THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST

 

 

 

 

 

 

"And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, 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. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So 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. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then 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. For many are called, but few are chosen."                                                                                                              Matthew 22:1-14

 

            In this parable our Lord teaches us seven things about his gospel and the kingdom of heaven.

 

1. The salvation proclaimed in the gospel is comparable to a marriage feast (v.2). At a marriage feast everything is provided for the guests. They are not expected to bring anything. It would be an insult for them to do so. Even so, in the gospel of Christ there is complete provision for all the needs of a man’s soul before God.

 

2. The invitations of the gospel are full, free, and unlimited (v.4). “All things are ready, come to the marriage.” There is nothing lacking. No barriers are set before you. No conditions are to be met by you. “All things are ready!” The gospel sets an open door before all mankind, and says, “Come.” No one is excluded from the range of its invitation. “Whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely.” Though only few enter in by the straight gate, all are invited to enter. And all who enter find that “all things are ready!”

 

3. The gospel is flatly rejected by many who hear it (v. 5). Most of those people who hear the gospel receive no spiritual benefit from it. It profits them nothing.

 

4. Many who profess to believe the gospel are yet under the wrath of God (vv. 10-13). Spurgeon said, ”This man without the wedding garment is the type of those who pretend to be Christians, but do not honor the Lord Jesus, nor his atoning sacrifice, nor his holy Word.” The vast majority of those who take up a profession of religion are walking in the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14, 21-23).

 

5. Man’s unbelief will not alter, thwart, or in any way hinder the purpose of God (v. 10). “The wedding was furnished with guests.” I remind you once more that the purpose of God does not depend upon man. Though the Jews rejected God’s Son, he had a remnant according to the election of grace who gladly embraced him. And though many refuse to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, every chosen, redeemed, and regenerated sinner in this world, everyone purposed by God from eternity to be saved shall be saved by him and shall believe on him (Rom. 3:3-4; 11:11, 24-26).

 

6. On the day of judgment, all false professors will be detected, exposed, and eternally condemned (vv. 12-13). In this life a profession of faith and a fairly moral life is enough to secure a name and reputation as a Christian. But when we stand before God, he will examine us completely and judge us according to strict justice by those things written in the court books of heaven (Rev. 20:11-12). If we are not washed in the blood of Christ and robed with his righteousness, we will be lost forever.

 

7. The source and cause of true faith is God’s sovereign, electing love (v. 14). If you and I are true believers, if we truly believe the gospel we profess, if we truly rest our souls upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone, it is because God, from all eternity, chose us as the objects of his special love and grace (Jer. 31:3).

 

 

Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For Today Radio Message #654

2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net