Lesson 2371

(Lesson 2371)(06-11-18) Matthew 22:1-14
    “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 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, But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 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. 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 hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

    In today’s quote, Jesus, yet again in a parable, makes reference to the Jews as those who, scorning and violating his messengers, refused to attend the king’s wedding party.
    The parable mirrors the fact that when the Jews rejected Jesus, the “chosen” status was taken from them and given to those, of all stripes, who would accept God’s grace through virgin birth, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
    The last of the parable demonstrates how those who appear at God’s final judgment without Jesus as their intercessor for their sins (wedding coat) will be rejected and cast into an eternal hell.~