The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 22 Part 1 Introduction To The Parable Of The Wedding Feast

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This post is a bit longer than usual. but I want to bring out some of the beautiful spiritual realities that we learn from the Parable of the Wedding Feast.

Matthew 22:1  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,  

Jesus is speaking to the same group of people, the multitude, along with unbelieving scribes and priests.

Therefore, this is the third consecutive parable Jesus spoke to this same audience, as He targeted spiritual leaders who led the people astray.

Jesus knew the evil thoughts of scribes and priests who sought to lay hands on Him (See Matthew 21:46).

This parable is Christ's answer to the priests and scribes, whose corrupt hearts harbored unspoken malice toward Him.

This is also the ninth time that Jesus has has taught about heaven which He introduced with the words "The kingdom of heaven is like...".

1) The kingdom of heaven is like a field that yields a harvest of wheat (believers) and tares (unbelievers) (See Matthew 13:47).

2) The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of tiny mustard seed that grows exponentially large (See Matthew 13:31).

3) The kingdom of heaven is like a small amount of leaven that diffuses through a whole lump of dough (See Matthew 13:33).

4) The kingdom of heaven is like a rich treasure hidden in a field such that a man sells all that he has to purchase it (See Matthew 13:44).

5) The kingdom of heaven is like the pearl of great price that a merchant man sells all he has in order to purchase it (See Matthew 13:45).

6) The kingdom of heaven is like a fishermen's net that catches a large quantity of good and bad fish, where the bad fish are cast out and burned (See Matthew 13:47).

7) The Kingdom of heaven is like a king who takes account of his servants and finds one that misappropriated a large sum of his funds. 

The king commanded that this servant be cast into prison but the servant implored the king and he forgave him his debt (See Matthew 18:23). 

8) The kingdom of heaven is like a certain householder who hires workers to work in his vineyard which pictures people coming to Christ through gospel preaching (See Matthew 20:1).

Jesus' next parable compares the kingdom of heaven to a certain king who is hosting a lavish marriage supper for his son.

Matthew 22:1-3  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 

This parable focuses upon a king preparing a lavish wedding feast for his son's marriage.

To better understand what is going on, we need to learn a bit about Jewish weddings in Jesus' day.

Jewish customs shed light upon the meaning of this parable and its application.

The scriptures fill out the beautiful picture painted by the Parable of the Wedding Feast.

A Jewish marriage contract corresponds with Jehovah's covenant of salvation.

Genesis 17:1-7  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3  And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4  As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6  And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 

With the words "made a marriage for his son", we are alerted of a Jewish custom, where parents of a betrothed couple draw up a marriage contract. 

An illustration of a marriage covenant like the one  Jesus referenced, is seen in a permanent salvation covenant God made with Abraham.

This is a covenant relationship with God that is entered into by faith.

This is why Abraham is called the father of all who believe (See Romans 4:11).

Isaiah 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

Through this wonderful covenant made to Abraham, God will wash away our sins and make us white as snow, which points to the cleansing power of Jesus' blood.

Through this covenant of faith, He will cleanse us from our sins and fully pardon us (Remission of sins).

He will declare us righteous before His throne, when we repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus Christ (Justification by faith).

The father of the bridegroom paid a costly "bride price" to the bride's father.

Acts 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 

When the apostle Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders for the last time, he reminded them that the church of God was purchased with His own blood.

The cost of our salvation is the highest that could be offered. 

God became a man but without a sin nature, through the virgin birth of Jesus Christ

This is how Jesus could live a perfect, sinless life and fully satisfy God's holy law on our behalf.

This is why Jesus could suffer for us, die for us and shed the blood of God on Calvary's cross for us. 

Peter said that we are redeemed by the "precious blood of Christ" who is our perfect Passover Lamb.

John the Baptist introduced Jesus and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (See John 1:29-36; 1 Peter 1:19).

The "bride price" of our salvation was paid by God and by faith we are His adopted children.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

Christ speaking through His apostle Paul reminds us that our body is the temple or dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

Th Spirit of God convicts sinners of their sin and condemnation before God.

He seeks to lead sinners to repentant faith in Christ, and when a sinner repents and believes, God's Spirit regenerates him.

He makes us a new creation in Christ, and equips us to walk in newness of life. 

Ezekiel 11:19  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20  That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21  But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD. 

The Holy Spirit fulfills the prophetic promises of God through Ezekiel that came at the day of Pentecost (See Ezekiel 18:31-32; 36:24-27; Acts 2).

Those who exercise repentant faith in Jesus Christ will receive a new heart that is tender toward the things of God.

They also receive a new spirit that quickens or makes us alive unto God, whereas we were dead in trespasses and sins (See Ephesians 2:1-10).

Therefore, our physical body, our will, our emotions, and our mind no longer belong to us.

We have been brought with a price, the precious  blood of Jesus.

Therefore, it is our most reasonable service to love and serve Jesus Christ our Master and Redeemer (See Romans 12:1-2).

1 Corinthians 7:23  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 

Hear Paul speak once more, telling us we are not to be slaves of sin.

We are not to be slaves of men, which means we must not be squeezed into the corrupt mold of a depraved culture (See Romans 12:1-2).

We must not devote our time or resources pursuing more wealth, more possessions, or experiencing the latest trends.

