Jesus tells about the wedding feasts
Matthew 22:1-14 (New Living Translation)
1Jesus also told them other parables. He said, 2“The Kingdom of
Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding
feast for his son. 3When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who
were invited. But they all refused to come!
4“So he sent other servants to tell
them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been
killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ 5But the guests he
had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to
his business. 6Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
7“The king was furious, and he sent
out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. 8And he said to his
servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy
of the honor. 9Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ 10So the servants
brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall
was filled with guests.
11“But when the king came in to meet
the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a
wedding. 12‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding
clothes?’ But the man had no reply. 13Then the king said to his aides,
‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14“For many are called, but few are
chosen.”
In this culture, two invitations were expected when banquets were given. The first invitations asked the guests to attend; the second announced that all was ready. Here the king (God) invited his guests three times--and each time they refused to come. God wants us to join Him at His banquet that will last eternity. That's why He sends us invitations again and again. Have you accepted His invitation?
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