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The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ But they paid no attention and went off – one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

 

Our God is so good and invites everyone into His banquet. However, not everyone has or will accept this invitation. The original guests in this parable represented people who do not believe in Jesus or even beat or murder those who are trying to spread the word. Those who began the early church certainly encountered this. There are places in the world where Christians are persecuted and murdered today. Thank God we do not see persecution to this extent in our country, but many people are too busy to thank God and worship, coming into His wedding feast. Much like the men who ignored the invitation and went back to their field or business, too many people consider their livelihood and the things they want to do above taking time to praise God and thank Him for all their blessings. I was confused the first time I read the part of the parable where the man who was not wearing wedding clothes was cast out of the assembly. I read some authors’ commentaries, and it was made a little clearer. Some people who consider themselves Christians will show up, but do not have humility, righteousness and obedience to God in their hears. This is what God asks for, and what we must have to truly be children of God.

This is a call for us to spread the word and bring those who are ignoring the truth or persecuting the faithful to the Light. This parable shows us that all belong and Jesus wants us all to be His people.

Dear Lord, please help us be truly faithful, humble and obedient so that we will be worthy of being invited to the ultimate feast. Please give us the words and hearts to bring others into your family. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

Karla Gerke

Kgerke56@gmail.com

 

Prayer Concern - Those in the world who do not know God