p. 13 | The Marriage Feast

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 21, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 16.

The Marriage Feast

Lesson VI.—Sunday, May 8, 1898.

The Marriage Feast.

Note.—The incidents of to-day’s lesson occurred during the last week of the Saviour’s work upon earth. The importance of this work is well illustrated by the amount of space which is given to it in the sacred record. In Matthew there are seven chapters bearing upon this last week’s work of the Saviour; in Mark, five; in Luke, five; and in John, eight. The day upon which the parable of to-day’s lesson was spoken was one of the most busy days of the Saviour’s earthly ministry, as will be seen by the chapters which follow. The section includes the whole work of Christ on this last day of His public ministry, so far as it was done in the temple. Read Chapter 21:23 to 23:59.

Lesson Scripture, Matt. 22:1-14, R.V.

1 “And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto 2 them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, which made a marriage feast for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast; and they would not come. Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come to the marriage feast. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; and the rest laid hold on his servants, and entreated them shamefully, and killed them. But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast. And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good; and the wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment; and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Golden Text: “Come; for all things are now ready.” Luke 14:17.

Suggestive Questions.

(1) What form of discourse did Jesus again adopt? Verse 1. (2) To what did He liken the kingdom of heaven? Verse 2. Note 1. (3) What invitation did this king send forth? Verse 3. Note 2. (4) How was the invitation received? Same verse. (5) Whom did he send forth to carry his second invitation? Verse 4. Note 3. (6) What was their message? Same verse. (7) How did a part of those who were invited receive the second invitation? Verse 5. (8) How did the remainder treat those who bore the invitation? Verse 6. Note 4. (9) How did the king feel when he learned what had been done? Verse 7. (10) How did he punish them for their wicked acts? Same verse. Note 5. (11) What statement did the king then make to his servants? Verse 8. (12) What did he command his servants to do? Verse 9. (13) Where did his servants go to find guests for the wedding feast? Verse 10. Note 6. (14) What class of people did they bring in to the feast? Same verse. (15) What was the result? Same verse. (16) When the king came in, whom did he find among the other guests? Verse 11. Note 7. (17) What question did he ask of this guest? Verse 12. Note 8. (18) What excuse did he have? Same verse. (19) What command did the king give his servants in regard to this guest? Verse 13. (20) In what way will the anguish of those who are cast out from the Lord’s presence be manifested? Same verse. (21) What truth is taught by this incident? Verse 14. Note 9.

Notes.

1. A certain king.—Representing God the Father. He was the King whom the Jewish people professed to serve; and the invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb—His Son—is now going out into all the earth.

2. Them that were bidden.—“It is still customary in the East not only to give an invitation some time beforehand, but to send around servants at the proper time to inform the guests that all things are ready.”—Kitto. “The notification is not customary among common people; but in Lebanon it still prevails. If a Sheik, Beg, or Emir invites, he always sends a servant to call you at the proper time.”—Thompson. This invitation was given by the prophets and by John the Baptist.

3. Sent forth other servants.—The invitation of the first servants had been ignored. The invitation now comes from the lips of other servants, but it is the same invitation. God has set His hand to this work. It must be a success; the wedding must be furnished with guests; and this message given by others to the same people leaves them without excuse. The second invitation was what Christ and His disciples were giving at that time to the Jews.

4. Entreated them shamefully, and killed them.—Christ Himself is reckoned among those who were thus treated, and the Jews had again and again imbrued their hands in the blood of those who were seeking to turn them to God; and that they continued this work is shown in the persecution which the early Christians suffered at their hands, especially at the hands of Saul before his conversion.

5. Sent forth his armies, etc.—While this refers primarily to the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Romans, when thousands upon thousands of the Jews were slain, and their city given to the flames, it is also a type of the destruction of all those who refuse the Gospel call.

6. Went out into the highways.—This was fulfilled in the call to the Gentiles, to those outside the Jewish nation. It is typical of the last call to the marriage supper. Luke 14:23, 24. This antitypical call is now going to the world. Missions are being established in the lowest, wickedest parts of the large cities, and souls are being converted from the ranks of this class, who will have on the wedding garment of Christ’s righteousness, and be prepared when He comes in to inspect the guests. In this way, by raising up monuments to His glory from the slums of our cities, will God reveal the power of His grace and emphasize His victory over evil.

7. Came in to see the guests.—This will be in the judgment, when every case is examined in the great court of heaven.

8. Not having a wedding garment.—There was no excuse for it; for the king furnished the garment. It was customary in the East for this to be done. “At the royal wedding of Sultan Mahmoud, a few years ago, every guest invited to the wedding had made expressly for him, at the expense of the sultan, a wedding garment. No one, however dignified his station, was permitted to enter into the presence chamber of that sovereign without a change of raiment.” The wedding garment which Christ furnishes His followers is a garment which they can not make for themselves, nor purchase. It is the robe of His righteousness. Without it we can not see His face; with it we are guests at His marriage supper, and subjects of His kingdom forever.

9. Many are called, but few chosen.—The invitation is to every inhabitant of the earth. He is “not willing that any should perish.” 2 Peter 3:9. Few of the Jews became Christians and accepted of the sacrifice which was made for the world; and not all who have taken upon them the name of Christians will be accepted guests at the great marriage feast, for upon some will be found garments which the King has not prepared.