1-30-2021    The Wedding Feast

       The sheep & the Lion (of Judah)                The saints & the Lamb of God

Jesus had been talking to the people in parables about the kingdom of God.  Then He explains about the marriage feast and those invited, those who came and those who were not invited.

Matthew 22:1-14

Again, Jesus spoke to them in parables and said:

The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who made a marriage for his son.

He sent his servants out to call those who were invited to the wedding, but they would not come.

So he sent forth other servants to those invited saying that he had already prepared a dinner of oxen, fatlings, please come.

But they made light of it and went their own ways, one to his farm, another to his business.

Those who were left took and spitefully beat the servants, even killing them.

Think about this for a minute.  The ruler of the land invited all those who were “somebody”, the important people of his kingdom, those whom he thought were his friends, to a wedding feast for his son.  Many said “So what?”  They couldn’t waste their time on an event the king had planned!  Others made excuses as to why they couldn’t attend.  And yet others beat up or even killed those servants who brought the invitation (get out of my face!). Where’s the respect for this king?

Consider that ‘these’ servants were the prophets of the Old Testament, the prophets of God.  That elite group of people (being invited) was Israel.  These were a people who were supposed to be familiar with Moses, Abraham, the Law and even God, Himself.  Yet they rejected the invitation!  These were people who professed to know and live by God’s laws.  These were people, who in their own eyes, enjoyed good standing in the community (Matt. 6:1-5).  The king had the authority over the land and the people ignored him.

And when the king heard about this, he was angry so he sent out his armies and destroyed those who murdered (his servants), and destroyed their city.

How did the king react?  Does the flood (Gen. 6:1-19), Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 10:1-15), Israel falling into captivity (1 Chron. 9:1) ring any bells?  Even at the foot of the mount while Moses was talking with God, the people, tired of waiting, made the golden calf and were worshipping a false God, instead of He who brought them out of captivity (Egypt).  Their actions showed either a total lack of understanding or just plain contempt for the One who watched over them.  God was ready to destroy them on the spot.  Yet Moses interceded and those who made the decision to follow the one true and living God were spared.  Those who continued to refuse God were destroyed.  Those hearts didn’t or wouldn’t yield to the Creator of all things.

Then he said to his servants that the wedding was ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

Go into the highways and ask whoever you find to come to the marriage.

Those originally invited were dealt with and the king sent his servants out to find anyone they could and invite them to the wedding.  Anyone who would accept his graciousness.

So the servants went into the highways and as many as they found gathered them together, both good and bad and the wedding was furnished with guests.

Note that now, the invitation was extended to any who would come, no matter who they were or what they had done.  No distinction was made between the new guests.  And take note that they were not necessarily Israelites!  But there was a condition. 

And when the king came in to see his guests, he saw a man who was not wearing a wedding garment. 

The king asked the man why he had come not wearing a wedding garment.  He (the man) was speechless.

Then the king told his servants to bind the man hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

One man decided to come without wearing a wedding garment.  When invited to an important event, usually, we make ourselves presentable.  We put on our best outfit or at least a decent, clean outfit.  And for us (to whom it may apply) might even shave and splash on a little ‘Brute’ (or something).  But, this man, had heard about the feast and couldn’t bother to clean himself up a bit.  He was not really ready for the occasion.  He had not properly prepared himself.  If you will, he may have even ‘snuck’ in a side or back door.  He was quickly shown the exit.  Perhaps this man felt that as long as he showed up it would be OK?

When we prepare for the wedding - our entrance into eternity – we prepare by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.  As the people in this kingdom should have – we show respect for the One who has authority over us by presenting ourselves the best that we can.  We show lack of respect when we don’t properly present ourselves.  If we were invited to the White House, we would clean ourselves up and put on our best clothes before going, yes?  King Ahasuerus’ servants cleaned up Esther and dressed her in the finest clothes when it came her time to go and meet the king (Esth. 2:12-17),   The Holy Ghost prepares us to be the best that we can be so we can meet our King.  Once we have received Jesus, we abide in His love and confess any sins we may fall into afterwards in order to be ready.  Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by Me.”

For many are called, but few are chosen.

God plays no favorites on whom He invites into heaven, but there is a condition. 

Consider today’s church.  Should Jesus Christ come today, how many of us would really be ready to go?  Remember the bridesmaids - five were always ready, five were not.  Five went into the marriage feast, five were locked out (Matt. 25:1-12).  Their lamps had ‘gone out’, they were no longer living for the coming of the bridegroom.

Israel couldn’t wait a few days for Moses to come back down from the mount before they turned away from God.  Scripture tells us that, in the end times, there will be a falling away (in the church, 2 Thess. 2:1-3) from God.  Look around.  Aside from the cults which have arisen, in the established church, how many leaders have gotten involved with and stay in acts that Father says we should stay clear of (adultery, fornication, lying, cheating, etc.)?  Things that would deny our entrance into eternity as they show our true heart (Matt. 6:21).  These leaders have forgotten the first half of the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:1-17), love God with all our being and justified their involvement with the second half (thou shalt not …), giving excuses.   They may say ‘this church is mine’ (not God’s) or ‘I didn’t really do that …. or it was a minor sin’.

Too much of the church is leaning towards the ‘world’s’ values and moving away from God’s.  They are living too much like the scribes and Pharisees of two thousand years ago.  They seek their own gain and their ‘religion’ has become merely a formality (Matt. 23:1-39).

Do we seek the comforts of the world while professing to serve our Lord and Savior (I’m not talking about God’s blessings here)?  It won’t work.  It can’t work.  No one can serve God and mammon at the same time (Matt. 6:24).

John heard a voice like a great multitude, like many waters, like great thunderings saying “Alleluia, for the Lord God, omnipotent, reigns.  Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him for the marriage of the lamb is come and His wife has made herself ready.  And it was granted to her that she should be displayed in fine linen, clean and white for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints”.  And He said to me “write blessed are they which are called to the marriage feast of the lamb!”  And He said “God has truly said this.” (Rev. 19:6-9)

There is an alternative eternal existence for those who reject our Lord and Savior.  Read Revelations chapter twenty for some insight.  Satan, the false prophet and the anti-Christ, along with all those who have rejected God will experience the lake of fire and brimstone forever.

God is love and He desires that no one should perish (2 Peter 3:9).  His offer is always open to us.  There is no greater gift of friendship than for one to give his life for another.  Father came in the form of Jesus and went to the cross for our sake.

So are we ready for the wedding?  For whom should we be preparing ourselves?  For what are we preparing ourselves?

Amen