The Parable Of The Marriage Feast
Matthew 22:1-14
The
parable of the marriage feast is the third in a trilogy of judgment parables,
parables by which our Lord describes the basis of God’s judgment upon those who
despise the blessings and privileges of grace. Without question, it was God’s
purpose from eternity to save his elect among the Gentiles. Without question,
God predestinated the fall of the Jews as the very means by which he would save
his elect among the Gentiles (Rom. 11:11,25,26).
There are no accidents in God’s universe (Rom. 11:33-36).
Yet, the cause of divine judgment upon that nation was not God’s
predestination, but their unbelief.
The
gospel was first revealed to the Jews, the nation of Israel,
in the types and shadows of the Mosaic economy. To Israel
alone God gave his law, the priesthood, the tabernacle, and his prophets. When
Christ came, he preached the gospel to none but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Yet, that nation, being blinded by their religious leaders, despised the
opportunities of grace God gave them, the gospel of his grace, and his dear
Son. Though they feverishly adhered to the rites and ceremonies of the law,
they had long rejected the message of God’s prophets. When John the Baptist
came preparing the way of the Lord, they ignored him. When God’s own Son came,
they hung him up on the cursed tree to die. And when God sent the apostles and
disciples of Christ to proclaim the message of the risen Lord and ascended
King, they rejected their message, imprisoned them, beat them, and murdered
them.
Therefore,
in 70 AD the Lord God sent the Roman army, under the command of Titus, into Jerusalem.
By the hand of Titus, God destroyed both Jerusalem
and the nation of Israel.
At the end of Daniel’s 70th week, the house of Israel
was left desolate. Their light was turned into darkness. Never again would that
nation have a word from God or a visitation of his grace. God said to his
servants, Israel will not hear. Leave her alone. Go ye
therefore into the highways of the world, and as many as you find, whether Jew
or Gentile, bid them come. And whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.
Israel
rejected God; therefore God rejected Israel.
Israel despised
the light God had given her; therefore God withdrew the light. Israel
despised and rejected God’s Son; therefore God cast her off forever. God’s
judgment upon the nation of Israel
stands as a beacon to warn us. God will not trifle with those who trifle with
his Son and the gospel of his grace. An awesome weight of responsibility lies
upon the shoulders of all who hear the gospel of Christ faithfully preached
unto them. It will not be heard without consequence. It will either be to you a
savor of life unto life or of death unto death (II Cor. 2:15-17; Rom. 11:21; Pro. 1:23-33). The same sun that melts
the candle hardens the clay. And the same messages that melts the believer’s
heart before God hardens the unbeliever’s heart to judgment.
Don Fortner