The conclusion of the parable's interpretation as an allegory will also
be the final chapter of this book. I have used this study of the parable
of the wedding feast to express, in a unique way, God's wondrous plan
for all those who love His son, Jesus Christ. My prayer for those who
read this book is that they might be saved (if that isn't already the
case). But also that they may come to understand the basic truth that
the Bible is the Word of God from which, for us, all truth emerges.
Therefore, it deserves a great deal of renewed attention.
Let us proceed with the interpretation.
Verse 8.
Then saith he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they which
were bidden were not worthy.
As previously mentioned in chapter 8 , those who were not
worthy were the self-righteous religious establishment,
who pitted themselves against Jesus. The other symbols
are explained in chapter 13 .
Verse 9.
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid
to the marriage.
Those from the highways are identified by Jesus, earlier in
his confrontation with the chief priests and the elders in
Matthew 21:31b.
"Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots
go into the kingdom of God before you."
The publicans and harlots were among those whom the chiefs of Israel
did not find acceptable, but Jesus said they would stand a better
chance to enter the kingdom of God. These include any of Israel's so-
called undesireables, be they sinners or medically infirm.
Jesus told a similiar parable in Luke 14, where a man (not a king)
made a great supper and invited many, but for various reasons these
would not come. This man, then, to furnish his supper, also gathered
the undesirables from the highways. The parable continues in Luke 14:
21-23.
"So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the
master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly
into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and
the maimed, and the halt [cripple], and the blind. And the servant
said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and
hedges, and compel 1 them to come in, that my house may be filled."
This paints a more complete picture of the lost sheep of Israel that
Jesus spent his time ministering to. He found their hearts to be fertile
ground for the gospel.
Verse 10.
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.
In this verse, notice the words "both bad and good". The final
invitation to the wedding feast is not dependent upon the moral
reputation of a person but whether or not he accepts the
invitation. The guests are the elect of Israel (all except the one
who is ejected).
Verse 11.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man
which had not on a wedding garment:
This is fully discussed in chapter 12. A singular guest, who somehow
manages to enter the royal reception area without a garment is
discovered by the king. The man represents any of Israel who refuse
to be clothed with God's perfection but seek to establish their own
righteousness. Regardless of how perfect the masquerade, their real
carnal nature will be discovered. In a universal perspective all men,
both Jew and gentile, must be clothed with this righteous garment in
order to come in the presence of God. This garment represents
the righteousness of Christ.
Verse 12.
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a
wedding garment? And he was speechless.
See chapter 12 .
Verse 13.
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take
him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
Without the righteousness of Christ, no man can stand
before God. If a man were to do the impossible and live a spotless
life, he would still be ejected from the sight of God because of his
carnal nature. There is no way into the presence of God except
through Christ Jesus. See John 14:1-6, concerning the kingdom of
heaven.
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the .way ye know.
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and
how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father , but by me."
The outer darkness represents the second death, reserved
for those whose name is not written in the book of life.
Verse 14:
For many are called but few are chosen.
Note:
There is one other place in the Gospels that this expression is used.
It occurs in Matthew 20:16b. The content of the parable concerns
God’s rewards for those who labor for him. It says nothing about who
will be entering the kingdom. This saying is deleted in the editions of
Tischendorf and Tregelles; it also did not appear in the Codex
Sinaiticus. There’s a possibility it was added by early translators.
Copyright Pete Lounsbury 1994
| Chapter 15 The Conclusion |
