Hi all,
In the Parable of the Wedding Feast of Matthew 22:1-14 the guests are assembled, but one guest isn't wearing a wedding garment. When asked why, he is speechless. The order is given he be thrown out to the outer darkness where there is weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Jesus concludes saying:For many are invited, but few are chosen.
The parable starts with:"The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage for his son." Jesus is obviously talking about the Father and Himself. Verse 3 says:He sent servants to call them (it was time to start) who had been invited, but they would not come." In the first century it was custom for the host to send reminders of the great day approaching. Verses 4-5 tells us the king sent more servants, and told those invited about all the food and provision made for them; "But they made light of it." Literally; "They paid no attention to the invitation", and went back to their farms and jobs.
In verses 6-7 it says some of those people even treated the messengers horribly and even killed some. The king was angry and sent His armies to kill those who had murdered his servants and destroyed their city. This is an obvious reference to the treatment (Old Testament) prophets had received at the hands of unbelieving Jews of Israel. So the king in verses 8-10 instructs his servants to invite those who had not been originally invited (Gentiles in the parable), and he said, the good and the bad were invited.
In verses 11-12 the king notices someone there without a wedding garment and asks how he got there. The man was speechless.
Wedding garments in the orient
It was the custom of the day for a king hosting a wedding or a host in a 'regular' wedding, to provide a light linen outer coat to all guests. This custom persists in modern form in China where guests are often provided wedding coats or other gifts by the bride and groom to show appreciation for them coming to their wedding. In Jesus' day kings and 'regular' weddings, the host provided a light linen coat so all guests would be properly clothed and equal being all dressed the same, no matter their social status. The wearing of the provided wedding garment showed at the wedding there was no rank, no social status, the king or host was making all equal for the happy day, so all could mix and mingle freely.
The man without such a wedding garment stood out, making it clear he had tried to come to the wedding of his own accord. This is symbolic of a person trying to work their way into heaven, into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The man was given the opportunity to confess but he was silent. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" from Psalm 107:2 states, but the man was silent. He wasn't redeemed yet tried to get into (heaven) the wedding feast on his own. Romans 10:9-10 which came long after Jesus' parable in Matthew, also says we believe with our heart but confession to salvation is made with our mouth. The man was silent, meaning not saved.
Outer darkness
The king then arrested him and had him thrown out into 'outer darkness' where there is weeping and the gnashing of teeth. In those day as in many parts of the world today, there are no street lights. The wedding banquet was fully lit with many oil lamps, but they did not light the streets. The term 'outer darkness' was a first century term used when someone was kicked out of a business or home, meaning 'kicked to the street' or 'kicked to the curb' we might say. They had been in the place of light and found themselves thrown out into the darkness, the term 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' was a term for that person being quite angry. Update it to modern terms and think of a person thrown out of a pub, bar, or restaurant and out on the street cursing and spitting in anger at his fate. But it was his own actions that caused others to throw him out.
In the parable it is a picture of the unsaved, on the outside looking in to those who readily accepted both the invitation AND the wedding garment the host had provided.
You may recall in Genesis 3:21 the Lord God made coats of skins for Adam and Eve, covering their (sin) nakedness. Ephesians 5:27 says for husbands to love their wives as Christ does the church, that He might present it to Himself 'without spot or wrinkle' on our garments. In The Revelation 19:7-14 it say of the believers in heaven at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb:"To them was given fine linen clean and white. For the linen is the righteousness of the saints." These same saints in v14 still clothed in their wedding clothes accompany the Lord on horses at Armageddon at His return.
Many are invited but few are chosen
I mentioned above the custom of the host sending out reminders before the day of the wedding feast. Upon acceptance it is understood the guests arrive and are given the wedding garment. This means the chosen are those who accept AND comply with the condition of attending. They choose to accept the invitation and are therefore chosen to be allowed in - whereas the man who refused the wedding garment and refused to confess was thrown out. Many are invited, but few of the invited comply with the invitation's requirements. True believers in Jesus have both accepted the invitation AND complied with the condition. Consider the famous John 3:16:God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that all who believe in Him will have eternal life. The invitation is there for God invited us by giving us His Son. The requirement is to believe in that Son. The invitation is given, but few will comply with the requirement within the invitation.
