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THE PARABLES OF JESUS

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 30, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 50.

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THE PARABLES OF JESUS.

Lesson XV.—The Marriage Feast.

(Sabbath, January 8.)
1. WHEN our Lord again spoke to the people in parables, to what did he compare the kingdom of heaven?
"And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son." Matt. 22: 1, 2.
2. In what sense does the Saviour mean to compare the kingdom of heaven to this king?—As this king did in furnishing the feast with guests, so will the King of Heaven do with those that receive the sweet invitations of the gospel.
3. What did the king send forth his servants to do?
"And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding; and they would not come." Verse 3.
4. What had been previously done?—The guests had been bidden. See same verse.
5. How had the guests been bidden?—By the word of God, as given by the prophets.
6. How were they called to the wedding?—By the preaching of John the Baptist, and by the apostles.
7. When the first call had been refused, with what emphasis was the call repeated?
"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." Verse 4.
8. How did they treat this call?
"But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise." Verse 5.
9. What enormous cruelty did some of them practice?
"And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them." Verse 6.
10. Mention some of the disciples that were so treated.
11. How did the king punish the ungrateful people that rejected his call, and slew his servants?
"But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth; and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city." Verse 7.
12. To what people does this verse refer?—To the Jews.
13. How did Christ foretell this terrible punishment? Luke 11: 49-51; Matt. 23: 34-38.
14. How did he foretell the overthrow of their city?
"And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Matt. 24: 2.
15. How was Jerusalem taken and the temple burned?—By the Roman army under Titus, in A. D. 70.
16. What did the king then say to his servants?
"Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage." Matt. 22: 8, 9.
17. How was this part of the parable fulfilled? Acts 9: 15; 10: 14, 15; 22: 17-21.
18. According to the parable, what did the king discover when the guests had assembled?
"And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment." Matt. 22: 11.
19. What did the king say to this man?
"And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless." Verse 12.
20. How did the man plainly show that he had no good cause for appearing in the presence of the king clad in an unsuitable garb? Last part of the same verse.
21. What does this wedding garment represent?—The righteousness of Christ.
22. Why had the careless guest no excuse for not clothing himself in a wedding garment?—Because such a garment was furnished by the king, free of cost, to every guest.
23. How is it with the righteousness of Christ?—It is offered free to all who will repent, believe in Christ, and strive with all the heart to obey him.
24. What doom was pronounced upon the man who ventured into the king's presence without putting on a wedding garment?
"Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 22: 13.
25. What statement does our Lord make in conclusion?
"For many are called, but few are chosen." Verse 14.
26. What do we understand by this?—That the gospel call is to the whole world, but those alone will be chosen who have met its requirements.