RETURN TO
SYLLABUS
THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST
LESSON #44
THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST AND THE GARMENT (MAT 22:1-14)
- THIS PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST AND THE GARMENT IS RELATED TO THE LAST THREE
PARABLES. THEREFORE, TO UNDERSTAND THIS PARABLE WE MUST FIRST REVIEW THE LAST THREE
PARABLES:
- =1= THE PRABLE OF THE FIG TREE AND FAITH:
- THE CENTRAL TRUTH:
- JESUS LOOKED FOR SOME EVIDENCE OF GODLINESS AMONG THE JEWISH NATION. THEY HAD THE
OUTWARD TRAPPINGS OF RELIGION, BUT THERE WAS NO INWARD FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. NO FAITH.
LIKE THE FIG TREE, ISRAEL FAILED IN ITS PURPOSE. JESUS, THEREFORE, CURSED ISRAEL, FOR HE
KNEW THE JEWS WERE GOING TO REJECT HIM THE NEXT WEEK.
- =2= THE PARABLE OF THE 2 SONS AND THE VINEYARD:
- THE CENTRAL TRUTH:
- GOD SET ASIDE A PEOPLE, THE JEWS, OF WHICH ALL WERE SINNERS. SOME DID THE WILL OF GOD BY
REPENTING OF THEIR SINS, WHILE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS DID NOT REPENT. JESUS, THEREFORE,
CONDEMNS THE METHODS OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
- =3= THE PARABLE OF THE HOUSEHOLDER AND THE HEIR:
- THE CENTRAL TRUTH:
- GOD GAVE A SACRED TRUST TO THE JEWS AND GAVE THEM MANY PROMISES AND PRIVILEGES, BUT THEY
FAILED HIM BY KILLING HIS PROPHETS AND REJECTING HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. GOD WOULD,
THEREFORE, SET ASIDE THE JEWS FOR A TIME AND BUILD UPON A BELIEVING GROUP OF GENTILES.
JESUS, THEREFORE, CONDEMNS THE MOTIVES OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
- THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST AND THE GARMENT (MAT 22:1-14)
- READ MAT 22:1-14 FOR THE CONTEXT OF THIS PARABLE.
- TO WHOM DID JESUS SPEAK THIS PARABLE?
- JESUS SPOKE THIS PARABLE TO THE SAME JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS AS BEFORE.
- WHO DOES THE "CERTAIN KING" REPRESENT (2)?
- THE KING REPRESENTS GOD, THE FATHER.
- WHO IS THE KING’S SON?
- THE KING’S SON IS JESUS CHRIST.
- PREVIOUSLY WE SAW JESUS AS THE HEIR TO THE HOUSEHOLDER, BUT IN THIS PARABLE HE IS THE
SON OF THE KING.
- READ JOH 3:29
- JOHN CALLS JESUS, THE BRIDEGROOM.
- THE PARABLE DESCRIBES A FEAST GIVEN AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF A KING’S REIGN, WHO THEN
MARRIED HIMSELF TO HIS PEOPLE. (1KIN 1:5, 9 1CHR 29:24)
- WHO ARE THE SERVANTS (3)?
- THE SERVANTS IN THE PARABLE REPRESENT THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS.
- WHO ARE THE "OTHER" SERVANTS (4)?
- THE "OTHER" SERVANTS IN THE PARABLE REPRESENT MORE PROPHETS.
- THIS INDICATION OF MORE AND MORE PROPHETS IS AN INDICATION OF GOD’S LONG-SUFFERING
MERCY.
- THE PARABLE INDICATES THE SENDING OF 3 INVITATIONS. WE WILL CONSIDER THE FIRST TWO HERE:
- INVITATION #1 = (1-3) THE INVITATION WAS RETURNED BY THOSE WHO TREATED GOD’S CALL
INDIFFERENTLY AND CASUALLY.
- INVITATION #2 = (4-7) THIS IS A MORE URGENT INVITATION. THE INVITATION WAS MET WITH
MOCKERY, SCORN, AND ULTIMATELY WITH VIOLENCE.
- VERSE 7 INDICATES THE RESULTS OF THEIR REFUSAL.
- THEREFORE, IT IS A PROPHECY THAT PREDICTS THE FALL OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE IN 70 AD
WHEN THE ROMANS DESTROYED JERUSALEM.
- WHO IS THE "REMNANT" THAT KILLED THE SERVANTS (6)?
- THESE REPRESENT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO KILLED THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS OF GOD.
- WHAT DOES THE "MARRIAGE" (WEDDING) REPRESENT?