The bride and bridegroom were legally married, but remained apart until the marriage feast.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10  For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 

The bride and groom would meet when the marriage contract was signed and were considered married at that point, although they remained apart until the actual wedding feast. 

This is the present posture of Christ's church and has been since He returned to His Father (See Acts 1:7-11). 

We are instructed by God to walk in newness of life with Christ each day, while we wait for Jesus to come from heaven for us.

We belong to Christ and are joined with Him by the indwelling Spirit of God (See Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:12-14; 2:18-22).

However, we still have to deal with our old man and a body that wants to sin.

We must remember that we are bought with the costly bride price of Jesus' precious blood and that we must seek to live for the honor and glory of God.

Titus 2:12-14  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works

Our responsibility is to do the things Christ commanded us to do as we watch and wait for Jesus to come from heaven to take us home.

Each Christian is to be watching and waiting for Christ's return, while at the same time, working, worshiping and witnessing for Him.

2 Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

We are separated and apart from Him for now, though we are already committed to Him in marriage from the moment of our conversion to Christ (See Romans 8:23-25; Colossians 1:5).

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 

The apostle John reminds us that we are presently sons of God through the new birth, yet we are not a finished work.

We walk by faith and not by sight as long as we are on this earth.

John tells us that we do not presently know what we will be like when Christ takes us home to heaven and gives us a new, sinless body.

When our earthly life ends through death or the rapture of Christ's church, our faith will be made sight and our hopes will be realized!

When Christ returns for His bride, or appears, as John puts it, we will see Jesus in all His glory and we will be like Him.

We do not know exactly what we will look like, but we will receive a new, glorified body (See Philippians 3:21).

Thus, the bride remained with her parents, while the bridegroom prepared their new home. 

John 14:1-3  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

We have the sure and certain promise of Jesus Christ that He will return and that He is presently in heaven, with the Father, building a home for us.

Jesus told us that He was going to return to His Father and that there were many mansion in heaven.

Like a Jewish bridegroom, Jesus returned to His Father in order to prepare our home in heaven with Him.

He will return here again to take us to that new home, just as the bridegroom returned to take his wife to their new home.

Psalm 121:1-2  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

The Psalmist captures the posture of a trusting soul before God.

As we move through this life on earth, living as strangers and pilgrims, we receive no help or encouragement from the world. 

Therefore when we face affliction, adversity, trials or troubles we look unto the hills, which pictures looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our salvation (See Hebrews 12:2).

When times are less troublesome and pleasant, we still look unto our Lord Jesus for help, encouragement, strength and endurance.

We are not to put down roots in this present evil world, but are to live looking for our new home.

Hebrews 11:13-16  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 

Thus, the writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that all the Old Testament believers were persuaded by the promises of God.

They lived life on earth as strangers and pilgrims, passing through to a new home in heaven.

They did not often have permanent homes but were nomadic, moving from place to place as God directed their steps.

Our posture should be like theirs was, looking for a better country and a better city that is made by God for us.

When the home was prepared, the groom could return for his bride without any notice. 

Acts 1:6-8  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

Jesus was asked when He would restore the kingdom to Israel and establish His universal rule.

He answered and said that only His Father knows the time or the day that He will return for His bride.

This is why the bridegroom could return for his wife without any advance notice. 

Mark 13:32-33  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 

Before His suffering, death, burial and resurrection, Jesus' disciples asked Him when He would return and set up His kingdom.

Jesus said very clearly that no man knows the day or the hour. No angels know the day or the hour. Not even Christ the Son of God knows when this will happen.

Many professing Christians have been led astray by fake pastors who claim to know when the rapture of the church and the resurrection of life will take place.

We must ignore such people because they are liars!

1 John 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

This is why the bride lived with her parents, anticipating the arrival of her husband to take her to their new home and new life together.

If she loved the world, she would not be waiting and watching eagerly for her husband to arrive.

This pictures well Christian living where our love and our focus is on heavenly things where Christ is seated at His Father's right hand.

When the bridegroom returns for his bride, the marriage and wedding feast take place.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

On that day of the wedding feast Christ will return to the atmosphere of earth with a mighty shout and the loud trumpet of God.

All the dead in Christ shall be raised from the grave and reunite with their soul.

Then, all the born again children of God who are alive at that moment will be "caught up together" which is the rapture, or snatching away of Christ's church.

Jesus will return to heaven and the marriage supper of the Lamb will take place.

All the saints will meet together in the air and be together with our Lord forever!

Typically, the bridegroom's father provided a special garment for all the guests to wear.

This pictures each child of God being arrayed in robes of righteousness from Christ.

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. 8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

These are some of the spiritual realities that the Parable of the Wedding Feast teaches us about our Father, our Lord and His kingdom.

I realize this is a bit longer than most posts, but I wanted us to see the richness of our salvation.

Also, for each blessing there is a warning.

Those who are properly prepared to meet the Bridegroom (Christ) will gain heaven's joys.

Those who profess to believe but live like the world lives, will be denied entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

We read and hear truth from God but what will we do with it?

There are only two responses: belief or unbelief.

The scribes and priests were full of unbelief but they had a choice to repent and believe.

You and I also face the same choice. To ignore these truths is unbelief.

Without faith it is impossible to please God.

With faith, all things are possible.

My hope and prayer is that each one of us responds with faith in God's Word and belief in His promises.

Bob