The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
Matthew 22: 1-14
To begin: This parable concerns a wonderful wedding banquet given by a king to celebrate his son’s wedding. To begin, share stories of any really special, opulent or joyful celebration you’ve been to.
Context: Jesus is speaking in Jerusalem, just a few days before His death. He has just cleared the temple of the money-lenders, and had a showdown with the chief priests and elders. It follows the parables in Chapter 21 which were critical of the Pharisees.
Read: Matthew 22:1-14, and then discuss who you think the various characters represent.
NOTE: With parables, it’s not always possible to say who each character represents, so beware … but on this occasion we can. The king is God. The first servants He sends out are the prophets to the Jews. He sends further prophets, then John the Baptist and Jesus Himself. Still the Jews won’t listen. Then He sends the apostles (and all who spread the word, even today) to the Gentiles and us.
1. What words, phrases and ideas in the passage indicate that this was a truly lavish occasion?
[It’s a “feast”, a “banquet”, a royal occasion given by the king for his own son no less. There are oxen and fatted calves, there’s a wedding hall which is full of people.]
2. In v. 2-5, what did the wedding guests have to do in order to attend? Why did they not come?
[Nothing – just come! No entrance fee, high social standing or pre-existing friendship…]
[No reason is given in v. 3 … perhaps indifference, or they were too busy to hear. In v. 5 they have other priorities – tending the land (ie feeding themselves) or doing business (money!) Note that these are not “evil” things – sometimes we just let life crowd God out.]
3. The inference from v. 2-5 is that people refuse to come not because they cannot, but because they will not. What do these verses suggest about our responsibilities as evangelists today?
4. V.7 represents a turning point. The king loses patience with the Jews, and from now on he will invite the Gentiles. The burning of the city in v.7 is thought by some commentators to foretell the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans around AD 70. What do we make of the new invitation in v. 8-10? Who was invited? What does these verses teach us: a) about how we see ourselves, and b) about the task of evangelism today?
[Salvation is not earned, but a gift. It is not bestowed only on the privileged, or the successful, or the pious, or the “good”. Hence, we cannot invite only the privileged, the successful, the pious, the good …. Many churches and christians struggle to get this right. As God’s modern-day servants, we are to do the seeking and calling, “to all we can find, bad as well as good”.]
5. Jesus’ parable makes clear not only that we will be invited, but that we will be truly welcome at the feast. We may be undeserving of the invite, yet by grace we can take our place at the celebrations without guilt or question. Imagine being a guest at this wonderful wedding party (Charles and Diana’s reception to the power 1000!), where the host is thrilled you’ve come … Share how that might be.
[One commentator writes: “Behold, the dinner is prepared, the oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready … the Father is ready to accept of us, the Son to intercede for us, the Spirit to sanctify us; pardon is ready; peace is ready, comfort is ready; wells of living water supply us; golden harps play for us, angels are ready to attend us, seraphim ready to sing with us …. heaven, at last, is ready to receive us.”]
6. The twist in v.11-14 refers to hypocrites, who are in the church, but not of it. Before we discuss the hypocrite, what do you notice about the king and his other guests?
[We see the king mingling closely with his guests, aware of and interested in each one ….]
7. Why does Jesus extend the parable to include the story of the hypocrite, and what lessons do you draw from it?
- Note, for example, the other guests didn’t seem to notice a problem …. the man passed human inspection, but not God’s …
- The wedding clothes represent righteousness. It’s not enough to accept God’s invitation – we need to put on righteousness too. Only those who acknowledge God’s kingship, and truly love His Son (the friend whose wedding we celebrate) can share in the feast for all time.
- As with any wedding, the host will greet every guest in turn. It is important for all of us to prepare for that day. When challenged by God, the man was speechless, but if our hearts are right, we can plead our love for Jesus.
Only if time allows. Does this parable suggest that God was now “cutting off” Israel from blessing, or that the Jews would no longer be eligible for His blessing? Read Romans 10:16 – 11:7 and discuss.
[Jesus was saying that The Jewish nation would no longer be privileged and set apart – His message and His invitation would now be to all. In Romans, Paul confirms this, but makes clear that individuals from the Jewish nation can still receive the gospel message.]
Prayer
Begin your prayer time by reflecting on the passage and thanking God for His graciousness to us, and His amazing gifts for us. Pray for some people you know who have been too busy or preoccupied to receive His invitation, and for our mission partners as they go about their work.
David Murray