The Marriage Supper for the King’s Son
Matthew 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son.”
This is one of the parables Jesus taught. The lesson to learn is that all that are invited to come, are going to be responsible for the invitation, and what they do with it.
Let us consider the parable:
Matthew 22:3-4 “And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
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.”
It was common in those days to send two invitations.
One, to notify the guests of the wedding day, and time.
The second, when things were ready, to collect the guests.
Now the Ministry of Jesus Christ was given twice.
One time to the Jewish Nation, which rejected Him.
The second, when the servants of Christ are sent to the individuals of the world with the Gospel.
All things are ready…….”Come”.
Now for the Nation of Israel:
Matthew 22:5-7 ” But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
And the remnant took his servant and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and sent forth his armies, and destroyed the murderers, and burned up their city.”
This happened in the destruction of Jerusalem, under Titus, when God punished those who rejected, and crucified His Son.
And now for the world’s hearing of this invitation:
Matthew 22:8-10 “Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.”
His servants would go into all the world, preaching and teaching the gospel.
Their commission was:
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Both good and bad people would hear and come to Christ….For God will have His Son to be honored.
The effectual call of the Holy Spirit, by means of the Gospel,
has gone throughout the world,…..and brings all who receive Him, to come to Christ, as Lord and Savior.
John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:”
Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
All those who come, are given the robe of Christ’s righteousness.
And for all the guests at the wedding feast, they would have been provided new garments, to change into, for such a grand occasion
Matthew 22:11-14. “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Then said the king unto the servants, Bind him and hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
This man didn’t have wedding garment on,…..which would have been provided to him,…..so he was asked, Why?
He should have. They were there, and given to all who were bidden and brought in.
So why didn’t he?
The only answer is, that he refused to put it on.
And by refusing the wedding garment, wasn’t he telling the king that he thought nothing of the invitation?
He had been brought in by the invitation, but did not want to submit to the King’s provision.
No one can come to the Wedding Supper of our Lord and Savior, if they are not clothed with His righteousness.
(Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.)
To “come” to God in your own works, or in your own goodness; is the greatest insult.
The call: “Come, for Christ has died and raised again to save us”, has sounded through the ages.
But you must receive Him,….or refuse Him.
For those who come to Christ, simply to get heaven, and not to be saved from their sin……..will find that the garment of self-preservation will not be recognized by God.
The garment of self-righteousness will not be recognized by God.
The garment of self-expression will not be recognized by God.
And the garment of self-will will not be recognized by God.
In His Son, God has provided all things that we might “sup with Him”.
What will we do with our invitation?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 