The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 22 Part 2 The Parable Of The Wedding Feast: Put God On Display By Sharing His Word

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.  

The beginning of this parable indicates that Jesus was speaking to the same multitude which included the scribes and priests from the last chapter.

Therefore, this is the third consecutive parable preached by Jesus to a multitude that included unbelieving scribes and priests.

We studied components of a Jewish marriage feast as it was in the time of Jesus, to help us see beautiful spiritual truth regarding God our Father, His Son Jesus and His kingdom.

This parable pictures the Jews rejecting Christ as their King, and God turning from the Jews to call the Gentiles. 

The gospel, with all its privileges, was offered to the Jewish people, but through their wickedness and pride they rejected Christ.

Therefore, the gospel with all its blessings were offered to the Gentiles who accepted.

The "certain king" is God the Father.

"His son" is Jesus Christ the Lord.

"His servants" are God's prophets and pastors sent to proclaim the Word of God to His people.

"Them that were bidden to the wedding" refers to the Jewish nation. 

Israel is often described as the wife of Jehovah in the Old Testament.

Jeremiah 2:1-2  Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2  Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

Jehovah looks back to the time that He espoused Israel to Himself.

This text include is the language of a loving marriage contract.

It was a time marked by kindness and love of God for His bride.

It was a time when God provided all that Israel needed when He led them into the promised land of Canaan.

Ezekiel 16:8  Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. 

The prophet Ezekiel describes it as a time of love, where God covered Israel's nakedness with His garments.

This pictures God giving abundant protection, provision and providential care for Israel, His wife.

Thus, God entered into a marriage covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai and the nation became His wife.

Israel is often described as an unfaithful wife of Jehovah in the Old Testament.

Ezekiel 16:30  How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman; 31  In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire; 32  But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband! 

However, Israel consistently fell into idolatry and immorality.

Therefore, in many places in scripture, Israel's idolatry is described as the actions of an adulterous wife.

The nation was filled with pride and flaunted their idolatrous relationships with "gods" made by men's hands and tools.

From God's perspective, Israel was like an unfaithful wife committing sin with strange men.

These facts are prominent in the historical narratives (Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel; 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles).

They are a prominent theme emphasized by Jehovah's "servants" His prophets sent to call Israel to repentance and restoration with God.

Spiritual idolatry by God's unfaithful wife Israel, brings judgement and hardship.

Ezekiel 6:1-7  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2  Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, 3  And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. 4  And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. 5  And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars. 6  In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished. 7  And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

We will look at an example of God's judgment announced by His prophets from the book of Ezekiel.

This is a prophecy against Israel and the words "Thus saith the LORD" mean it will most assuredly happen as God says.

A sword came to destroy their high places and break down idolatrous worship altars.

Men, women and children died and many were carried into a foreign land for seventy years of captivity.

This happened when the ten tribes centered at Samaria, were conquered by the Assyrians and taken captive.

Later, the tribe of Judah and people of Jerusalem were conquered by the Babylonians, with many were killed or taken into captivity.

Ezekiel 20:7-8  Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. 8  But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 

God sent His prophets to warn the people and to call them to repent and return to Him.

Most Jews rebelled against God and subsequently, He poured out His wrath upon them.

Faithful Jehovah sent prophets early each morning, year after year to a rebellious people.

Jeremiah 7:25  Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: 

There are literally dozens of scriptures we could read to illustrate this truth.

From the time God redeemed Israel from Egyptian slavery unto the very day Jeremiah prophesied, He sent prophets early in the morning.

The message they preached is very much like the gospel preached by Jesus.

This gospel calls for Israel to repent and mourn their sins, and to turn away from dead idols to serve the One, True, Living God of heaven.

God offers blessing for those who repent, but judgment will fall upon those who refuse to submit to His Word.

This gospel always includes a warning for those who refuse to hear and heed what God says.

The Jewish response is almost always unbelief or of calloused attitudes toward God.

Jeremiah 25:3-6  From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. 4  And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. 5  They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: 6  And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. 

Thus, the people did not listen, nor did they incline their hearts to hear the Word of God preached (See Jeremiah 26:35; 44:4; Zechariah 1:4-6; Amos 2:11-12). 

God said "I have spoken to you early each day but you do not listen."

God rising up early illustrates His love, compassion and desire to restore Israel to Himself.

He faithfully sent His prophets early each morning but they did not incline their hearts to hear and heed what God said.

God said the people must turn from their evil ways and stop their idolatry and then He would bless them.

