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I love the parables of Jesus! I remember when I was a little boy, my mama or my grandma telling me stories of the Bible. When I look at a parable, I’m taken back to that time in my life. Jesus used parables to explain Bible truths. He also used parables to explain the errors of His enemies. Jesus came to this earth on a mission, and His mission was to fulfill the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus came to explain that He is the Messiah, the King of Kings, and that where He is received and believed there is the Kingdom of God. Today we’ll be looking at Jesus’ Parable of the Marriage Feast. Read with me:

(Matthew 22:1-2 KJV) And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, [2] The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son

The “Parable of the Wedding Feast” in Matthew (which we’ll study next week) was given by Jesus in Jerusalem during the final week of His life on this earth. We are told in:

Matthew 21:23 (KJV) And when {Jesus} WAS COME INTO THE TEMPLE, the CHIEF PRIESTS and the ELDERS {the Sanhedrin, Ruling Council of the Jews} of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, BY WHAT AUTHORITY DOEST THOU THESE THINGS? and who gave thee this authority?

Jesus had just cleansed the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13) casting out the money changers and the profiteers. Right after this Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and the leaders of Israel “The Parable of Two Sons” (Matthew 21:28-32) and “The Parable of the Landowner” (Matthew 21:33-44).

It’s important that you understand this, because our text tells us:

(Matthew 22:1 KJV) And Jesus ANSWERED {apokrinomai} and SPAKE UNTO THEM again by parables

Word Study: When you read “Jesus ANSWERED”, this is the Greek apokrinomai which means “to give an answer to a question that was proposed”. Someone asked Jesus a question. So we look back in our context to see who asked Jesus a question. And we read:

Matthew 21:45-46 (KJV) And when the CHIEF PRIESTS and PHARISEES had heard His parables, THEY PERCEIVED THAT HE SPAKE OF THEM. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they FEARED THE MULTITUDE, because THEY TOOK HIM FOR A PROPHET {prophētēs}.

The question the Priests and Pharisees asked Jesus was “How DARE YOU speak to us like this!?” But the multitude also has a question, which is, “Jesus, are You a Prophet?”

In the previous chapter the people limited Jesus, saying:

Matthew 21:11 This is Jesus the PROPHET of Nazareth of Galilee.

So to the crowd, Jesus was just a Prophet from a little town in Galilee. But to the Pharisees and Priests, Jesus was a nuisance, a usurper, Someone who was ruining their reputations and their business. So Jesus answered them. He answered what was in their hearts.

(Matthew 22:2 KJV) The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE unto a certain KING, which MADE A MARRIAGE FOR HIS SON

Jesus is not just a lowly Prophet. He is the Son of the King of Heaven. Jesus used the phrases “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Kingdom of God” interchangeably (see Matthew 19:23-24). So in this parable Jesus is going to explain WHY He is on the earth. Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of Heaven (the Kingdom of God) to us. That’s what He’s here for. And Jesus uses a Marriage Feast of a King’s Son to describe the Kingdom of God. The “KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” is LIKENED TO A MARRIAGE FEAST.

In our world today, marriage is much more different than it was in Jesus’ day. In Jesus’ world marriages were arranged for the children by the adults. In Genesis chapter 24 Abraham arranged a marriage for his son Isaac. He told his servant:

(Genesis 24:4 NKJV) … but you (my servant) shall go to my country and to my family, and TAKE A WIFE FOR MY SON ISAAC.

We get married today when the man falls in love with a woman, asks her, and she agrees to the marriage (at least, that’s how my wife and I did it). But among the ancients marriages were arranged through the parents. Abraham had his servant find Rebekah (Genesis 24:15-16) for Isaac. Isaac took her as wife, and was comforted by her (Genesis 24:67). When Samson wanted a wife, he demanded his parents bring him a Philistine woman (Judges 14:1-2).

In Biblical and ancient Eastern culture, marriages were family arranged. They were not primary individual romantic choices.

That’s what Jesus means by “The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE unto a certain KING, which MADE {poieō} A MARRIAGE FOR HIS SON”. The King is the AUTHOR of the marriage. Marriage is a COVENANT, a BOND between two parties. The Son didn’t arrange this marriage. The KING, the Father of the Son, arranged the marriage.

When Jesus came to this world, He came because the Heavenly Father arranged for Him to come. Both Jesus and the Father are equally God. We are all familiar with the Scripture:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the WORD WAS WITH GOD, and the WORD WAS GOD.

