Read Introduction to Matthew
1And 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.
We now come to the parable of the marriage feast (22:1-14). Jesus is still in the process of judging religion. There are two divisions to this parable: 1) an invitation to the kingdom rejected by many and extended to a broad group (vv. 1-10), 2) invited persons expected to be properly attired (vv. 11-14).
22:1
And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:
This is the third and last parable dealing with Jesus’ authority before religious leaders.
22:2
“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,
Jesus now pictures a king who made arrangements for the marriage of his son. By analogy the “king” is the Father and the “son” is Jesus the Son of God. The bride is the regenerate of Israel.
22:3
and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
The king sent invitations to the wedding but the invitees were not willing to come to the marriage. The “servants” here represent those who communicate the gospel. Israel did not accept the invitation to come to the Messianic kingdom.
22:4
Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner [evening meal]; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’
The king sent out another notice that the dinner was ready for the wedding guests. The “servants” Jesus “sent out” may have been John the Baptist and his disciples.
22:5
But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
The people offered excuses not to come to the wedding. They were ostensibly too busy to come. These people did not have a special excuse but were involved in ordinary pursuits.
22:6
And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
Others even treated the king’s servants “spitefully” and “killed them.” These people represent those who disregarded and killed prophets of God.
22:7
But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Treason warrants judgment. The king punishes those who refused to come to the wedding.
22:8
Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.
The king pronounces the unworthiness of those to whom the first invitation went out. “Not worthy” has to do with not responding to the invitation.
22:9
Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’
Another invitation when out to whoever wished to come to the wedding. This represents the free offer of the gospel. “As many as you find” broadens the invitation from the chosen Israel to anybody.
22:10
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.
The second invitation was a general invitation to the public to come. This resulted in a full “wedding hall.” People came who were both “bad and good” morally. There was no qualification to come to the banquet whether a flagrant sinner or a “nice” sinner.
PRINCIPLE:
God rejects those who actively reject His offer of the gospel.
APPLICATION:
This passage deals with national rejection of the Messiah. Jesus would have set up His Millennial Kingdom if the nation embraced Him as the Messiah. However, they rejected Him as their Messiah. God sent judgment on Israel for this then opened the gospel for all to hear.
People do what is in their best interest regardless of an invitation to come to the kingdom. Israel failed to claim God’s promises and people today will not claim them either. Those actively hostile to the gospel are those involved in religious liberalism, mysticism, cults and other forms of false teaching.
v.4. As I read it, it suggests that the feast was ready for the wedding guests, which might have been John the Baptist and his disciples, but then v.5 says the invited guests paid no attention. I believe I know what you mean, but I think the wording is not clear.
Mike, I have rephrased the sentence about John the Baptist and his disciples. Does this clarify who rejected the offer to come to the supper?