Today’s Gospel:  Matthew 22:1-10

REFLECTION
There are two accounts of the parable in today’s Gospel. Luke’s version is found in Luke 14:16–24, and on certain details, he appears to be at variance with Matthew. Matthew says little about the reasons for the guests’ refusals and mentions the king’s wrath in sending forth emissaries of judgment. Luke elaborates on the refusals and makes no mention of armies sent to punish offenders. There may be no contradictions in the differing versions. There is always the possibility that Jesus gave this illustration on more than one occasion. Matthew might have been describing one of the incidents and Luke the other. Many things which Jesus said and did were never reported in writing (see John 21:25). It might be helpful and informative to remember that by the time Matthew was writing his Gospel, the Roman legions had destroyed Jerusalem, and Matthew, recalling the Lord’s words, was able to see the fulfillment of what had been predicted. As we shall discover in the story, the message had unmistakable dispensational truth; the rejection by the Jews led to the invitation being given to the Gentiles. When the original guests refused to accept their king’s request, the outcasts in the streets were given the chance to participate in the wedding feast. Luke, on the other hand, was not too interested in the outpouring of judgment; he was more concerned in describing the stupidity of men who missed the greatest privilege ever offered. To repeat what has been said, Jesus could have given this illustration several times, and Matthew and Luke might have been describing the same account viewed from different angles.

It is essential to remember that throughout Eastern countries, particularly in Bible times, the sending of invitations to a wedding was somewhat different from the practices known in Western nations. Today, the invitation to, and the date of, the proposed wedding are mentioned together, and guests are required to notify the sender of their ability to attend the celebrations. Weddings are now solemnized within a very short time. It was not always so easy. When wedding celebrations lasted a week great preparations were required. When a royal marriage was planned, very extensive preparations had to be made, and guests were given ample warning of the forthcoming event. Invitations were dispatched weeks ahead of the time, so that prospective guests were able to make arrangements to leave their businesses, farms, or whatever occupation claimed their time. Later, when everything was in readiness, the final summons was issued, and the invited people were expected to respond immediately. Jesus was now preparing to lay down His life, and knew His time for preaching was limited. This parable was important because it opened new vistas of thought. Jesus had already said the kingdom was to be taken from the Jews; the vineyard was to be given to others. Now, in much more detail, He emphasized what God intended to do. He would take the kingdom from the Jews and offer it to the Gentiles. The parable was easily understood. The King was God; the prepared celebrations were to honor His Son; the invited guests were the Jews. The invitations had been issued throughout Old Testament ages when the prophets had been authorized to speak concerning future events. God had now finished His preparations, and the time to honor the Son had arrived.

The king “sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways.” Once again we are able to recognize the prevailing thought in these parables of Jesus. The husbandmen were privileged to work in the Master’s vineyard; the guests were invited to attend the marriage celebrations. They all refused to do what was expected of them, and finally were punished. That Jesus was describing the attitude of the Jewish nation and its rebellion against God, none could deny. “They made light of it.” If we can superimpose Luke’s account on the record given by Matthew, then it becomes obvious that anything seemed more important than doing the will of God. Matthew says that one man found attraction on his farm, and another in his business. Both were anxious to make money, and nothing Christ offered could compensate for the loss of earthly gain. The Greek word translated “they made light of it” is “arneleesantes” which means “to be careless; to neglect; not caring for what had been said.” The inference was that the king was wasting time; the people considered him to be a bore! They were only concerned about material gains. They had no intention of listening to, or accepting, any invitation even though it came from God. This was a terrible indictment against the rulers who claimed to be God’s sole representatives among the Jewish nation.

“And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.” Compare this with the description of how the tenants took the son and killed him, and there can be no misinterpretation of Christ’s message. Fully aware of His impending crucifixion, Jesus plainly stated that the responsibility for the crime would be placed at the feet of the people to whom He was then speaking. Jesus had been the greatest Benefactor ever to walk in their cities. He had healed the sick, fed the multitudes, cleansed the lepers, and raised their dead. He had preached about peace and holiness, and had glorified God. Yet, because His message exposed hypocrisy, the priests hated Him, and rejoiced when He was crucified. They had no desire to consult God about any of these matters. They could decide for themselves, and were willing to say, “His blood be on us, and on our children” (Matt. 27:25).

“But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.” Luke omits this part of the story, and many commentators believe Matthew only inserted it because he was writing after the fall of Jerusalem, and could see before his eyes the fulfillment of the Lord’s prediction. This might have been the fact, but there can be no doubt Christ uttered these words. Unpunished sin is a violation of the law of God. Righteousness demands retribution. When grace begets forgiveness, God is able to accept a sinner. If, however, a person rejects grace, God, according to His own laws, must punish the offender.

The dispensational aspect of this parable is unmistakable. When the Jews refused to accept what God was offering in Christ, the identical message went out to the Gentiles who responded gladly to the gospel. The second part of this Scripture supplies the foreshadowing of events to follow Pentecost. Then those other servants went out into the highways of the world to summon people to honor the King’s Son. This also was the fulfillment of an ancient prediction, for Isaiah had said: “I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth” (Isa. 49:6). “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isa. 60:3). It was God’s plan that the gospel should be proclaimed throughout the entire world.

Today’s Reading:  Is 25:6-10

PRAYER
Lord, how blessed we are that although we are Gentiles, you have deemed us worthy of your redemptive work.  Grant that we may be worthy.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.