LESSON V.—SABBATH, NOVEMBER 4, 1899.
MARRIAGE OF THE KING'S SON; SUBTLE QUESTIONS ASKED.
(Matt. 22: 1-22.)
1 “And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto 2 them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a 3 certain king, which made a marriage feast for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to 4 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 5 are killed, and all things are ready; come to the mar- 6 riage feast. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; and the rest 7 laid hold on his servants, and entreated them shamefully, and killed them. But the king was wroth; and he sent his ar- 8 mies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 9 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they 10 that were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore unto the 11 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, 12 both bad and good; and the wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there 13 a man which had not on a wedding-garment; and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a 14 wedding-garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him 15 out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and 16 gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few chosen. Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they 17 might ensnare Him in His talk. And they send to Him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that 18 Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one; for Thou regardest not the person of 19 men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to 20 give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? But Jesus perceived their 21 wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites? Show Me the tribute money. And they brought unto Him a 22 penny. And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and 23 superscription? They say unto Him, Cæsar's. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's. And when they heard it, they marveled, and left Him, and went their way.” (Luke 20: 26.)
26 “And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people; and they marveled at His answer, and held their peace.” NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further. 1. What other parable did Jesus speak to the people assembled in the court of the temple? Matt. 22:1, 2. (Rev. 19:7-9.)
2. In this parable, who were bidden to the wedding? By what means? Verse 3. Note 1.
3. When the dinner was all ready to be eaten, what did the king then do? Verse 4. (Zeph. 1:7.)
4. How did the king's professedly loyal subjects treat this call to the marriage of his son? Verses 5, 6.
5. What was therefore done to these scorners? Verse 7.
6. What did the king then do to provide guests for the wedding? Verses 8-10. (Acts 13:46; Matt. 13:47.)
7. When the king came in to the wedding, what did he there see? Verse 11. Note 2.
8. When asked how he came there so unprepared, what answer did he render? Verse 12.
9. Because he could assign no good reason for thus appearing at the wedding, what order did the king issue concerning him? Verse 13. (Zeph. 1:8.)
10. Seeing that this parable also involved them, to what did the Pharisees resort? Verse 15.
11. To avoid again being humiliated before the people, what measure did they next take? Verse 16. Note 3.
12. What apparently innocent yet crafty question did they put to Jesus? Verse 17.
13. Before answering, what rebuke did Jesus administer? What demand did He make? Verses 18, 19.
14. When the tribute money was brought, what question did He ask? Verses 19, 20.
15. Upon receiving answer, what direct reply did Jesus make? Verse 21.
16. How did this answer leave the spies? What did they then do? Luke 20:26.
Side Lights.—“Desire of Ages,” chapter 66; “Spirit of Prophecy,” vol. 3, chapter 3. 1. Them that were bidden.—The early part of the parable refers to the Jews scorning the Saviour, and suffering the loss of their city in consequence. The latter part clearly shows the Gentiles being brought into the plan of salvation, and traces the whole through the closing scenes of earth and the judgment. 2. Wedding-garment.—From Rev. 19:8 it is clear that the royal wedding-garment is the righteousness which the Lord provides every one whom He calls to the wedding. All can have it who will. So, then, if any one neglects or refuses this gift on the conditions offered, and still persists in attending the wedding, as a guest, without the wedding-garment, he will have no excuse. 3. Their disciples with the Herodians.—In their secret council, they concluded not only to set spies on Christ's track, but to engage the Herodians in the task of overthrowing Him, in order to give their work less of a Pharisaic character. The latter stood on the principles of Jewish theocracy, drawing their inspiration from Deut. 17:15. To this scripture they appealed when Rome took possession of the throne of Judea. The Herods were of Idumean extraction, tho having intermarried with the Jews to some extent. The Herodians were believers in the right of the Herods to the throne. But when these were taken away, and Pilate, a purely Roman governor, was installed in their place, the Herodians felt free to unite with the Pharisees in demanding the rights of the Jews. Yet even in this they were inconsistent, since it was Roman power alone that had kept the Herods on the throne. They, however, agreed to assist in trapping Christ in some unlawful statement concerning the political situation.