 5:40-42
[40] And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. [42] And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Let us notice the following verses,
40 … The apostles were beaten; thus, fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy.
41 … The apostles rejoiced for the privilege to suffer for the Jesus Christ.
42 … The apostles continued to teach and preach about Jesus Christ. In other words, they kept extending God the Father’s invitation to attend the upcoming wedding feast.
In addition to being beaten and spitefully treated,
Some of Jesus’ servants were killed
For our first example, let us read about the martyrdom of Stephen. To do this, we go to the time after Stephen preached the good news of Jesus Christ to the Jewish ruling council. To read what happened we go to,
Acts 7:54-60
[54] When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. [55] But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, [56] and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
[57] Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; [58] and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. [59] And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [60] Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
In verse 58, the young man named Saul was Paul. As we will later discover, it was Paul who God ultimately sent to the highways, the Gentiles.
The New Testament also records that King Herod had James, the brother of John, executed. This is recorded in,
Acts 12:1-2
[1] Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. [2] Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Jesus’ last prophecy for this portion of the parable of “The Wedding Banquet” was that,
They and their city would be destroyed
As we have read and explored in previous studies, this prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD when the Roman army, under the leadership of General Titus, over-ran Israel, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.
We now come to explore Jesus’ prediction of what would finally occur during this time period. Specifically,
THE KING WOULD SEND HIS SERVANTS TO THE HIGHWAYS
To refresh our memory, we return to the parable and reread,
Matthew 22:8-10
[8] Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. [9] Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ [10] So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
To confirm the fulfillment of this prophecy, let us read what God the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle Paul and Barnabas, to those living in Antioch of Pisidia. To read what was said we go to,
Acts 13:44-48
[44] On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. [45] But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. [46] Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. [47] For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’’
[48] Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Let us notice the following verses,
44 … Almost the whole city of Antioch went to hear the Word of God.
45 … Unfortunately, the Jews became envious and refuted the teachings of Paul and Barnabas.
46-47 … By rejecting the Word of God these Jews had judged themselves to be unworthy of everlasting life. In other words, these unbelieving Jews condemned themselves. Consequently, the Lord commanded Paul and Barnabas go and speak to the Gentiles. These are those who were referred to, in the parable, as those who were on the highways, both good and bad.
48 … The Gentiles were glad and glorified the Word of God. In addition, many believed the good news of Jesus Christ and received eternal life in Him. As the parable foretold, the wedding hall would be filled.
The third period of time addressed in the parable is yet to come and is,
THE TIME OF THE WEDDING BANQUET/FEAST
To refresh our memories with respect to this portion of time, we go to,
Matthew 22:11-13
[11] But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. [12] So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
In reading the above Scriptures the question arises as to; “What was or will be the wedding garment?” To find out, let us read about the marriage supper of the Lamb, who is Jesus Christ, as recorded in,
Revelation 19:7-9
[7] Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. [8] And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. [9] Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
Let us notice the following verse,
8a … The Bride of Christ will be clothed in fine linen. It is noted that the Bride of Christ are those who are true born-again believers i.e., the saints.
8b … The linen or wedding garment is “the righteous acts of the saints.”
Before we jump to the hasty conclusion that verse 8 is teaching us that our salvation or acceptance to the marriage supper of the Lamb is based only upon our good works or deeds, we must understand this verse within the context of the entire New Testament.
First of all, we must never forget that,
JESUS IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
To see, this let us read a teaching about our call to eternal life with God. The particular teaching of interest for this study is recorded in,
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
[26] For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. [27] But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; [28] and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, [29] that no flesh should glory in His presence. [30] But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—[31] that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
To emphasis this truth let us reread the following,
1 Corinthians 1:29-31
[29] … no flesh should glory in His presence. [30] But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—[31] that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
To expand upon this a bit more, let us read one of the visions the Apostle John was given with respect to some of the activities that will occur in Heaven. The vision of interest for this study is recorded in,
Revelation 7:9-14
[9] After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, [10] and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” [11] All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, [12] saying:
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen
[13] Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” [14] And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Let us notice the following verses,
9 … A multitude of people clothed in white robes will stand before God the Father and before the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
10 … The cry of the people will be that their salvation belongs to God the Father and to Jesus. Note that their cry will not be about their good works.
