The Royal Marriage Feast – Part 1
Jesus gives us The Parable of the Royal Marriage Feast in Matthew 22:1-14. His parables couch His message in a familiar story. They ended with a one-two punch leaving the hearer convicted of sin. What does this parable teach?
And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 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.”’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
Jesus begins with a king. He invites guests to his son’s wedding. Who would refuse a king? No one in their right mind. This illustrates the importance of heaven’s invitation. Rejecting God’s offer of salvation is utmost folly comparable to rejecting the invitation of a king.
God has prepared a wonderful feast. He offers the bread and water of life, Jesus Christ. “And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” (John 6:35). This is God offering Himself because Jesus is God with us. He gives a great feast, the abundant life (John 10:10).
Some reject His offer, mock, spite, and kill the servants. Why? They consider their own affairs superior. Idolatry is a primal sin (Romans 1:21-23). Pride causes a person to reject God.
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley