First Invitation Is Refused

Matthew 22:3 - And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

David Guzik commentary:

1. (1-3) The first invitation is refused.

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come."

a. They were not willing to come: It seems strange that those invited refused an invitation to a royal wedding; but there is no logical reason why people refuse the good things God invites us to.

"There is no logical reason why people refuse the good things God invites us to."

Wow! That is a great point to consider!

Can you think of several excuses why people may not accept an invitation to a royal wedding? I can think of some.

"I'm too busy."

"I don't want to pay the price (or cost) for a gift."

"I don't know them well enough."

"I don't even like them!!"

"I don't have anyone to drag along with me."

"I want to do something else that day."

"I already have plans."

I don't have the right garment to wear!

But wait...could there be some "inner conflicting" reasons why such an invitation, as it pertains to Christ, might be refused?

"I'm not worthy?"

"I'm unwilling to face what this invitation truly means?"

"I'm against those kind of people and don't want to mingle with them?"

"I know, deep down, that I am a sinner in need of a Savior but refuse to admit it?"

"I know that Christ wants to provide me with the "right garment to wear," but I refuse and am unwilling to wear it!!"

How sad and pathetic such excuses are in light of what they will be missing!

Matthew Henry commentary:

2. Here is a dinner prepared for this marriage, v. 4. All the privileges of church-membership, and all the blessings of the new covenant, pardon of sin, the favour of God, peace of conscience, the promises of the gospel, and all the riches contained in them, access to the throne of grace, the comforts of the Spirit, and a well-grounded hope of eternal life. These are the preparations for this feast, a heaven upon earth now, and a heaven in heaven shortly. God has prepared it in his counsel, in his covenant. It is a dinner, denoting present privileges in the midst of our day, beside the supper at night in glory. [bold- mine]

(1.) It is a feast. Gospel preparations were prophesied of as a feast (Isa. 25:6), a feast of fat things, and were typified by the many festivals of the ceremonial law (1 Co. 5:8); Let us keep the feast. A feast is a good day (Esth. 7:17); so is the gospel; it is a continual feast. Oxen and fatlings are killed for this feast; no niceties, but substantial food; enough, and enough of the best. The day of a feast is a day of slaughter, or sacrifice, Jam. 5:5. Gospel preparations are all founded in the death of Christ, his sacrifice of himself. A feast was made for love, it is a reconciliation feast, a token of God’s goodwill toward men. It was made for laughter (Eccl. 10:19), it is a rejoicing feast. It was made for fulness; the design of the gospel was to fill every hungry soul with good things. It was made for fellowship, to maintain an intercourse between heaven and earth. We are sent for to the banquet of wine, that we may tell what is our petition, and what is our request. [bold- mine]

(2.) It is a wedding feast. Wedding feasts are usually rich, free, and joyful. The first miracle Christ wrought, was, to make plentiful provision for a wedding feast (Jn. 2:7); and surely then he will not be wanting in provision for his own wedding feast, when the marriage of the Lamb is come, and the bride hath made herself ready, a victorious triumphant feast, Rev. 19:7, 17, 18. [bold - mine]

The King Who arranged a marriage for His Son

Matthew Henry's commentary provides a nice overview of Matthew 22:

Chapter 22

This chapter is a continuation of Christ’s discourses in the temple, two or three days before he died. His discourses then are largely recorded, as being of special weight and consequence. In this chapter, we have, I. Instruction given, by the parable of the marriage-supper, concerning the rejection of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles (v. 1–10), and, by the doom of the guest that had not the wedding-garment, the danger of hypocrisy in the profession of Christianity (v. 11–14). II. Disputes with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes, who opposed Christ, 1. Concerning paying tribute to Caesar (v. 15–22). 2. Concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the future state (v. 23–33). 3. Concerning the great commandment of the law (v. 34–40). 4. Concerning the relation of the Messiah to David (v. 41–46).

Beginning with verse 1, we find out that Jesus utilized the form of a parable to answer the questions posed to Him:


Mat 22:1 AND Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:

Mat 22:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,

Matthew Henry commentary:

We have here the parable of the guests invited to the wedding-feast. In this it is said (v. 1), Jesus answered, not to what his opposers said (for they were put to silence), but to what they thought, when they were wishing for an opportunity to lay hands on him, ch. 21:46. Note, Christ knows how to answer men’s thoughts, for he is a Discerner of them. Or, He answered, that is, he continued his discourse to the same purport; for this parable represents the gospel offer, and the entertainment it meets with, as the former, but under another similitude. The parable of the vineyard represents the sin of the rulers that persecuted the prophets; it shows also the sin of the people, who generally neglected the message, while their great ones were persecuting the messengers.

I. Gospel preparations are here represented by a feast which a king made at the marriage of his son; such is the kingdom of heaven, such the provision made for precious souls, in and by the new covenant. The King is God, a great King, King of kings. Now,

1. Here is a marriage made for his son, Christ is the Bridegroom, the church is the bride; the gospel-day is the day of his espousals, Cant. 3:11.* Behold by faith the church of the first-born, that are written in heaven, and were given to Christ by him whose they were; and in them you see the bride, the Lamb’s wife, Rev. 21:9. The gospel covenant is a marriage covenant betwixt Christ and believers, and it is a marriage of God’s making. This branch of the similitude is only mentioned, and not prosecuted here.