The cross in the desert
As Israel starts its march across the desert the Lord gives them very specific instructions about how they are to travel. Their general direction is east, having come from Egypt and going east to Israel. In Numbers 1:50 He says to 'camp around the tabernacle' behind family standards, with Levites in the center. The tabernacle with the cloud of day and pillar of fire by night was at the very center of the camp. Chapter 2 has God's instructions on which tribe travels on which side of the tabernacle as they march forward. In v3-9 the Lord says the "east side toward the rising of the sun' will be Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, totaling 186,400. This is the majority of the population, making it a long column as they marched behind tribal standards.
The north and south sides were roughly equal. The south tribes were Reuben, Simeon, and Gad for 151,450. The north was Dan, Asher, and Naphtali for 157,600. These were like 2 pillars or arms proceeding from the central tabernacle, even as Judah, Issachar and Zebulun were the long leg of 186,400 extending far east. On the west was the fewest of all, comprised of Ephraim, and half tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, for 108,100. If you look at this from the air, it makes a perfect cross, with Judah leading the way towards as the Lord said, the rising of the sun.
Another cross...
Nearly 1000 years later Judah finds itself captive in Babylon, most of the population having been captured and transported there by Nebucadnezzar. Those include Daniel and Ezekiel. Some quickly fall away from their faith, while others remain faithful. In Ezekiel 9:4 the Lord tells Ezekiel to go and put a mark on the heads of those who cry out when they see the sins of their brethren, marking them as belonging to God. The word 'mark' is 'tav' or 'taw' and was expressed differently through the centuries, but often as an + or X.
Marks on the forehead (or wrist) were later used by Rome when they took slaves, taking away their name and tattooing a number on their head or wrist. The 666 of The Revelation communicates that those who receive that mark are slaves of that economic and political system. In Romans 16:22-23 we learn who received dictation from Paul for the letter to the Romans:"I Tertius who wrote this letter greet you...Erastus the Treasurer of the city greets you, and Quartus, a brother."
Paul wrote to the Romans from Corinth, for the name Erastus was discovered there stating he was in fact the Treasurer of the city. The name 'Tertius' is the Roman number 3, and Quartus is the Roman number 4, showing in Christ socio-economic status means nothing, for the great apostle had working with him the Treasurer and two slaves - amazing grace.
More next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
In the Parable of the Wedding Feast of Matthew 22:1-14 the guests are assembled, but one guest isn't wearing a wedding garment. When asked why, he is speechless. The order is given he be thrown out to the outer darkness where there is weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Jesus concludes saying:For many are invited, but few are chosen.
The parable starts with:"The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage for his son." Jesus is obviously talking about the Father and Himself. Verse 3 says:He sent servants to call them (it was time to start) who had been invited, but they would not come." In the first century it was custom for the host to send reminders of the great day approaching. Verses 4-5 tells us the king sent more servants, and told those invited about all the food and provision made for them; "But they made light of it." Literally; "They paid no attention to the invitation", and went back to their farms and jobs.
In verses 6-7 it says some of those people even treated the messengers horribly and even killed some. The king was angry and sent His armies to kill those who had murdered his servants and destroyed their city. This is an obvious reference to the treatment (Old Testament) prophets had received at the hands of unbelieving Jews of Israel. So the king in verses 8-10 instructs his servants to invite those who had not been originally invited (Gentiles in the parable), and he said, the good and the bad were invited.
In verses 11-12 the king notices someone there without a wedding garment and asks how he got there. The man was speechless.
Wedding garments in the orient
It was the custom of the day for a king hosting a wedding or a host in a 'regular' wedding, to provide a light linen outer coat to all guests. This custom persists in modern form in China where guests are often provided wedding coats or other gifts by the bride and groom to show appreciation for them coming to their wedding. In Jesus' day kings and 'regular' weddings, the host provided a light linen coat so all guests would be properly clothed and equal being all dressed the same, no matter their social status. The wearing of the provided wedding garment showed at the wedding there was no rank, no social status, the king or host was making all equal for the happy day, so all could mix and mingle freely.
The man without such a wedding garment stood out, making it clear he had tried to come to the wedding of his own accord. This is symbolic of a person trying to work their way into heaven, into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The man was given the opportunity to confess but he was silent. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" from Psalm 107:2 states, but the man was silent. He wasn't redeemed yet tried to get into (heaven) the wedding feast on his own. Romans 10:9-10 which came long after Jesus' parable in Matthew, also says we believe with our heart but confession to salvation is made with our mouth. The man was silent, meaning not saved.
