God’s Saving Word: Wisdom
Introduction
Matthew 22:1-14: Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast. Because the invited guests ignore the invitation, the king instructs his servants to gather people from the streets and bring them to the wedding hall.
Scripture Reading
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
22 Jesus again used parables in talking to the people. 2 “The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. 3 He sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come to the feast, but they did not want to come. 4 So he sent other servants with this message for the guests: ‘My feast is ready now; my steers and prize calves have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!’ 5 But the invited guests paid no attention and went about their business: one went to his farm, another to his store, 6 while others grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them. 7 The king was very angry; so he sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burned down their city. 8 Then he called his servants and said to them, ‘My wedding feast is ready, but the people I invited did not deserve it. 9 Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people.
11 “The king went in to look at the guests and saw a man who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ the king asked him. But the man said nothing. 13 Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark. There he will cry and gnash his teeth.’”
14 And Jesus concluded, “Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Today’s Key Verse: Matthew 22:9
[The king said:] ‘Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find.’
Reflect
In the parable of the wedding feast, who is the king? Who is the son? What is your understanding of this parable? Verses 11‒13 mention a guest who was not properly attired, an indication that the guest failed to honor the king, an offense similar to those who ignored the king’s invitation. In what ways do you honor God? This parable may call to mind the description of the wedding feast of the Lamb as described in Revelation 19:5-10 which in verse 9 says, “Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”
Pray
Lord God, there are times when I may fail to honor you and act in ways that are not in accord with your will. Thank you for reaching out to me in love and inviting me to your wedding feast. Teach me to honor you and to reach out to others in love for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Matthew 22:15-33: The religious leaders seek to trap Jesus with their questions.
