“The Royal Wedding”

Friday, June 16, 2017

This is a parable that only Matthew records for us and it is found in Matthew 22:1-14.

Jesus begins by comparing the “kingdom of heaven” to a certain king who prepares a wedding feast in honor of his son. It is important to realize that “the kingdom of heaven” is not talking about heaven itself. That is a common misunderstanding. Matthew often uses that phrase, kingdom of heaven, where the other gospel writers use simply “the kingdom” or sometimes, “the kingdom of God”

All three of these phrases are references to the spiritual kingdom of the Lord on the earth, which beginning on Pentecost (Acts 2) is speaking of the church. It is a kingdom that is “not of this world” (John 18:36), meaning it is not a worldly, military kingdom. It is in the hearts (“within you” – Luke 17:20-21) of those who would submit their will to the King of kings, Jesus Christ. In instituting the Lord’s Supper, Christ promised the disciples that He would commune with them in this memorial when “the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:18). That’s why the Lord’s Supper is often referred to as communion (see also 1 Corinthians 10:16).

The wedding feast/marriage itself represents the invitation to all people to come to the Lord. Some are unwilling to come at all. Some make excuses and do not come. But many do respond to the invitation of the king. “And the wedding hall was filled with guests.”

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). It is His will for everyone to be given the chance to obey Him and become a part of His spiritual kingdom. That is another reason we must tell everyone we can of the blessings of becoming a child of God. “And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). Many will reject the Lord’s offer, but there are those who will “come and see.” Notice that the King destroyed those who rejected His offer (verse 7). Shouldn’t that encourage us to warn our lost friends and give them the opportunity to be saved?

There is also the interesting lesson from verses 11-13 about a man who came to the wedding but was not properly dressed. This is teaching us that we must live properly after becoming a Christian or there will also be a punishment for us. This is a warning from God that we must take our discipleship seriously and not play around with sin. It also shows us that “once saved, always saved” is false doctrine.

The Jews were given the first opportunity to obey the gospel. Some did; many did not. Then the gospel went into the whole world (the book of Acts tells us much of that story). Again, some obeyed and some rejected the message. As the song says, “the gospel is for all.” The same is true today.

--Roger Hillis

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