March 20, 2025 | Be God's Family
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14(NIV)
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.”
Devotional
The Five BUTS
Do little things in life matter? Do short words in a sentence hold weight? Have you considered the small word “but” and its effect? I have a habit of circling the word “but” in my Bible because it connects sentences that lead to opposing thoughts and new directions. In today’s scripture, written by the Jewish disciple Matthew, we see Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven. In this parable called The Wedding Banquet, the word “but” appears five times and beckons consideration.
22:3 “BUT they refused to come.” The King (God) prepares to honor His son (Jesus) with a wedding banquet. Servants (prophets, priests, judges) are sent to those invited. God’s chosen people receive God’s covenantal invitation. Sadly, in the parable, they refuse to come. However, King God offers second chances by inviting them again and even bids them to “come.” The table is prepared.
22:5 “BUT they paid no attention and went off.” Work, busyness, fields, jealousy and pride distract the invitees. Excuses speak “I cannot come.” Some even mistreat and kill the servants who bring the invitational message. This enrages the King. Declining the King’s invitation leads to decline; sin runs wild causing destructive harm. Saying “no” to God’s invitation grieves me.
22:8 “BUT those I invited did not deserve to come.” The King doesn’t cancel the covenant, He creates a New Covenant by extending a wedding invite to all: “the bad as well as the good.” Everyone is invited to the Great Banquet. It’s time to honor the Lamb of God. Many arrive to honor Jesus Christ.
Rev.19:6-8 Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb (Jesus) has come, and His bride (us) has made herself ready…Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.
22:11 “BUT when the king came to see the guests, he noticed someone was not wearing the wedding clothes.” What are the required wedding clothes? The clothes are the robes of righteousness we receive only by accepting the blood of Jesus Christ. No one is allowed to meet God without wearing the white robes of righteousness washed by the blood of Jesus. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
22:14 “For many are invited, BUT few are chosen.” Life matters! Short words in a sentence do hold weight! “The bad as well as the good,” do have importance in God’s Kingdom. The invite to Heaven’s Wedding Banquet is extended, BUT you must come dressed with a solid, YES to Jesus Christ! No excuses, please.
Poem
Maskil - A Hymn Of Honor
Psalm 45
Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house. Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.
Psalm 45:10-11
Prepare your heart, O daughter, love
Your Prince of Peace is nigh
With sword of truth He splits the air
On snow white horse He rides
Wash full your heart, perfume your love
With prayer, prepare to welcome
Your Bridegroom, Victor, Honored One
Clothed rich in royal splendor
Christ’s throne forever will endure
With majesty and power
His kingdom shine all glorious
His name a mighty tower
O, do not sleep, fair virgin church
Your lamps keep trimmed and ready
And when the invitation comes
Proclaim your “Yes,” strong, steady
Ascend into His banquet hall
And take your Bridegroom’s hand
Rejoice, and boldly enter then
Within His throne room grand
