Monday, August 22, 2011: Matthew 22:1 – 4 (NKJV)
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.”’
Background: This Kingdom of Heaven parable is only found in Matthew’s Gospel.
Who were the servants and the invitees? The servants are the prophets and the invitees are the Jews.
Is this an invitation to a wedding? Yes and no! It is an invitation to a wedding supper.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011: Matthew 22:5 – 6 (NKJV)
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.
What did the invitees prefer? They chose business and livelihood. They also condoned murder.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011: Matthew 22:7 (NKJV)
But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
What city is the parable alluding to? Jerusalem and its Temple.
Thursday, August 25, 2011: Matthew 22:8 – 10 (NKJV)
Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
Who are now the servants and the invitees? The servants are the evangelists and the invitees are any and all, good or bad.
Friday, August 26, 2011: Matthew 22:11 – 14 (NKJV)
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 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.”
Who will cast into outer darkness? Those who came to the wedding feast without the wedding garment provided for them. There are those who profess to be believers in the Savior, but have never believed personally.
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