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About-Him.Com Devotional 08-20-2005
Http://About-Him.Com/ My Thoughts on the Life of Christ, from His Baptism to His Ascension. 190: Parable of the King’s Son Mt 22:1-14 (Parable of the Wedding Banquet) The Parable of the King’s Son is a continuation of The Parable of the Two Sons, which Jesus gave after His authority was challenged by the rulers of the temple. His earthly ministry was coming to a close. He had come as a King offering a kingdom. The big problem was that He did not meet the expectations of the religious people. He was born in a stable, and made His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, rather than on a white stallion as any other king would do (Zechariah 9.9). He came as a suffering servant (Isaiah 52:13), knowing that He would soon pour our His very life’s blood for the redemption of mankind (Isaiah 53:1-12) . His kingdom was spiritual rather than carnal (John 18:36). He came as the Light of the world (John 8:12), but men loved darkness rather than light (John 3:19). He came to His own and His own received Him not, but to those who received Him (That’s us), He gave the power to become the sons of God ( John 1:10-13). Matthew 22:1 ¶ And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. The custom of the day called for a wedding announcement one year prior to the actual wedding. When the year was up, the king sent his servants to remind those who had been invited that the time had arrived. 4 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. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. A great feast was prepared and surely the king’s subjects would be more than eager to attend? No, they actually mocked the king and killed his servants (John the Baptist). 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. An obvious reference to the destruction of Jerusalem which was to come in A.D 70 when the Romans besieged and sacked the city killing most of the inhabitants in one day. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 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. The gospel went out from Jerusalem to as many of the Jewish nation that would receive it. The invitation was given to both good and bad. After the keepers of the law rejected the kingdom, the door was opened to the publicans and sinners, then to the gentiles and then to whomsoever will. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Proper attire was required at a wedding banquet and was actually furnished by the host. There was no excuse for not wearing it. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen. Conclusion and Application: How does this parable apply to us today? Perhaps I should say, how many times have we heard the gospel presented? How often have we heard the still small voice of the Lord and then quickly turned to other things just as those in the parable went to their farms and merchandise? God is merciful and gracious, but He is also a God of wrath and judgment (Romans 11:22). He is not willing that any perish (John 3:16-17; II Peter 3:9), but the simple fact is that those who have rejected His tender mercy will be damned (Mark 16:15). Both good and bad people were bidden to the banquet. Aren’t we thankful for that? We don’t come in our own attire or boasting of our good works (Ephesians 2:8), which in the sight of God are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We come just as we are and our Lord graciously washes us in His precious blood and gives us the appropriate garments (I Corinthians 6:11). v We have heard the announcement of an impending wedding feast that is yet to come. The Lord Jesus Christ and His bride are going to be eternally united. We will be there, not as a guest, but as the bride. We will be dressed in the appropriate wedding garment which is the righteousness of the saints (Rev.19:5-10), given to us by faith in Christ Jesus (Phillippians 3:9) who gracious gives us the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Luke 3:16; Romans 14:17; Titus 3:5). See you there? In About-Him
Online Sermons http://about-him.com/sermonlink.htmlOur Bible Studies http://about-him.com/bslinkpage.html Our Music: http://about-him.com/audio.html Flash Theater http://about-him.com/player.html Scripture list on 30 subjects http://about-him.com/wordarc.html Humor
After finishing a hard day's work on his own - because his partner didn't show up - a
carpet-layer cleaned up all his tools and prepared to leave. Patting his pocket, he
realized that his appointment book was missing. Looking around the room, he noticed
a small lump in the center of the carpeting he just finished laying, just about the size
of his appointment book. Considering for a minute, he finally decided to lay a board
over the lump and hammered it flat.
Relieved that the lump was no longer noticeable, and that he wouldn't have to pull the carpet up again, he loaded his equipment into his truck, and found his appointment book laying on the front seat. Just then the lady of the house ran out to his truck. "The carpeting looks great," she assured him, "but I was wondering if you had seen my parakeet?" Somebody Has Said
"Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn." - Charles Wesley
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