Matthew 22:1-14

[mindlight]

The parable of the wedding banquet is one of a sequence of three parables Jesus gave in which the suggestion is made that the religious authorities who were the centre of the old religious pecking order were being displaced by a new kind of religious community. The Kingdom of Jesus included Jews and Gentiles and many who were considered worthless in the current order were suddenly elevated to membership of the best quality club in town.

I have the following questions about this particular parable:

1) How come this king had slaves? How come they were not invited to the party?
2) I love the imagery of the King giving a wedding banquet for his son. In this sense the community of the guests who come to celebrate the wedding and have a good time are an image of the church. The church is a collection of happy people with something to celebrate in other words. But then there is this guy who did not wear the right clothes and got thrown out of the party. It seems respect for the host is all important as well as coming in a mood to celebrate. Do people think that the underdressed charismatics of the modern era are someone disrespectful of the party host. They know how to celebrate but do not do it properly?

Should we all wear suits and ballgowns to church?
3) In the modern era there is much to distract us from Gods invitation to come party with Him. Are we also guilty of being distracted by the things going on in our own lives that we do not hear Gods call on us or worse take God for granted and act indifferently towards it.
4) Could I take this parable as a justification for the death penalty for murder or treason for instance as these seem to be considered OK in this parable.
5) Has Israel been replaced by the church because of their indifference to the Messiah. Do you think the Jews that were the original guests who might have turned up to the party and a higher status of sorts?
6) What is the difference in being called and being chosen
7) Is Hell as kind of exclusion to outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This image of a brightly list party manshion house surrounded by the dark of night is a powerful one of the Kingdom. As is the idea that people in the light get hurled out into the dark around the house.


22:1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 22:3 He sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. 22:4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready. My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”’ 22:5 But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 22:6 The rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. 22:7 The king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death and set their city on fire. 22:8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy. 22:9 So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 22:10 And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 22:11 But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 22:12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he had nothing to say. 22:13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’ 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

 

[calluna]

The parable of the wedding banquet is one of a sequence of three parables Jesus gave in which the suggestion is made that the religious authorities who were the centre of the old religious pecking order were being displaced by a new kind of religious community. The Kingdom of Jesus included Jews and Gentiles and many who were considered worthless in the current order were suddenly elevated to membership of the best quality club in town.

I have the following questions about this particular parable:

1) How come this king had slaves? How come they were not invited to the party?

I'm sure they were- they being evangelists, in the modern context. One does not need to be too literal about this, though. Jesus sent out disciples as servants, and his own ministry was that of a doulos, slave/servant, to take the 'invitation' to Israel, notably the Pharisees, who made themselves out to represent true faith, but were its enemies. The affairs of this world took precedence, and they rejected Jesus. The people who actually come to 'the feast' are Gentiles, much looked down upon by the Pharisees.

The man without wedding clothes represents the illicit entryist into the church, one who pretends to be of Christ but is not justified by the righteousness of Christ, which is the 'garment' that is provided by Christ through faith. (Wedding clothes were often provided for guests in those days.) His fate is possibly worse than those who simply do not 'attend'.