Jesus Christ is both WITH God and IS God. We’re told later in the text:

John 1:14 And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH and dwelt among us …

God the Son took upon Himself flesh. God became man. The Father said to Jesus, “Thy THRONE, O GOD, is forever and ever” (Hebrews 1:8). Jesus Christ is not just a small town prophet. He is, as Thomas declared, “My LORD and my GOD” (John 20:28). Jesus said,

John 10:30 I and My Father ARE ONE

So we have in this parable a King arranging a MARRIAGE for His Son. This is what the Father did with Jesus. The Father sent the Son to arrange a marriage, a covenant to another. Jesus was SENT to this earth by the Father. The Scripture says:

John 3:17 GOD SENT NOT HIS SON into the world to condemn the world; but that THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED.

John 6:38 I CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, not to do mine own will, but the WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME.

The Father arranged the coming of Jesus Christ. The Father had the Holy Spirit create the humanity of Christ. Jesus, as all good Sons of that day, would heed His Father.

The Marriage Was Only Part Of The Marriage Feast

Marriage in ancient world was not only arranged by the Fathers, but it was also accompanied with a time of celebration. In our world there’s the marriage, then the reception afterwards – then the Bride and Groom go off. But among those of Jesus’ day celebrations lasted anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks. In this parable this is a royal wedding – so it will last for a long time!

The KING in this parable the the Heavenly Father, the SON is Jesus Christ. The MARRIAGE is the union that occurs when the invitation of the Gospel is received and believed.

The Heavenly Father sends out servants to call people to the wedding.

(Matthew 22:3 KJV) And {the King} SENT FORTH {apostellō} His servants to CALL THEM THAT WERE BIDDEN to the wedding: and THEY WOULD NOT COME.

Word Study: I want you to read this very carefully with me. The King did not send out an invitation with the servants. He “SENT FORTH” the servants to “CALL THEM THAT WERE BIDDEN”. In other words, an invitation had already been sent out. The invitation was hand delivered to them that there was a wedding that was going to occur. They knew it was coming. When the King “SENT OUT” the servants, this is the Greek apostellō which means “to send an authoritative message, a demand from the King”. Notice how close the Greek verb apostellō is to the noun apostolos, which means “An Apostle”. These servants are going out with an Apostolic Message. The message is, “The Wedding is ready! You’ve known about it in advance, and now it is time for you to come.”

Israel knew all about the coming of the Messiah. God promised the Messiah in the Old Testament, in the Bible that the Jews of that day read and knew. When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He said:

(John 5:39-47 NKJV) You SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES, for in them you think you have eternal life; and THESE ARE THEY WHICH TESTIFY OF ME. [40] But YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO COME TO ME THAT YOU MAY HAVE LIFE. [41] I do not receive honor from men. [42] But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. [43] I HAVE COME IN MY FATHER’S NAME, and YOU DO NOT RECEIVE ME; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. [44] How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that [comes] from the only God? [45] Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is [one] who accuses you–Moses, in whom you trust. [46] IF YOU BELIEVED MOSES, YOU WOULD BELIEVE ME; for HE WROTE ABOUT ME. [47] But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?

God gave us the Old Testament writings that foretold the coming of the Son, and the marriage that Jesus would offer us. Jesus told Israel, “All things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me” (Luke 24:44). God did not keep the wedding feast secret. For hundreds of years Israel knew of the coming Messiah. The Old Testament scriptures, the prophecies, the types and shadows, the promises God made, the animal sacrifices … all these things made the coming of the Messiah clear.

When Jesus came, He came miraculously born. He ministered miracles that only God could do. He taught masters of theology the Bible, having had no formal training. To any who would open their heart, Jesus is the Messiah. Would they come?

(Matthew 22:3 KJV) … THEY WOULD NOT COME.

The King of Heaven told them that He was bringing His Son to this earth, and inviting them into a close personal relationship with Him. And THEY WOULD NOT COME.

(Matthew 22:4 KJV) Again, He (God the Father) sent forth OTHER SERVANTS, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I HAVE PREPARED MY DINNER: My oxen and [My] fatlings [are] killed, and ALL THINGS ARE READY: COME UNTO THE MARRIAGE.

