“Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”‘ “But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ Those slaves went out to the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.” (Matthew 22:1-10, NASB)
This passage came up in my Bible study this morning. It asked who the different people in the story represented. It seemed reasonable to say that the king represents God; the King’s son, Jesus; the original wedding guests, the people of Israel; the slaves are the prophets of God; and the other wedding guests represent the Gentiles.
The parable concludes:
“But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:11-14)
Who does this man who was thrown out into the darkness represent? He was one of the latter wedding guests, so a Gentile. The parable says that the slaves gathered both evil and good to come to the feast. Then the King comes in looking over the dinner guests, judgment. The King finds this man who does not meet His standard, sin. He asks him to give an account for himself, but he is unable. The man is then thrown out of the feast and into the darkness; “in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” hell.
This man accepted the invitation to come to the wedding. He was there along with all of the other dinner guests who apparently did not notice there was anything amiss. It wasn’t until the man was looked upon with the eyes of God that his unworthiness was revealed and he was thrown out. What does this mean? Who does this man represent?
“For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:4-6)
Give our hearts to Christ anew each and every day. Seek and love Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Remain focused on Him and His will rather than the things of this world. Pray that when God comes and looks upon us He will see us washed clean through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 25:14)
Father, thank You for the invitation into Your kingdom and for the gift of grace and forgiveness through Your Son. Let our hearts, souls, and minds be transformed into the image of Christ that we may be pleasing in your sight.
Jennifer Young, LPC is a Local & Telephone Christian Counselor. For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com