Outer darkness
The king then arrested him and had him thrown out into 'outer darkness' where there is weeping and the gnashing of teeth. In those day as in many parts of the world today, there are no street lights. The wedding banquet was fully lit with many oil lamps, but they did not light the streets. The term 'outer darkness' was a first century term used when someone was kicked out of a business or home, meaning 'kicked to the street' or 'kicked to the curb' we might say. They had been in the place of light and found themselves thrown out into the darkness, the term 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' was a term for that person being quite angry. Update it to modern terms and think of a person thrown out of a pub, bar, or restaurant and out on the street cursing and spitting in anger at his fate. But it was his own actions that caused others to throw him out.
In the parable it is a picture of the unsaved, on the outside looking in to those who readily accepted both the invitation AND the wedding garment the host had provided.
You may recall in Genesis 3:21 the Lord God made coats of skins for Adam and Eve, covering their (sin) nakedness. Ephesians 5:27 says for husbands to love their wives as Christ does the church, that He might present it to Himself 'without spot or wrinkle' on our garments. In The Revelation 19:7-14 it say of the believers in heaven at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb:"To them was given fine linen clean and white. For the linen is the righteousness of the saints." These same saints in v14 still clothed in their wedding clothes accompany the Lord on horses at Armageddon at His return.
Many are invited but few are chosen
I mentioned above the custom of the host sending out reminders before the day of the wedding feast. Upon acceptance it is understood the guests arrive and are given the wedding garment. This means the chosen are those who accept AND comply with the condition of attending. They choose to accept the invitation and are therefore chosen to be allowed in - whereas the man who refused the wedding garment and refused to confess was thrown out. Many are invited, but few of the invited comply with the invitation's requirements. True believers in Jesus have both accepted the invitation AND complied with the condition. Consider the famous John 3:16:God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that all who believe in Him will have eternal life. The invitation is there for God invited us by giving us His Son. The requirement is to believe in that Son. The invitation is given, but few will comply with the requirement within the invitation.
The cross in the desert
As Israel starts its march across the desert the Lord gives them very specific instructions about how they are to travel. Their general direction is east, having come from Egypt and going east to Israel. In Numbers 1:50 He says to 'camp around the tabernacle' behind family standards, with Levites in the center. The tabernacle with the cloud of day and pillar of fire by night was at the very center of the camp. Chapter 2 has God's instructions on which tribe travels on which side of the tabernacle as they march forward. In v3-9 the Lord says the "east side toward the rising of the sun' will be Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, totaling 186,400. This is the majority of the population, making it a long column as they marched behind tribal standards.
The north and south sides were roughly equal. The south tribes were Reuben, Simeon, and Gad for 151,450. The north was Dan, Asher, and Naphtali for 157,600. These were like 2 pillars or arms proceeding from the central tabernacle, even as Judah, Issachar and Zebulun were the long leg of 186,400 extending far east. On the west was the fewest of all, comprised of Ephraim, and half tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, for 108,100. If you look at this from the air, it makes a perfect cross, with Judah leading the way towards as the Lord said, the rising of the sun.
Another cross...
Nearly 1000 years later Judah finds itself captive in Babylon, most of the population having been captured and transported there by Nebucadnezzar. Those include Daniel and Ezekiel. Some quickly fall away from their faith, while others remain faithful. In Ezekiel 9:4 the Lord tells Ezekiel to go and put a mark on the heads of those who cry out when they see the sins of their brethren, marking them as belonging to God. The word 'mark' is 'tav' or 'taw' and was expressed differently through the centuries, but often as an + or X.
Marks on the forehead (or wrist) were later used by Rome when they took slaves, taking away their name and tattooing a number on their head or wrist. The 666 of The Revelation communicates that those who receive that mark are slaves of that economic and political system. In Romans 16:22-23 we learn who received dictation from Paul for the letter to the Romans:"I Tertius who wrote this letter greet you...Erastus the Treasurer of the city greets you, and Quartus, a brother."
Paul wrote to the Romans from Corinth, for the name Erastus was discovered there stating he was in fact the Treasurer of the city. The name 'Tertius' is the Roman number 3, and Quartus is the Roman number 4, showing in Christ socio-economic status means nothing, for the great apostle had working with him the Treasurer and two slaves - amazing grace.
More next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
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