Parable of the Marriage Feast

Matthew 22:1-14

Parables were often the speech Jesus used to teach and reveal God’s truth to those around him. It was a way for him to filter the people to who were willing to hear and believe from those who were not. In this particular parable, Jesus is evidently speaking of inviting people into a deep intimate relationship with God. There are two main audiences Jesus is describing here. The first round of guests to be invited are the Jews and religious leaders who turn away from the invitation to the wedding feast - which symbolizes the coming fellowship with God. Jesus is foretelling the rejection from his own people but recognizes that “salvation comes from the Jews” (John 4:22). 

The second audience is Jesus foretelling through this parable the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles. God wants His people to return. He wants to gather and fellowship with them and therefore invites everyone - yet Jesus gives a warning that though everyone is invited, not everyone will attend or be chosen. 

This can seem grim and even leave us sad because often, we read this and feel immediately defeated. How could we ever know who the people are chosen? Who should we invite? EVERYONE! We are not inviting anyone. We are the servants who send out the invitations. We can have peace and joy being the ones to deliver the invitations and trusting God will know who is chosen. 

Could we be people who are excited about the gospel and ready to go invite others into fellowship with God?