14 … Their robes were made white by the blood of the Lamb, who is Jesus Christ. As we found in previous studies, these are those who accepted and received the forgiveness of their sins through the atonement Jesus made by His bloody death and glorious resurrection.
Let us now continue our reading with,
Revelation 7:15-17
[15] “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. [16] They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; [17] for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Even though, by God’s Grace and Mercy we, the born-again Christian, have been saved from the fires of damnation, we are also God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for,
GOOD WORKS
To see this, let us read a glimpse of the new condition or state of the born again believer in Jesus Christ. To do this we go to,
Ephesians 2:4-10
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, [5] even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), [6] and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast. [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Verse 10 raises two questions: (1) “What are the good works?” and (2) “How are we to do or perform these good works?
The answer to the first question of: “What are the good works we have been created to do?” is provided in Jesus’ answer rich man’s question regarding of what he must to be saved. To read what Jesus said let us go to,
Matthew 19:16-25
[16] Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” [17] So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” [18] He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ [19] ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” [20] The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” [21] Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” [22] But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. [23] Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. [24] And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” [25] When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” [26] But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Basically, Jesus said that man can never make himself perfect in God’s eyes. This brings us to the,
The answer to the second question is that our good works or righteous acts are to be done by Him, Jesus Christ. To see this let us first read,
Colossians 2:6-7
[6] As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, [7] rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Let us notice the following verse,
6 … As we received Jesus, we are to walk in Him.
The question arises as to; “How did we, the born-again believer, receive Jesus?” The answer is: “By faith.” Therefore, we are to walk by faith in Him.
In other words, the righteous or good works we are to do in Christ Jesus is to place our faith in Him to bring forth from within us the fruits from God the Holy Spirit who now lives inside the born-again believer.
To see this, we go to following instruction from Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia. The Scriptures of interest is,
Galatians 5:16-18
[16] I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The question arises as to; “Why are those who are led or guided by God the Holy Spirit are no longer under the law?”
The answer to this question is provided in,
Galatians 5:14
[14] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Another way to see this is by reading Jesus’ response to the question of; “Which is the great commandment?” To read His answer we go to,
Matthew 22:37-40
[37] Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Consequently, when we yield our self to God the Holy Spirit living within us, His love flows through us to fulfill God’s Laws or Commandments. In other words, we will be doing His good works. As this occurs, God will now be preparing our wedding garment.
Bur if we try to do good works which is to follow God’s Laws in our own strength, we will not be doing God’s good works but ours. Hence, we will not have a wedding garment. The question is; “Why not?” To find our let us read what God said through His prophet Isaiah in,
Isaiah 64:6
[6] But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away.
To expand upon this, let us read from,
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
[1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Notice, in doing good things without God’s love, we gain nothing. Let us remember Jesus is our righteousness not us.
According to Wuest’s translation of the New Testament, the Greek here used is God’s love produced in the heart of the yielded saint by the Holy Spirit. To read a description of this love we go to,
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
[4] Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; [5] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; [6] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8a] Love never fails.
This is why Paul wrote the following description of his new life in,
Galatians 2:20-21
[20] I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. [21] I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Thus, if we do not allow the Holy Spirit to live His life in and through us, we will be like the man who entered the banquet room without a wedding garment. To refresh our memory of what happened to him we reread from,
Matthew 22:10-14
[11] “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. [12] So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ [14] “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
With all we have covered in mind, we now come to,
THE POINT OR MESSAGE OF THIS STUDY IS IN,
Romans 8:12-15
[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. [13] For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. [15] For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Shall We Pray?