I love the detail that Henry provides in his commentaries. He also provides links to additional verses in the Bible to reiterate what is being shared.

Notice that Henry states that "the gospel covenant is a marriage covenant between Christ and believers, and it is a marriage of God's making."

This provides more evidence of God's intention regarding the marriage covenant that he originally created. In Genesis, we are told that it is a union between one man and one woman. No other type of union is described as being a legitimate marriage. This is one profound reason why many Christian believers (as well as Jewish and even Muslim people) reject the notion of "same-sex marriage." It is not fitting, proper, nor recognized by God according to the Scriptures.

Another point to consider is how Jesus uses marriage as a description of his relationship between Himself and believers. It is discussed as a covenant, not a sexual union. Later, in this chapter, we find out that marriage is much more than a sexual union and that the giving and taking in marriage is no longer needed, desired or done in eternity. We will discover that our relationship to Christ will be similar to "the angels in heaven." Right now, we are created "a little lower than the angels." In eternity, we will be presented as the "Bride of Christ" and will be judges of the angels! Wow! That's quite an honor and responsibility. We better get ready while here on earth...Amen?

If you are a student of the Bible, you can't help but notice that Satan, Christ's adversary, has throughout history been engaged in twisting Scripture and tempting people to his own ends.

Could the twisting of the marriage covenant introduced by God in Genesis be another weapon in Satan's evil arsenal?

I think so.

He has wrecked havoc here on earth in the forms of temptation into fornication, adultery, divorce, homosexuality, pedophilia, pornography, rape, incest, prostitution, abortion etc. No wonder Jesus likened the signs of the end times to being "as in the days of Lot," and "as in the days of Noah." What were those "times" known for? Sexual perversion and licientiousness! Except for pornography, the rest of the sexual sins and perversions were certainly rampant in Biblical times as they are today. Sexual sins often become the "idols" or "gods" that people pursue here on earth. Athiests, skeptics and agnostics may claim not to believe in the God of the Bible, but many probably have some sexual sin type of baggage that keeps them in bondage to the "Prince of Darkness" and away from the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. Sexual sin is one of the most powerful forces that keep people away from God!

Henry's comment, "The parable of the vineyard represents the sin of the rulers that persecuted the prophets; it shows also the sin of the people, who generally neglected the message, while their great ones were persecuting the messengers," describes how little unregenerate man has changed since Biblical times. Look around today and we see people, "who generally neglect the message" of Christ's gospel. We see "great ones" (meaning, religious leaders who reject the timeless wisdom of the Bible and instead create religions to please themselves) persecuting the messengers (born-again, Bible-based Christians who are often labeled in derogatory terms). Today, it is not "politically correct" to point out the sin of the people for the sake of salvation for their souls. The new "emergent church" techniques eliminate the "bad news" of our sinful condition and only share the "good news" of the Gospel. Trouble is, without confession and repentance, the salvation of the soul cannot be realized by the individual. The Holy Spirit indwells the repentant heart, not the prideful heart that would "hold onto" any type of sin that the individual refuses to confess; or even admit is a sin in the first place!



[*Note: The Cant. 3:11 designation is something that I'm not familiar with. However, when you click on the link it takes you to Song of Songs 3:11.]

No One Was Able to Answer Him a Word

Matthew 22 (NKJV)

Mat 22:1 AND Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:

Mat 22:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,

Mat 22:3 "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.

Mat 22:4 "Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."'

Mat 22:5 "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.

Mat 22:6 "And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

Mat 22:7 "But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Mat 22:8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

Mat 22:9 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'

Mat 22:10 "So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Mat 22:11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.

Mat 22:12 "So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.

Mat 22:13 "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and* cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Mat 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Mat 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.

Mat 22:16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.

Mat 22:17 "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

Mat 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?

Mat 22:19 "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius.

Mat 22:20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"

Mat 22:21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

Mat 22:22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

Mat 22:23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,

Mat 22:24 saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

Mat 22:25 "Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.

Mat 22:26 "Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.

Mat 22:27 "Last of all the woman died also.

Mat 22:28 "Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her."

Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Mat 22:30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God* in heaven.

Mat 22:31 "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,

Mat 22:32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?* God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

Mat 22:33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

Mat 22:34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

Mat 22:35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,

Mat 22:36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"

Mat 22:37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'*

Mat 22:38 "This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'*

Mat 22:40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Mat 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

Mat 22:42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David."

Mat 22:43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying:

Mat 22:44 'The LORD said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"'?*

Mat 22:45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?"

Mat 22:46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Footnotes:
22:13 NU-Text omits take him away, and.
22:30 NU-Text omits of God.
22:32 Exodus 3:6, 15
22:37 Deuteronomy 6:5
22:39 Leviticus 19:18
22:44 Psalm 110:1

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Commentary:

I love this portion of Scripture. It reveals how those who would question Jesus for the specific purpose of attempting to "trip up" our Master, Jesus Christ, ended up speechless after hearing His question!

There are days, weeks and even months of study in this chapter! And that is what I would like to do. Take a verse or two at a time and expound upon the words of Jesus.

Comments and questions are most welcome. Application to current day circumstances, problems, situations etc. are also welcome. This blog will be a "growing one" and new posts will most likely add to our knowledge of Biblical truth that can be gleaned from Scripture.

Welcome to my new The Way of God in Truth blog!

Christine