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The Parable of
THE ROYAL MARRIAGE FEAST
Matthew 22:1-14
The Teacher gathered her young students around her and they settled down in the quiet grove of trees. “Now”, she said, “we are going to discuss the meaning of a parable found in the Holy Bible, called The Royal Marriage Feast.” The children gave the Teacher their full attention as she began.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding, and they were not willing to come.” The Teacher looked over the children. “Who do you think the king and his son are?” she asked.
All the children responded at once. “Heavenly Father and Jesus”, they said.
“Good”, said the teacher. “And what is the meaning of the wedding invitation?”
“It’s the prophets calling the Israelites to come unto Christ”, said the children.
“Good”, said the Teacher. “But what happened to the king’s servants that he sent?”
“Some people ignored them and went about their own business”, one child said.
“The others treated them spitefully and killed them”, another child replied.
“Yes”, said the Teacher. “The king then said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.‘ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom thy found, both bad and good.” The Teacher again looked around. “Who were these people that came to the wedding?” she asked.
“The Gentiles”, said one child.
“All those who accepted Christ”, another said.
“Both the bad and good?” asked the Teacher.
“The bad people repented”, one child observed.
“That’s right”, the Teacher said. “And the wedding hall was filled with guests.”
“Just like heaven is filled with those who worship God”, one of the children volunteered.
“Good”, said the Teacher.
Just then, and angel touched the Teacher on her shoulder. “I’m sorry to interrupt”, the angel said, “but there is a man creating a disturbance at The Gate.”
The Teacher nodded. “That’s all for now”, she said to the children. She clapped her hands and all the children flew away. Then she and the angel flew over to The Gate.
“What seems to be the problem?” the Teacher asked the stranger on the other side of The Gate.
“I want to get in”, the stranger said, simply.
“His name is not written in our Book of Life”, said the angel.
“Then he’ll have to wait”, said the Teacher. “For, as our Savior said, ‘There are those who honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.’”
THE ROYAL MARRIAGE FEAST (Matthew 22:1-14)
“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, and another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants ‘The wedding is ready but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways and as many as you find invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 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.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”