1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.
13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
In Jesus' time, two invitations were sent for banquets and feasts. The first told the guest that they were invited. The second told the guest when everything was ready and they could come. The guests at the beginning of this parable represent the people who the Lord is trying to reach, but they refuse to accept His invitation. Look at what they are doing instead in verse 5, "But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business." They were too busy managing their investments, working their jobs, and being busy! What culture does that sound like? My guess is that the Lord would say that describes all cultures, but it certainly rings true with Americans. We are so busy! We focus on all the wrong things, and our culture, is missing the invitation to the Celebration of the Centuries for eternity in Heaven! In fact, look what it says they are doing upon receiving the invitation: they abuse and kill the king's servants. Remember this: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:10). God will get justice for the wrong done to His people (verse 7).
So, the servants are told to go out into the streets and get anyone and everyone they can -- the good and the bad. The banquet hall was filled! (There aren't going to be just four of us sitting around, twiddling our thumbs -- there will be multitudes, remember?)
Then the king comes and sees someone who is not wearing the wedding clothes. I loved learning about this this morning! Get this: a king would often provide wedding clothes to the guests to wear to the banquet, as was the custom. If the provided clothes were not worn, it was an insult, and could be assumed that the guest was being arrogant. The wedding clothes in this parable represent our righteousness and salvation from Jesus. It is our choice to put on this righteousness, these wedding clothes, but what when we do, we are official guests at the banquet.
Then, the king noticed that someone was invited, but did not put on the clothes, and that person was thrown, as it says, "outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." The Lord does not make us do anything -- He invites us -- but it is our choice to accept this invitation. In fact, look at the wording! When the king (Jesus) finds the man who is not wearing the wedding clothes, look at how He talks to him! He says, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ He calls him FRIEND! Even though this man never accepted the gift, Jesus still loves him and calls him a friend. He's not angry at him; He doesn't ignore the man smugly; He doesn't send someone else to tell the man to leave. Jesus addresses the man Himself because He cares for him. Wow.
Perhaps, if you're reading this blog, you have already accepted the invitation and now follow Jesus Christ. If that is so, then you are someone else in this parable: you are the kings servant. So, what is our job as His servant? The Lord says to us, "So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find." So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good...
We are to invite.
We don't have to win them over, persuade them, correct their wrong doing, or act higher-than-thou. We simply invite.
Now, I must say, that the way we live our lives and the way we invite people may have an impact on their decision, so it is absolutely critical that we are living for Christ in everything we say and do. We are His representatives! Sometimes I question how He could ever want me to represent Him; yet, this is the way He planned it. So, I want to do my best. I don't have to put on any big performances. I don't have to have a big speech planned out for when I have an opportunity to share this invitation.
"Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God" (2 Cor. 4:2). What does that say? We no longer live shamefully, but righteously; we don't try to deceive people in the Kingdom or make the Bible say something it doesn't. Instead, we set forth the truth plainly. We don't shove the truth down their throats -- we set it. We set it in front of them plainly. Just say it. We don't need to make excuses for God as to why He's not "inclusive" of everyone in His kingdom, or why doing good things can't get us to Heaven. I love this: set forth the truth plainly. Isn't that true in ALL of our interactions, not just the conversations about salvation?
That's our job, friends. Lord, may You help me to take a step of faith to do this FOR the people in my life because I love them. Help me to know how and when to set it in front of them, trusting that it's not my job to make them believe You. I know this is what You desire of me, Lord. Help me to do it.
Daniel 12:3: "Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever."
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