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Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus has spoken a parable against the chief priests, elders, and Pharisees (Matthew 21:33-46) in which the Chief priests and the Pharisees were in great disapproval and wanted to “lay hands on Him” (Matthew 21:46). But Jesus does not flee; He explains His teaching through an additional parable that He tells them in Matthew 22:1-14.
It is very important that we take note of how Jesus begins this parable in Matthew 22:1-14 as He declares, “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son” (Matthew 22:2, NKJV). Jesus goes on to tell that those who were initially invited to the marriage had other things to do that they viewed as being more important than going to the wedding. Matthew 22:5-6 states, “But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.” In Matthew 22:7-10 Jesus states that the king was “furious”, and He destroyed those who refused him. He then instructed his servants to fill the wedding hall with outsiders. As the king came to meet the new guests, he found one who had come without wearing the proper attire. When questioned as to why the guest did not present himself appropriately, he was “speechless” (Matthew 22:12). The king states in Matthew 22:13, “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And then Jesus ends this parable by reiterating His earlier proclamation in Matthew 20:16 which is derived from Matthew 19:30, as He declares once again in Matthew 22:14, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
This is an example of the kingdom of heaven.
This parable is reflective of the Israelites who refused to believe in Jesus and of the gentiles who were invited “into” the kingdom of heaven. But this parable is also reflective of the gentiles who refused to present themselves appropriately after being called to salvation in and through Christ Jesus. The point that Jesus is trying to make to the chief priest, elders, and Pharisees, along with the multitudes in the background that are sure to include some gentiles as well as Israelites is that being accepted into the kingdom of heaven is not a given because we say so or because we have declared it for ourselves; it is a gift from God that requires submission to Him and the ways of the new life unto salvation in Christ Jesus. This requires an active walk that is reflective of Jesus – that is seeking and following His will for our lives – being productive for God through our salvation in Christ Jesus.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see that our salvation is not a guarantee into Your kingdom of heaven because we make a statement that could be superficial, but that salvation in Christ Jesus is a change of our sinful ways unto the ways of Christ Jesus as we follow in His footsteps and seek to be a reflection of Him to those around us and throughout the world – in Christ! In Jesus name I pray, amen.