The Parable Of The Marriage Feast

by Jonathan Hinds

(Unless noted all Scripture quotations are from the NKJV)

Matthew chapter 22 likens the kingdom of heaven to a marriage feast. In this parable, Jesus is relating to his listeners the reception given to the invitation to the kingdom by those who are invited. There are many responses mentioned but three particular responses given that we want to take notice of.

First, verses one through seven relate how the people of Israel received God’s invitation. Jesus relates how these people were the ones that were being prepared for the marriage feast. However, these first invited were not willing to accept the invitation. They were sent messengers on different occasions and yet their response was the same, “they would not come” (Matthew 22:3 ASV). Israel had the privilege of being the recipients of God’s prophets for hundreds of years, and yet they took little heed of the message the prophets were proclaiming. In fact, many of the prophets were treated scornfully and abused for the message from God they shared with the people. Notice especially the response of the people in Matthew 22:5 (ASV), “But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise…” To make light of something is to pay it no heed, or to consider it of little value. How great an insult to the king this would be, to consider his invitation of little value. These found other things of this life to be more important to them; their farm or their trades. Israel had been given the time and opportunity to prepare itself for the coming Christ, and indeed they were waiting for it, yet they neglected the care of the knowledge God had entrusted to them. Paul writes to the Romans, “What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God” (Romans 3:1-2). With the instructions God had provided Israel, they should have been a holy people, prepared to gladly receive the invitation into the kingdom. Again Jesus states, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). If the people had studied, learned, and taken proper notice of the messengers God had provided them, they would have been a people ready to receive the invitation. However, because of neglect of the word entrusted to them, many of them “made light” (Matthew 22:5) of the invitation and were sentenced to destruction as verse seven of chapter twenty-two concludes. Let us not fall into the same sad state as they through our neglect of the word as well but rather follow Peter’s instructions to “be even more diligent to make your call and election sure” (II Peter 1:10).

After the first group of people neglected the invitation, the master of the wedding feast told his servants, “Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast” (Matthew 22:9 ASV). After the rejection of the first group invited, the feast was opened to all. This shadows the orders Jesus gave to his apostles, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). All are invited by God to enter the kingdom. Brethren as we understand this, we need also to understand the great responsibilities we bear as stewards of God’s word and workers in the kingdom of God. The invitation is truly for all and as Jesus brought to his disciples’ attention while they were traveling through Samaria, “lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35). This is shown in the parable of the marriage feast as Jesus comments that the “wedding was filled with guests” (Matthew 22:10 ASV). Yes, there are those that will gladly receive the invitation of the Lord and come to the feast.

Last, let us notice the one that came but was rejected. “But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment?” (Matthew 22:11-12 ASV). Albert Barnes in his commentary on this passage explains that in the tradition of the times, white robes were provided as wedding-garments to all who were invited by the master of the feast. To refuse to wear the wedding-garment was a great insult to the one giving the invitation. How sad it is when those will say “I will come to the feast, but on my own conditions.” As the parable continues to teach, this is just as unacceptable as the first who neglected the invitation. “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:13-14). “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” Jesus said in John 14:6. There is no other way into the kingdom of heaven, except through Christ, the way God has planned and revealed as the Hebrew writer details for those who might be tempted to neglect it.

God has placed before us a great responsibility and we must decide how we will meet it. Will we, like the first people of this parable, neglect God’s words and reject his invitation? Will we try to accept God’s invitation, but only on our own terms? Friends, we know that can not be. Or will we be good stewards of that which God has entrusted to us, accept His invitation, and realize the responsibility we have to share the invitation with all we find (Matthew 22:9)?