Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them.
“But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. Then he *said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.
“But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he *said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
— Matthew 22:1-14
The idea of kingship was held in the utmost regard in the eyes of the religious Jews. Kings were regal, worthy of idealized, though often worldly, reverence. This cultural dogma would’ve given Jesus’ audience understanding regarding the offenses made to the king in the parable. For example, it would’ve been a personal offense against the king that his subjects “were unwilling to come…[and] paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business.” This type of overt disrespect would carry certain punishment; even Jesus’ opposition would agree to this. Disrespect was considered an intolerable, personal offense against the crown.
As the parable unfolds, we see a certain patience being exercised by the king. Instead of immediately railing against insolence, he requests his citizens’ company again for his son’s wedding feast. How many of us non-kings would show this kind of patience??? God’s patience is truly astounding. Not only did the king offer a fine meal, but he extended the invitation more than once. The response was to kill the king’s messengers (this is akin to Christian martyrdom). The king’s response thereafter was to denounce his original list of invitees (those with a special relationship to him, ala Israel) and pursue others considered lower in social stature to fill his banquet hall (ala Gentiles). The only issue with the gathering of the latter was that the wedding feast included some who weren’t adorned with clothing provided by the king for proper attendance.
In the closing of the parable, we see something that is seen in our own churches today - pretenders. When the king presented one of these people with the truth about their condition - their ill-preparedness for the wedding feast - the individual “was speechless.” The implication is that this person would’ve refused the king’s kindness in clothing him righteously, preferring his own garb instead. In some ways, this exhibits an even greater offense to the king because it includes a certain public mockery fueled by individual arrogance and insubordination, as if to say, “I don’t need your grace to be righteous.” This person, of course, represents the opposite heart of one who accepted the king’s graciousness, adorned with attire provided by him, personally.
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
— Isaiah 61:10
He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
— Revelation 3:5
I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
— Revelation 3:18
As I mentioned at the outset, this Parable of the Wedding Feast reminds me of my ministry over the past few years. “And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:5). I feel for my congregation because they are able to relate, firsthand, to the slaves asked to help gather up attendees for the wedding feast. ”The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” (Revelation 22:17). Thankfully, it is not our calling to save others, only to announce the invitation. The striking reality is that we are often mocked for doing so. However, it is not our burden to bear when some choose to clothe themselves while assuming a seat at The King’s table. This reality, “For many are called, but few are chosen,” may indeed be crushing news for those already endued with eyes to see and ears to hear (Mark 8:18); however, we mustn’t doubt our faith in the sovereign, holy God of the Universe to act righteously. After all, He is the one who has planned this great wedding feast before any man or woman ever walked the Earth. The end was known before it all began.
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."
— Revelation 19:7
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
