The Royal Wedding (Matt. 22:1-14)

Jesus told another parable about the kingdom of heaven, and I will tell you my version based on Matthew 22:1-14. 

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. He sent servants to the invited guests to  tell them to come, but they refused." Really? A chance to go to a royal wedding and they refused to go! Oh my!

"Then the king sent more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that dinner is ready. Come.' But they paid no attention and left, one to his field and another to his business. Others mistreated and killed the servants. This enraged the king, so He killed the murderers and burned their city.

"The king sent more servants and said, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Now go to the street corners and invite anyone you find.' The wedding hall was filled with guests. The king, however, found a man who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked him, 'How did you get in without the proper attire?' Shocked, the man could not say a word. 

"The king said to the attendants, 'Tie him hand a foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Ouch!

Think About It
The story has a spiritual meaning. The king is God the Father. His Son is Jesus. The servants are the prophets. The invited guests who refused to come to the wedding are the Pharisees, and the guests who filled the wedding hall are sinners.The wedding feast is our salvation. The wedding clothes are God's righteousness. So who is the man who got in without wedding clothes? Like the king who would have provided wedding clothes if necessary, God has provided everything for us, even our wedding clothes. I have often wondered how the man got into the banquet hall (heaven). Maybe he thought he was good enough. But it is not how good we think we are or how self-righteousness we are that gets us to Heaven. It is the righteousness Jesus paid for with His blood. He gives it to us to wear just as he clothes the flowers of the fields and dresses the blue birds and cardinals. Thank you, Lord, we are not caught in our sinful nature.

Pray About It
Thank you, heavenly Father, for providing for our salvation through your Son Jesus and for dressing us in righteousness so we can live with you forever. Help us to live with heaven in mind. Amen.

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