Parable of the Great Feast

Matthew 22:1-14 (New Living Translation)

Parable of the Great Feast

Jesus also told them other parables. He said,
“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.
Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.


“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’
So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike,
and the banquet hall was filled with guests.


“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Jesus is talking here to people of Israel. Once again they refused to believe that he was the Messiah. He is saying that the feast is ready; salvation is theirs, ready for the taking. But they just refuse to accept the invitation.

But God doesn’t give up easily; he continues to send servants, or messengers to let them know that the invitation still stands. Notice he says the guests that were invited ignored them and went their own way. People today constantly put their own priorities ahead of Gods’. People are under the impression that they can go their own way and still get to God. There are so many “new age” religions popping up, so many false doctrines. So many people who think that they can get to Heaven just because they are a good person, just because they treat people fairly. But there is only one way to the Father. You have to accept the invitation.

John 14:6 (New Living Translation)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

He goes on to tell us that God then sent messengers to gather people, good and bad, from the street corners and everywhere else. These were the gentiles. Gentiles are all people who are not true Jews. For the most part, that’s you and I. The invitation is for all to come to the banquet. Even we who are not the Jews can be grafted in to the family tree.

Romans 11:17-18
But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

He goes on to mention that the King noticed one man who was not wearing the proper clothing for a wedding. I did a little bit of research on this verse and found out that typically in those days, people who were invited to a wedding were also given a wedding garment to wear. I believe this would be similar to today’s’ tradition of all the brides maids wearing similar dresses or the bridegrooms all wearing matching tuxedos. But apparently this one man had refused to put on the garment. It was as if he was being rebellious. He wanted the sneak into the party and enjoy the feast without truly becoming part of the family. Gods desire is for us to not only accept his gracious gift of love, but we are to put on that love like a garment.

Colossians 3:12-15
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Notice that when this man was confronted and asked why he refused to wear the wedding garment, the man had no reply. He had nothing to say. He was speechless. I believe that’s exactly the way it will be for many on the Day of Judgment. There will come a day when those who have rejected Jesus will be standing before God Almighty and asked why they refused to believe in him. I believe they will be frozen in shock. All excuses will be meaningless. They will have nothing to say for themselves. It will be too late. The decision has to come now, in this lifetime.

Matthew 25:10-13
“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

The time has come my friends for you to make a decision. Are you going to be the ones standing outside of locked gates wishing that you had come to know Jesus in time? The invitation is still open. Today is the Day of Salvation. It’s time for you to make up your mind. Perhaps you have been riding the fence. You claim you know the Lord. You claim to be a Christian. But are you on fire? Is he really Lord of all? God clearly says in his word that he would rather you be cold or hot, but not just warm. He can work with cold. And he delights in hot. But warm he detests.

Revelation 13:15-17
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

He says he will spit you out of his mouth for being lukewarm. Too many of are neaither hot or cold. I encourage you today my friend to make a decision to go after God. Go after him with all your heart, mind, and strength. If you ride the fence, you will suffer the consequence!

Come to the banquet my friends. Put on the robe of righteousness that is given to you freely. Enjoy the bounty of rich foods and great fellowship that is available at the wedding table. Be prepared to say Yes Lord. I believed!

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Michael