As a pastor, I had to limit the content of a sermon to fit within 20 to 30 minutes. However, as a writer of blog articles, I have the opportunity to guide my readers to explore the context that precedes the focus of my discussion.
For today’s blog, we’ll be examining a parable in Matthew 22, but first, let’s take a look at the events of chapter 21.
- Chapter 21 begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
- Following this, he cleanses the temple, demonstrating his authority over its practices.
- Next, he curses the fig tree, a symbolic act foreshadowing the judgment that would later fall on Jerusalem in 70 AD.
- The temple authorities then confront Jesus, questioning the source of his authority and the actions that indicate his control.
- In response, Jesus tells the parable of the two sons. In this parable, one son initially agrees to do the father’s will but ultimately fails to follow through. The other son refuses at first but later obeys.
Jesus uses this story to illustrate the contrast between tax collectors and prostitutes, who trusted and followed him, and the religious leaders, who did not.
- Finally, the parable of the wicked tenants, which we saw from Luke’s Gospel in yesterday’s blog article, is discussed.
A central theme in Chapter 21 is that God’s people, who had been eagerly awaiting the Messiah, should have recognized Him and honored Him as He deserved.
Instead, they rejected Jesus, turned their backs on Him, and ultimately condemned Him to the cross.
The Parable of the Marriage Feast
Parables were designed to help people reach a deeper understanding that they might not have grasped through straightforward communication.
I believe Jesus used parables because he wanted his audience to respond to his message and recognize who he truly was.
There is nothing new in this parable that Jesus hasn’t already said to His audience. However, He may have wanted to try again to reach them. Below is a summary of Matthew 22.2-7.
- A king prepares a wedding banquet for his son.
- The king sends his servants to summon the invited guests, but they refuse to come.
- He sends more servants with a message that the feast is ready, with oxen and fattened calves prepared, inviting them again to the banquet.
- The invitees ignore the invitation:
- Some go back to their farms or businesses.
- Others mistreat and kill the king’s servants.
- Enraged, the king sends his troops to destroy the murderers and burn their city.
We must remember that this invitation came from a king. In those times, no one would dare refuse a king’s invitation—yet these people did.
The Bible says they treated it lightly, prioritizing their businesses over responding to the king’s call. In response, the king acted, at least in part, because they rejected his authority and invitation.
It’s important to reflect on the fact that our invitation to the banquet doesn’t come from a mortal king but from Almighty God. He loves us deeply and desires to have fellowship with us.
When we reflect on the message of Chapter 21, we see how ordinary people, and even notorious sinners, responded to Jesus, while the religious elite rejected Him. In this context, the next statement from Jesus becomes clear and aligns with what took place.
“Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’
Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad, so the wedding hall was filled with guests” (Matthew 22.8-10).
In the Wednesday night class I attend, there was a diverse group of people this past week. Among them were a couple of godly, wonderful ladies, as well as several men who are newly recovering from addiction and a few with criminal backgrounds. It was truly a mixture of individuals.
Within this group, some are living out their relationship with Jesus in a way that clearly reflects His presence in their lives. Others may have a more uncertain walk with the Lord—only God truly knows their hearts.
Our class resembled the ending of Jesus’ parable.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless.
Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 22.11-13).
From the very beginning, when God called people into a relationship with Himself, it was both a privilege and a responsibility. The privilege is becoming a child of God; the responsibility is reflecting His character in our lives.
As Billy Sunday famously said, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going into a garage makes you a car.” To truly live as Christians, we must reflect God’s image in our actions and character.
YouTube Discussion:
We continue to have camera problems with our video production, so today I re-recorded this video by myself. Tomorrow, Bruce Kirby and Rudy Ross will be back.
Real Voices 