Israel ignored the Old Testament prophets. They ignored the clear invitation. So God sent “OTHER SERVANTS”. He sent John the Baptist who called people to follow the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29). Jesus called Apostles, who preached about Jesus. God sent Evangelists, Pastors, Gospel Messengers who spoke and bid all come to Christ. The message is very clear. God the Father tells us, “I HAVE PREPARED MY DINNER”. The sacrifices have been made. “ALL THINGS ARE READY”. You don’t need to bring anything with you. You need to,

RESPOND to the invitation. REPENT, and come to Jesus.
RECEIVE Jesus Christ in a personal, covenantal way.
He is Savior and Lord.

In today’s weddings we bring gifts, sometimes beverages and other things. But the Father of the Son tells the guests, “All I want you to bring IS YOURSELVES”. Bring your brokenness to the wedding. Bring your weakness. REPENT of your sinful life, and COMMIT to coming to the wedding. Jesus said:

John 6:40 This is the will of Him that sent Me, that EVERYONE WHO SEES THE SON, and BELIEVES ON HIM, MAY HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

“ALL THINGS ARE READY”. Jesus has come to save you. Will you “marry” Him? Will you enter into a covenant relationship with Him? You need not bring Jesus anything but your brokenness. The Scripture says:

(Titus 3:3-7 NKJV) For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. [4] But when the KINDNESS AND THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR toward man appeared, [5] NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, but ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, [6] whom HE POURED OUT ON US ABUNDANTLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR, [7] that having been JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE we should BECOME HEIRS according to the hope of eternal life.

When you hear that Jesus Christ died from your sins, and rose from the grave for your justification, you have an invitation from the Father through the Holy Spirit to come to the Wedding Feast. To come to Jesus by faith. To cast your life out on Him. To give Him your heart, your all. The wages of sin is DEATH, dear friends. But …

Romans 6:23 the GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD

We cannot save ourselves – we must be wed to Christ by faith.

(Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV) 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.

Everything is ready. Just come. The Father has made all things certain.

(Matthew 22:5-6 KJV) But THEY MADE LIGHT OF IT, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: [6] And the REMNANT TOOK HIS SERVANTS, and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them].

They wouldn’t come to the wedding. They wouldn’t come to Jesus. They mocked the servants, the Prophets. They killed the messengers who wrote the Scripture, and mocked the preachers. This is what Israel did, and what people do today.

And they angered the King of Heaven.

(Matthew 22:7-8 KJV) But when the King {God the Father} heard [thereof], HE WAS WROTH {orgizō} : and He sent forth His ARMIES, and DESTROYED THOSE MURDERERS, and BURNED UP THEIR CITY. [8] Then saith He to his servants, The WEDDING IS READY, but they which were bidden WERE NOT WORTHY.

It is very possible to anger God. I wish you all understood this. Most of the preaching that is popular today is of the “God is Love” kind. Yes, “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). In the parable when they rejected the call the first time, the King sent another wave of servants with another call. So yes, God is love. But God is not one dimensional. God is HOLY, the Ruler of the armies of Heaven. “HOLY, HOLY, HOLD is the LORD OF HOSTS” (Isaiah 6:3). And those who would be the enemy of God, “God is a CONSUMING FIRE” (Hebrews 12:29). God does not tolerate what He considers sinful. God determines what is right and wrong, not us, BUT GOD.

(1 John 1:5-7 NKJV) This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that GOD IS LIGHT, AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. [6] If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE and do not practice the truth. [7] But if WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Israel rejected Jesus. The Pharisees and Priests rejected Jesus. They had Him nailed to a Cross with two thieves. They rejected any covenantal relationship with Him. They mocked the Son. “HIS BLOOD BE ON US, AND ON OUR CHILDREN” (Matthew 27:25). Jesus wept over Jerusalem. He told them:

(Luke 19:41-44 NKJV) Now as {Jesus} drew near, HE SAW THE CITY AND WEPT OVER IT, [42] saying, If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things [that make] for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. [43] For DAYS WILL COME UPON YOU WHEN YOUR ENEMIES WILL BUILD AN EMBANKMENT AROUND YOU, surround you and close you in on every side, [44] AND LEVEL YOU, and YOUR CHILDREN WITHIN YOU, to the ground; and THEY WILL NOT LEAVE IN YOU ONE STONE UPON ANOTHER, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

God will avenge His Son. Beloved, when you reject Jesus, you reject the love of God. If you mock or make light of Him, if you refuse His invitation, judgment and condemnation will come. There are many who mock Christ today, making light of the Son of God. Israel did. And God destroyed the Temple, and leveled Israel in 70 AD – just as Jesus said.

