The remaining teaching is individual. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. COL 307.1 In this way, rank or station was covered, so everyone at the feast could mingle as equals. This is why the king reacts so swiftly and harshly: “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13). 22:1-14 by Father James Thornton. He then sent forth his servants to call them that had been invited to the wedding but they refused to come. It is not enough that we merely believe the invitation of the Gospel; we must lay hold of the righteousness of God, which is offered us in Christ Jesus, and upon all them that believe. I’ll include a few thoughts on Law and Gospel, some ideas for presenting this parable, and couple of song suggestions. While all are invited, only those who are clothed in the righteousness of Christ by faith in Jesus will be allowed into heaven and the marriage supper of … A marriage has been arranged for the king's son, and the initial invitations were sent out so all on the guest list could make plans to attend. Matthew 13:23 describes the group we must be in to be chosen: “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” The ones whom God commends are those who bear fruit. In reality, no one is good except God Himself. As Jesus puts it, “He becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). Every branch that does not bear fruit He takes away [margin: lifts up; or removes, cuts off]; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” He ends the passage by saying, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (verse 8). The wedding banquet is to be with God in heaven. The Parable of the Wedding Robe: Matthew 22:11-14. Or walking in the steps of others to avoid a fall? This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. David C. Grabbe In other words, he quits producing the kind of character growth God wants to see in him. To refuse the garment is insulting to the giver. However, God compares us to Himself. His kindness and generosity had been spurned, and he responded with wrath. Second, just like the servants who invite people to the wedding banquet, God’s Holy Spirit reaches out with the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. One person may live a less destructive, more benevolent life when compared to another person. “A wedding garment.” The garment was part of the King’s provision, but he refused it. In these the Kingdom of Heaven is presented as the wedding banquet of a certain king's son -obviously God's. Looking for suggestions on teaching other parables? The important question is “Now that we have been called, are we producing the fruit that glorifies God, transforming into the image of Jesus Christ?” (Romans 12:2). a. He enjoys running, writing, and trying to impress people with his guitar playing. By the marriage is represented the union of humanity with divinity; the wedding garment represents the character which all must possess who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding. Matthew 22:1-13 contains the Parable of the Wedding Garment, whose lesson is that inappropriate clothing will keep a person out of a wedding feast. First, Jesus suffered and died to redeem the whole world. What Jesus did on the cross is enough to forgive any sin. Unfortunately, many modern-day readers share the view of the Jewish leaders, including a fair number of Christians. The Parable of the Wedding Feast . When the king comes in to look at the guests, what distinction does he make? Humans have nothing proper of their own to wear “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Jesus is merely using their own language. If we do this, we will indeed be among the chosen—the elect—and glorified with Christ. We can assume that those attending the wedding feast are given garments upon entering. The King ( God ) planned a great occasion for His subjects ( Jews ) to share in a time of feasting with His Son ( the blessings of the kingdom ) & to rejoice in His marriage ( to the church ), but His subjects ( Jews ) would have no part of this feast ( which they proved by rejecting Jesus ), so the invitation was … Forgiveness is a difficult concept to learn, much less implement each day. Rejecting the garment of Christ’s righteousness represents a rejection of the character that qualifies men and women to … Today I'm going to reflect on the Gospel for 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Matthew 22. The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” (hymn 208). 1. At various times I've had this recurring dream. The parable of the wedding garment, given in Matthew 22:1–14, opens before us a lesson of the highest consequence. The guests, who were invited had put on their wedding garment, except one. Third, God provides the wedding garment. There’s always a twist that his audience didn’t see coming. In this way the wedding was finally furnished with guests. What the Bible says about The wedding garment was, moreover, a sign of honour for the Prince. Extravagant amounts of money are spent for the ceremony and the reception. I would be somewhere out in public and find myself missing one or more pieces of clothing. Notice verses 1-2: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Martin Luther … As Christians, we reject no one. Parable is just a fancy word for a story. It contains new and old clothing, new and old wineskins, and new and old wine. Our failure as Christians is to regard ourselves and others by the world’s standards. To those who are depending on their own works, their own self-righteousness, to make them acceptable before God (see Ephesians 2:8-10). Let’s start off with the Parable of the Wedding Feast. Matthew 22:1-13 contains the Parable of the Wedding Garment, whose lesson is that inappropriate clothing will keep a person out of a wedding feast. The Parable of the Sower both warns and advises us on the course of our lives once we hear “the word of the kingdom” (verse 19). And he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?” And he was speechless. Augustine of Hippo interpreted the garment as symbolizing charity, an interpretation not widely accepted even in medieval times. Many Are Called, Few Are Chosen. His lack of a wedding garment was another example of extreme disrespect for both the king and his son. Instead, our goal is to follow the Lord’s call to reach out with the Gospel in order that the Holy Spirit would give each person the wedding garment of salvation through Christ. They had gotten far off course. Isaiah … Clearly, works are involved and required on our part, but without the covering and involvement of Christ, those works would continue to be as filthy rags. We can conclude that, while God's calling is widespread—going to “as many as [His servants] find” (Matthew 22:9)—those who respond to His invitation and whom He subsequently chooses to wear a wedding garment are a far smaller group. They stated by their actions that they cared little for the king and his son. The Parable of the Wedding Feast A Homily on St. Matt. It is here that Jesus inserts His somewhat cryptic phrase, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). These wedding garments were simple, nondescript robes that all attendees wore. So often, it is easy to let down in our thinking, assessing that, because we believe we are members of the church, we can relax in our conduct and spiritual growth. In almost every culture, wedding ceremonies are a big deal. In the parable, the one who insulted the king was thrown into the darkness. It was not just that he lacked a wedding garment, but that he did not wear one on purpose. CPH publishes over 8,000 products for churches, homes (individuals and families), and schools including Bibles, Bible studies, curriculum, Vacation Bible School (VBS), Sunday School, worship resources, church supplies, Spanish resources, and other Christian books and gifts. