WHY PARABLES?
A Marriage Feast
The beauty of the parables of Jesus, is that they are stories told as a means of teaching a lesson or which were prophetic of the future. The lessons were there to see plain and simple and did not need academic prowess or explanation, for wisdom and knowledge came from listening to the word of God, listening with an open mind and heart. It was what the listener brought to bear on what was heard that developed the understanding .
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.' [Proverbs 9.9 NIV]
NOT WILLING TO COME
Invitation Rejected.
invitation from the king was a command and to refuse was to be disloyal even to the point of rebellion. Jesus was here talking about the people of Israel. This invitation was spoken about by the prophet Zephaniah, where we read:
Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD; for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.' [Zephaniah 1.7,8]
MADE LIGHT OF IT.
Went their way.
Own business.
And the rest seized the King’s servants treated them badly and killed them.
So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 1 king 19 vs 10
Not worthy to receive the invitation of the King.
Now go to the highway.
Gather all.
Come one come all
Jesus is calling.
The invitation is no more for the chosen people only but for all.
The wedding feast is on.
The fatted calf, the oxen. Every good food is ready.
Come.
God’s plan not defeated.
However, God’s plans are never defeated. So a third invitation went out to all who were willing to come from the streets. This refers to the preaching of the gospel to the despised Gentiles, the commoners and the outcasts of society in the parable. Jesus warned Israel: “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west [Gentiles from all over the world], and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob [the founders of Israel] in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom [Jews by birth] will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:11-12). This principle applies today. For many in countries with a Christian heritage, Christ is not important. Again, some privileged children raised in a Christian home reject Christ, while others with no Christian background receive Christ.
JUDGEMENT EVEN BEFORE THE WEDDING FEAST.
The prophet Isaiah pictured “salvation” and “righteousness” as clothes worn by God’s redeemed people that God had provided (61:10; 59:17 cf. Psalm 132:16; Zechariah 3:3–5; Revelation 3:4–5; 19:7-8.). The man was “speechless” i.e. embarrassed, self-condemned, and without excuse when the king confronted him. If we refuse what God offers to make us respectable in his sight, we are like the guest who chose to come to a royal wedding in “filthy rags”[1] (Isaiah 64:6), that represented his own “righteous acts”, and consequently we cannot expect the king’s favour. It is an illustration of the person who presumptuously considers that he is good enough to enjoy God’s presence without the righteousness of God in Christ.
WHAT DID THE KING SAID TO THE MAN WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENTS?
The king said to his servants ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away and cast him into outer darkness there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This man did not want to have a wedding garment.
He took salvation as cheap.
He wanted to have his own self righteousness.
This is danger in our Christian life.
We are saved but put on the new man.
CHURCH PUT ON THE WEDDING GARMENT.
Colossians 3:12-17
New King James Version (NKJV)
Character of the New Man
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
ARE YOUR READY FOR THE WEDDING INVITATION?
Say:
I am ready.
I am righteous because of Jesus.
I am Holy because of Jesus.
No self righteousness but Jesus righteousness.
I am victorious because of Jesus.
I am ready for this invitation.
MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.
Are you the chosen one?
He loves you first.
He lives in you.
He bring hope to you.
Just believe in His goodness and live and a righteous life.
He came to give His life for you that you might live.
