Week 9: A King Hosts a Wedding for His Son

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.  So the servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?  And he was speechless.  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  For many are called, but few are chosen.  Matthew 22:2-14

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a king who hosts a wedding for his son.  The king has his servants go out to his invited guests and have them come to the wedding.  The invited guests wouldn’t come.  He sent another set of servants to those who had been invited to let them know that the feast had been prepared and everything was ready.  Still, no one who had been invited came.  Instead some of the invited guests ignored the servants, while others tormented and killed the servants.  The king became angry and destroyed the murderers and their city.

To his remaining servants, the king announced that those originally invited had shown themselves to be unworthy.  The king told the servants to go out and invite as many people, both good and bad that they could find to his son’s wedding.  The newly invited guests arrived at the wedding and the king came in to see them.  Upon inspection by the king, one guest’s attire was not suitable for a wedding.  The king asked him why he had arrived unprepared, and he had no answer.  The king instructed that this guest, who was not ready, be cast out.  This parable ends as some others, “for many are called, but few are chosen.”

In the beginning of this parable, Jesus appears to be referring to God the Father as the king and himself as the groom.  In this same way, Jesus and his disciples preached first to their friends, families, and neighbors in their own faith community.  He was inviting his family and friends to be the first to celebrate a new relationship with him and with God.  But Jesus and his apostles were rejected by many in their own communities. The disciples were the servants of God and not only were they ignored, but Jesus foreshadows that many will be put to death (as he and many disciples later were).

According to Jesus, this angers God that His son has been rejected and His servants put to death.  More servants are then sent to invite all others to celebrate the good news of this new relationship.  Those now invited include everyone of all cultures, countries, and prior faiths.  He invites strangers, friends, and prior foes.  But now, when everyone is invited to the celebration, only those ready to receive the good news will be allowed to remain in the kingdom.  Although all are invited, only those who prepare and show themselves to be ready, will be chosen.  For as Jesus says, “for many are called, but few are chosen.”

Your Reflection

• How open are you to the invitation to a new relationship with God?
• What does it look like to be prepared for the kingdom?  How can you get ready?