*Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a king who throws a wedding feast for his son, but the invited guests refuse or are unprepared.
- Setting the Scene:
- Jesus shares a parable comparing the kingdom of heaven to a king who organizes a wedding feast for his son.
- Invitation and Rejection:
- The king sends his servants to invite the initially chosen guests to the feast, but they refuse to come.
- He sends additional servants, emphasizing that the banquet is ready, and all preparations have been made.
- The guests ignore the invitation, focusing on their own interests or mistreating and killing the servants.
- Retribution:
- Enraged by their response, the king sends his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city.
- Extending the Invitation:
- The king then sends his servants into the streets to invite anyone they find, regardless of status or background, filling the banquet hall with new guests.
- Unprepared Guest:
- As the king inspects the guests, he notices a man without appropriate wedding attire.
- The king questions him, but the man is speechless and cannot offer an explanation.
- The king orders the guest to be bound and thrown out into the darkness, where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Moral of the Parable:
- Jesus concludes the parable with the statement, “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
- This parable illustrates how the initial rejection of God’s invitation leads to others being called, while underscoring the importance of being prepared and worthy when answering that call.
Matthew 22:1-14 teaches us that God invites everyone into His kingdom, but we must be ready to accept His invitation with sincere hearts. The parable of the wedding feast reminds us that just hearing about God’s love is not enough—we need to respond by living in a way that honors Him. It also warns against taking His grace for granted or thinking we can come to Him on our own terms. This passage encourages us to examine our faith, accept God’s invitation with gratitude, and live in a way that reflects His love and righteousness.
Matthew 22:1-14 (WEB)
22:1 Jesus answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast!” ’ 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; 6 and the rest grabbed his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. 9 Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the wedding feast.’ 10 Those servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ 14 For many are called, but few chosen.”