The Parable Of The Marriage Feast
“For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:9).
The Lord spoke these words after giving the people The Parable of the Wedding Feast. He likened the Kingdom of Heaven to a wedding feast for a king’s son. In the parable we see the king sending out his servants to call all those who were invited to the feast. But those invited (chosen) would not come. He then sent other servants to bid others to come, for everything had been prepared for the feast. But those invited made light of it and went about their business. And those refusing the invitation mistreated the king’s servants and killed them.
The Lord spoke this parable to Israel. They had been invited to take part in the marriage feast which spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. Those the first servants were sent to represent the prophets and their Messiah, both rejected by Israel. The other servants sent could represent them being sent to His disciples and those in the early church after His crucifixion. These as well were rejected by the religious leaders of Israel and some were killed.
The parable goes on to say that when the king heard that his invitation had been refused and his servants had been mistreated and killed; the king was very angry and sent his armies and they destroyed those that murdered His servants and they burned their city.
This is exactly what happened to Israel in A.D. 70. The Romans under Titus came and completely destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Many of the Jewish people were killed and others scattered throughout the Roman Empire. Israel as a nation ceased to exist at this time. They had rejected their Messiah and the Lord’s judgment fell because of it. Sadly, God’s chosen people refused the invitation and therefore suffered the loss of their home and more importantly the loss of the chance to see the Kingdom of Heaven come in their lifetime.
The parable goes on to say that the Lord said to his servants that all was ready for the wedding but those that were invited were not worthy. He then sent his servants to invite all they found to come to the wedding. His servants went out and gathered all, both bad and good, and the wedding feast was filled with guests.
Israel, as a whole, was deemed not worthy by the Lord, because they rejected the worthiness of Christ. The religious leadership of the nation had rejected Christ. The Lord then turned to the Gentiles and invited all those that would come, both bad and good. This is meant to show that all are in need of salvation.
The parable goes on to say that one of the guests that came to the wedding feast did not have a wedding garment on. When questioned by the king the man was speechless. The following verse in the parable is a sobering one indeed:
“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” Matthew 22:14).
The wedding garment represented the Righteousness of Christ. Those that would pretend to show up, or be acceptable to God in their own righteousness will not be allowed to enter but will be cast into Hell. Many are called to come into the kingdom by faith in the precious Blood of Jesus shed for all at the cross, but few are chosen because they refuse the invitation and chose to stand in their own righteousness. We are all invited to the wedding feast. Those that chose to come by way of Christ are the welcome guests at the feast. The following verse makes it clear:
“Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go threat.”
“Because straight is the gate, and narrow the way, which leads to life, and few thereby that find it” (Matthew 7:13,114).
Jesus is the gate, or door, to enter the Kingdom Of God. Israel was invited (called) at the time of the Lord’s first advent and they refused to come to the Lord. They chose to reject their Messiah and have paid a heavy price for their rejection from then until now. The Bible tells us that at the Lord’s Second Coming all Israel will be saved. But they could have come to the Lord when He offered them the Kingdom 2000 years ago. We have the same invitation today! Many (all) are called, but few are chosen (few answer the call).
There will be an actual marriage feast in Heaven. It is Called the Marriage Feast of the Lamb as the following verse tells us:
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife (all the redeemed) has made herself ready.”
“Blessed are they which are called unto the Marriage Supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:7,9).
The Invitation stands. We are all called. Those chosen come by way of the Righteousness of Christ.
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