Jeremiah 26:3-5  If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. 4  And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, 5  To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; 

God shows us that the path of blessing and receiving His best for us, is when we walk on the path of obedience to His Word.

God expressed His hope that the people would repent and return to Him "but ye have not hearkened."

Faithful God promises to send Messiah to restore Israel and make them into a faithful wife.

Equally prominent are the promises of God to one day call the nation back to Himself in an everlasting covenant relationship.

Isaiah 54:4-8  Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5  For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6  For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7  For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. 

God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things and He is Israel's husband.

He will call the Jewish nation away from her sins and idolatry.

He will offer mercy in response to Israel's unfaithfulness.

He will offer everlasting kindness in response to Israel's persistent spiritual adultery.

At a future time, all Israel will respond to the call of God to repent and return to Him.

God's promises will be administered by Messiah, His Son, Jesus Christ.

Thus, when John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, it was to prepare the people for their Messiah and King.

Jesus and His disciples preached the same gospel message to stir the people's hearts so they were prepared to meet Messiah their king.

Therefore, it is clear how this parable teaches us about faithful God calling His people to repentance and restoration.

The certain king pictures God the Father preparing a glorious wedding feast for His only beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

The pattern in scripture is that the gospel always goes to the Jewish people first.

In Christ's parable, this pictures God sending prophets to preach repentance for sin through hundreds of years of Israel's history.

The certain king sent more servants to all people to the wedding feast and they refused to come.

Matthew 22:3-6  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4  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. 5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 

Jesus' parable is a Divine indictment of Israel's faithlessness and failure to believe God's Word.

The heavenly Father sent forth more servants seeking to call people to the wedding feast of His Son, just like His prophets rose up each morning calling Israel to repentance.

A wonderful and lavish meal is prepared and all is ready, and the invitation from God to all people is clear: "Come unto the marriage." 

Some made light of the invitation by mocking or making fun of God's prophets.

This is like mockers we encounter today who make fun of Christians who actually seek to live according to God's Word,

Some people listened but then turned to do their own thing, much like many professing Christians do what they want to do on the Lord's Day, .

Some people returned to their farms, preferring to do chores rather than responding to God's invitation.

Some wanted to go to the market to buy or sell things and make a profit.

Others horribly mistreated God's prophets or murdered them.

Matthew 22:7  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

This is a reminder that God is longsuffering and slow to anger, but when individuals or nations consistently reject His gospel, they will eventually incur His wrath.

Remember in the parable of the of the vineyard and the two sons, one son refused to obey his fathers command to work but later repented and did as he asked.

The other son, representing scribes and priests, gave lip service to obeying God but never did what He commanded them to do.

Those same religious leaders rightly said the son who repented and obeyed was the son who did his father's will, and they condemned themselves because they did not respond to the gospel.

In a second parable about the householder and the wicked farmers, the religious leaders rightly said that the householder would miserably destroy those who beat and killed his servants and his son.

These parables were directed right at the scribes and priests, who turned people away from the Word of God and pointed them to man made traditions.

This third parable does not ask for a response from the scribes and priests. 

It tells what God would do to their nation because of unbelief.

This was fulfilled when Roman forces led by Titus Vespasian, overthrew Jerusalem in 60 A.D.

Stones from the temple were thrown down one by one, and soldiers plundered the sacred area, burning it with fire.

To see the glory of God we must first read and heed His Word.

Exodus 34:5-7  And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. 

Moses pleaded with Jehovah to see His glory but the LORD said no man can see that sight and live.

Therefore, Jehovah said He would pass by Moses and hide him in a cleft in the rock as He passed.

I think it is important to note that before God passed by Moses to show His glory, He first had Moses make a new copy of Ten Commandments.

Thus, a pastor, parent, church leader who seeks to glorify God, must do so by first giving people His Word.

We must faithfully teach, preach and share the Word of God because this is what puts the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ on display.

Failure to preach, teach and share the Word of God is a failure to put the Godhead on display.

John 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 

Remember, the Spirit of God came to exalt and elevate Jesus Christ our Savior.

The primary manner in which Christ is elevated is by preaching, teaching and sharing the gospel of Christ. 

The secondary way that Jesus is exalted is when each Christian learns to obey to the Word of God, because our light will shine and our salt will be usable as Christ intended.

We have one more section of this parable to study, but we have already seen wonderful truth that directly applies to each professing Christian.

Let us therefore, seek to hear God speak from His Word and determine to obey Him no matter what the cost is. 

Bob