Matthew 22: 1-14 The Parable of the Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)
“Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.
Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’
So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. (Traditionally, wedding clothes were provided.) ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’
But the man was speechless.
Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Sometimes, we must compare versions of Jesus’ stories to get the full picture. Matthew is a former tax collector, writing as a Jew for Jews and wants to highlight the main points of a story. Luke, by tradition, is a Greek physician. I have always thought that if Luke were practicing today, he would be a specialist in Neurology, because Luke is a detail man, obsessed with transmitting as much information as possible.
Here is Luke’s introduction to the story of the banquet: “One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely. Right there before Him was a man with dropsy. So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they remained silent. Then Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him on his way. And He asked them, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?” And they were unable to answer these questions.” (Luke 14:1-6)
Jesus is at it again, scandalizing religious leaders while fulfilling the Will of his Heavenly Father. One of the religious leaders reclining at table makes a pious statement. “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” What a lovely sentiment! How can Jesus possibly turn this earnest observation on its head? You can practically see all the other religious leaders nodding in polite agreement. “Way to go, Abner! Show this upstart that we are men of discernment!”
Jesus only smiles and then begins telling another story. This time, Jesus tells of a ruler who throws a huge banquet to celebrate his son’s wedding. Since Jesus generally uses recent events as the basis for his stories, it’s possible that such a celebration has just occurred in Jerusalem. This man sends out invitations to friends, neighbors, and relatives in the expectation that everyone will want to share in his joy. After all, what can be better than free delicious food, wine, dancing, and music? Surely nobody will be crazy enough to turn down such an offer.
But in this story, the invited guests not only offer ridiculous excuses, but even seize the ruler’s servants, mistreat them, and even kill them. By now, those in the crowd are shaking their heads. Who could be stupid enough to do such things, especially to the servants of a powerful ruler? Don’t these people realize this ruler can ruin their lives for their refusal to honor him or kill them because they have murdered his servants? These people must be crazy!
In revulsion, the ruler orders his servants to go to the crossroads and invite as many people as they can possibly find. (Luke adds “Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ ‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’” (Luke 14:21-24)
Now we return to Matthew’s version, for he makes another important point. To avoid offending any important people attending, it’s the custom at such events for the host to supply wedding garments so that everyone attending will be properly clothed. Again, the religious leaders are nodding in agreement. Certainly, nobody will be stupid enough to refuse to exchange his old rags for beautiful new raiment. But in Jesus’ story, one man strides in, certain that his clothing is so good that he doesn’t need the wedding garments the host has provided. This guy is not only wrong but has made a fatal mistake.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. (Traditionally, wedding clothes were provided.) ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.
Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Right about now, some of the more insightful religious leaders are beginning to feel quite uncomfortable. Surely, Jesus can’t be indicting them with this story? Some of the more thoughtful ones realize that Jesus might be referring to God sending untold numbers of prophets, only for many of them to be murdered in ghastly ways. Is Jesus trying to imply that these religious leaders are like the man without a wedding garment who has trusted in his own clothes? The host is beginning to remember all the warnings his friends have given him about Jesus being a very awkward dinner guest.
Let’s leave this embarrassed host and his guests because Jesus’ story is not just aimed at them but also at us. We are the incidental guests at God’s banquet, and He is inviting us to be with Him forever. But nothing we do will be good enough for us to earn our way into heaven. Unless God helps us, we are like that man who refused to wear the wedding garments provided by the host because he thought his clothing was good enough.
Each of us is born with a sin problem, and nothing we can do will ever make up for the sins we commit. The Bible tells us that “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin.” (Hebrews 9:22) But praise God, God the Father has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Jesus has come and has lived a sinless life and has died an innocent death for our sins. We can choose to accept what Jesus has done or to refuse it. But when we refuse it, we are like that man who thought his clothing was good enough when it wasn’t. God never sends anyone to hell; people choose to go to hell. And if we refuse to accept what Jesus has done for us, we will find ourselves forever condemned to that outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Don’t delay this decision, thinking you will reconsider tomorrow. As I am writing this, America is mourning the tragic death of a good man who attended a political rally, only to be shot down by a sniper as he sheltered his wife and children with his body. Nobody expected a gunman to appear at that rally, but he did. 2 Corinthians 6:1 tells us, “For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” We are not promised tomorrow; today, right now, is the only time you have to make this decision. Please hear your Heavenly Father’s call! Please come and follow Jesus!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sins so that we have the opportunity for eternal life with You. Help all who read these words to trust in Your mercy. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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