Parable Of The Marriage Feast Of The Kings Son

Matt. 22:1-14~ PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST OF THE KINGS SON~ 12-29-12

Let me remind us first of all that the gospel of Matthew was given primarily too the Jews, it was written by a Jew, (Matthew) to the Jews, and it tells about a Jew (Jesus) but all of us can glean from Matthews gospel.

Only in Matthews gospel do we find the words "the kingdom of heaven" these words are found 32 times in this gospel and their not found any place else in the N.T., there's many references too the "kingdom of heaven", but not in this order of words. --- A parable is a earthly story to explain an heavenly truth.

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This parable about the "kingdom of heaven" was directed to His enemies, to warn them about their impending doom.

The King in the Lord's story represents God the Father, who gave a large banquet for His Son, Jesus Christ.

> Rev.19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

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The King sends His servants, referring to the Apostles who would appeal to the nation of Israel one last time, but unfortunately two responses of rejection were received.

The emphasis here in this parable is about how and why this age began, rather than upon the conclusion of the age, which the parables in Matt. 13: tells of.

ƒÞ The king in the parable is God the Father, and Jesus Christ is the son.

No one can attend this marriage feast unless their saved, unless they receive the SON. -- Rejection of the invitation to attend shows disloyalty to the King, (God) as well as discourtesy to the Son, (Jesus) and this brings about the severe treatment of the rejecting Jews as we'll see in verses 6- 7 which includes their city being "burned up," an obvious reference to the coming destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. - 40 years after Jesus was crucified, 40 the number of judgment.

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Matt. 21 closed with the religious rulers determined that Jesus would die. Matt. 21:46 "They sought to lay hands on him" but they were afraid of the multitude at that time.

Here in chapter 22, Jesus continues to answer the chief priests and elders which He began in chapter 21.

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* Listen as I read today's text found in Matt. 22:1-14.

1And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

4Again, he 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.

5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10So 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.

11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13Then 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. 14For many are called, but few are chosen.

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Some folk seem to think that the gospel is not really good news but bad news; but here in this parable we're told that God has planned a marriage, there's going too be a wedding, and that He has made ready a great and wonderful feast.

> Revelation 19: 7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.