The King of Heaven said “Those I previously invited, THEY WERE NOT WORTHY” (vs 8). What did the King, the Father, mean by that? They were unworthy BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT COME. You’ve heard the invitation. All things are prepared. Just come. Just receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Believe on Him. All is ready.

So The King Went Outside Israel To Invite The Worthy

(Matthew 22:9-10 KJV) Go ye therefore into the highways, and AS MANY AS YE SHALL FIND, BID TO THE MARRIAGE. [10] So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, BOTH BAD AND GOOD: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

The Bible tells us “Jesus came UNTO HIS OWN PEOPLE, and HIS OWN PEOPLE would not receive Him” (John 1:11). So the Father sent the messengers out into the highways and hedges. The Bible promises:

(John 1:12-13 KJV) But as many as received {Jesus}, to them gave He POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, [even] to them that BELIEVE ON HIS NAME: [13] Which were BORN, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but OF GOD.

The servants made no distinction. They told “whosoever will respond” that they were welcome to the wedding feast. Notice the ones who came were:

BOTH BAD {ponēros} AND GOOD {agathos}

Word Study: The invitation to the wedding wasn’t based on your current state. The ones who were invited were the “BAD” and the “GOOD”. What does that mean? The “BAD” are the ponēros, which means “those who were full of hardship, painful people, those who were diseased or ethically wicked people”. These weren’t the best of people. Yet they received the invitation – and were blessed by Jesus. Jesus told the Pharisees and Priests:

(Matthew 21:31-32 LSB) Truly I say to you that the TAX COLLECTORS AND PROSTITUTES WILL GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD BEFORE YOU. [32] For John came to you in the way of righteousness and YOU DID NOT BELIEVE HIM; but the TAX COLLECTORS AND PROSTITUTES DID BELIEVE HIM; and you, seeing [this], did not even regret afterward so as to believe him.

The Pharisees were always asking Jesus, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners”? Jesus told them:

(Luke 5:31-32 LSB) [It is] not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. [32] I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

You are – none of you – worthy in yourself. But if you receive Jesus’ invitation, He will make you worthy.

Has The King Of Heaven Given You Your Righteousness?

But Jesus isn’t done with this parable. We read:

(Matthew 22:11-14 KJV) And when the King {the Father} came in to see the guests, HE SAW THERE A MAN WHICH HAD NOT ON A WEDDING GARMENT: [12] And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither NOT HAVING A WEDDING GARMENT? And he was speechless. [13] Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and CAST HIM INTO OUTER DARKNESS; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [14] For MANY ARE CALLED, but FEW ARE CHOSEN.

Think back what the King said before:

Matthew 22:4 ALL THINGS ARE READY: come unto the marriage

The guests were to bring nothing but themselves. C.H. Spurgeon wrote:

“I have already told you that all the expense lies with Him. It was a very sumptuous festival, there were oxen, and there were fatlings, but none of these were taken from the pastures, or stalls of the guests. The Gospel is an expensive business; the very heart of Christ was drained to find the price for this great festival; but it costs the sinner nothing, nothing of money, nothing of merit, nothing of preparation. You rosy come as you are to the Gospel feast, for THE ONLY WEDDING DRESS REQUIRED IS FREELY PROVIDED FOR YOU. Just as you are, you are bidden to believe in Jesus. You have nothing to do but to RECEIVE OF HIS FULLNESS, for to “as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” You are not asked to contribute to the provision, but to be a feaster at the divine banquet of infinite compassion”

This man did not have a wedding dress, not because it was not provided, but because it was provided and he refused to put it on. There are many like this. “I’m good enough for Heaven. I do not need the white robe of glory. I have it on already through my good works.”

These are the words of a fool, a godless person. Your morality does not impress God. You need a white robe. The only way you can get it is to REPENT and RECEIVE Jesus as He is. The Psalmist said:

(Psalm 2:12 LSB) Kiss the Son, lest He become angry, and YOU PERISH IN THE WAY, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Your only refuge is in Christ. You must “PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (Romans 13:14). You must put on the wedding dress if you expect to be in the Kingdom of Heaven. You must be in “washed robes made WHITE in the BLOOD OF THE LAMB” (Revelation 7:14). Who shall be with Jesus eternally? Only to those who “have WHITE ROBES GIVEN UNTO EVERY ONE OF THEM” (Revelation 6:11).

You must have Jesus. If you do not have Jesus NOW, you are in a state of condemnation NOW. If you leave this life without Jesus, you will be rejected of Heaven, and hell’s darling.

May the Holy Spirit guide you to call upon the name of Jesus and thus be saved.