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. Just as the king provided the wedding garment for the guests, God provides salvation. The man was plainly not dressed correctly for this occasion. In fact, they were sufficient unto themselves with their farms and shops; they felt they had need of nothing (Revelation 3:17). The king instructs his attendants: “Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. This is the end portion of Jesus’ larger teaching of the wedding feast. Explain that the white represents the purity of God, which we receive through faith in Jesus Christ. The parable of the wedding garment opens before us a lesson of the highest consequence. It might be better phrased, “Why are you not wearing a wedding garment, even though one was provided for you?”. They do this by overcoming their old sinful natures, seen in the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), and growing in the traits of their Savior, seen in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The king was rightly furious, and he mustered his forces to avenge his maltreated servants to erase the disrespect shown to him. Having the man brought forward, the king asked: “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” (Matthew 22:12). Even if one is poor, there is pressure to put on a good show. The wedding garment in the parable speaks to us of the righteousness of God which is offered to all in Christ Jesus, and which is upon all who truly believe in Him as Saviour and Lord. God’s work for us in His overwhelming love and mercy is represented in three parts of this parable. Those who put on the wedding garment as good as said, … Our wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ; unless we agree to wear it, we’ll be prevented from appreciating gain when we attend the King’s big wedding feast in his kingdom. This was Jesus’ way of teaching the inadequacy of self-righteousness. Pastor Phil Rigdon and his wife, Jamelyn, live in Kendallville, Indiana, with their pet chinchilla, Sunshine. The wording, “And he was speechless,” indicates that he was without excuse. So, a second, more urgent invitation was sent out to the same people, as time was getting short, but the invitees paid little heed to it, caught up in their own activities and ventures. After Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to cover themselves with something they made with their own hands (Genesis 3:7). God's calling clearly corresponds with the king's invitation, and indeed, the invitation went out to both the original guest list (Israel/Judah, whose people were killed in war and whose city, Jerusalem, was burned; Matthew 22:7) and then to mankind generally. When Phil is not giving raisins to Sunshine, he serves as pastor at St. John Lutheran Church and School in Kendallville. Of the guests who have been gathered one is unworthy. In the same way, some people may appear perfect, but in reality we all need what God has to offer in Christ. Parable of the Wedding Garment, Parables of Jesus Christ: Guests at Wedding Supper. The system of beliefs and practices that developed into Judaism is not the same thing as the Old Covenant. Reconciliation is even harder. However, many Jews would not receive it, rejecting its prophets and teachers and, especially, Jesus Himself. They see you in that particular form of wearing that garment. For example, some, facing the prospect of losing a job because of keeping of the Sabbath, rationalized that God would not want them to fail to support their families and so left the church, considering God's way to be too difficult. Notice that the servants make no distinction between good and bad. Hymn numbers are for All God’s People Sing. Matthew 22 English Standard Version (ESV) The Parable of the Wedding Feast. We are to regard all people as equally in need of what God has to offer in Jesus Christ. 22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants [] to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Here, therefore, the "wedding garment" is nothing less than the "holiness" without which "no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14), and that holiness, as in the framework of the parable and in the realities of the spiritual life, Christ is ever ready to impart to him that truly believes. admits, that it was not an authentic part of a parable spoken by Jesus. They, too, spurned their calling. God intended that covenant to prepare His people for the coming of the Messiah. If you put on a garment, what do people see when they look at you? See what over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. In verse 6, Jesus expands on what He said in verse 2: “If anyone does not abide not in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” The unfruitful branch's ultimate end is the Lake of Fire. But, just as it makes no sense to tear off a piece from a new garment to patch an old one, so is it also a futile exercise to try to keep our own righteousness intact and use a little bit of Christ's righteousness to cover a flaw here and there. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen. When the king arrives, he sees that one of the guests does not have a wedding garment. . To introduce the lesson, lead a discussion on what it means to be “good” and “bad.” How many bad things can you do before you are a bad person? But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. Our emphasis, especially now as the times worsen, must be on working to make sure we are chosen. God calls you and me to forgive... Do you remember having a snow day from school? The parable of the wedding garment opens before us a lesson of the highest consequence. Some commentators suggest that the wedding clothes or garment in this parable were provided by the host, but this is unlikely to be the intended implication. He was, in fact, determined not to wear one. The reason the gospel has a lot to do with the first reading for Mass, and the responsorial psalm too though, is because of the wedding garment in this parable: “But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. 1-14.This contains two related parables. God does it all. The parable is a series of contrasts between new and old. The wedding garment itself represents salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Instead, the wedding banquet is intended for all. 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