- THE MARRIAGE REPRESENTS THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST TO THIS EARTH. GOD’S INTENTION
IS THAT HIS SON WILL REIGN AS KING OVER HIS PEOPLE AND WILL MARRY HIMSELF TO HIS PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, THE JEWS REJECTED THEIR KING.
- WHO ARE THE SERVANTS THAT CARRY THE THIRD INVITATION? (8)
- THESE ARE THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST, AND LATER THE APOSTLES AND MINISTERS OF THE
GOSPEL.
- WHO ARE THE GUESTS THAT CAME (10)?
- THE GUESTS THAT CAME TO THE WEDDING FEAST ARE THOSE WHO RESPONDED TO THE THIRD
INVITATION.
- INVITATION #3 = (10) DESPITE REJECTION, GOD’S ENDURING MERCY IS DISPLAYED IN HIS
PERSISTENT ATTEMPT TO PERSUADE.
- THE GUESTS THAT CAME REPRESENT THE GENTILE BELIEVERS WHO COME TO CHRIST AND REPENT OF
THEIR SINS.
- NOTICE THAT VERSE 10 SAYS "BOTH GOOD AND BAD" RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE
INVITATION.
- IN GOD’S EYES ALL HUMANS ARE SINNERS, BUT IN MAN’S EYES, SOME PEOPLE THINK
THEY ARE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD BECAUSE THEY LIVE A "GOOD" LIFE.
- READ REV 19:6-9 THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
- WHAT IS THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB?
- THE BIBLE INDICATES THAT IT IS A TIME OF REJOICING FOR BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.
- WHEN WILL IT OCCUR?
- AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH WHEN GOD WILL REMOVE BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST FROM THE
WORLD, AND WILL RESURRECT DEAD BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, ALL THESE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS IN
CHRIST WILL STAND BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.
- THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB OCCURS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST IN
HEAVEN. IT IS A SEVEN YEAR LONG MARRIAGE FEAST AND OCCURS IN HEAVEN AT THE SAME TIME THE
TRIBULATION PERIOD IS HAPPENING ON EARTH.
- THE BRIDE AT THE MARRIAGE FEAST IS THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.
- WHAT DOES THE WEDDING GARMENT REPRESENT?
- BOTH IN THE PARABLE AND IN REV 19, THE WEDDING GARMENT REPRESENTS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF
CHRIST. (REV 19:8) (MAT 22:11)
- IN REVELATION WE LEARN THAT THE WEDDING GARMENT IS WHITE LINEN WHICH IS A SYMBOL FOR
PURITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SAINTS THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST. (APO 19:8)
- OF COURSE, ONLY THE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST IS CLOTHED WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF
CHRIST.
- IT WAS THE CUSTOM IN THE EAST FOR A KING TO SUPPLY HIS ROYAL GUESTS WITH A SIMPLE ROBE
TO WEAR THAT WOULD NOT OUTSHINE THAT OF THE KING.
- IN THE PARABLE, THE GREEK LANGUAGE INDICATES THAT THE MAN HAD NO INTENTION OF WEARING A
ROBE THAT WAS SUPPLIED BY HIS HOST.
- IN OTHER WORDS, FOR A GUEST TO REFUSE TO WEAR THE ROBE SUPPLIED BY THE KING WOULD BE THE
ULTIMATE INSULT TO THE KING.
- WHO DOES THIS MAN REPRESENT?
- IN JESUS’ DAY, HE REPRESENTED THE JEWS WHO REJECTED CHRIST.
- IN ALL HISTORY, HE REPRESENTS ALL PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO BE JUDGED BY THEIR OWN
RIGHTEOUSNESS INSTEAD OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.
- IN OTHER WORDS, HE REPRESENTS ALL NON-BELIEVERS.
- THE PARABLE RESULTS OF THIS INSULT:
- THE MAN (ALL NON-BELIEVERS) IS CAST INTO OUTER DARKNESS WHERE THERE IS WEEPING AND
GNASHING OF TEETH.
- THIS "OUTER DARKNESS" IS ETERNITY WITHOUT GOD, WITHOUT THE LIGHT OF CHRIST,
OUTSIDE THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS, SATAN’S KINGDOM.
- WHAT DOES JESUS MEAN BY THE PHRASE, "MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN" (14)?
- IT IS GOD’S DESIRE THAT ALL MEN COME TO CHRIST. (JOH 3:15-16) HOWEVER, SOME PEOPLE
HARDEN THEIR HEARTS TOWARD GOD. THEREFORE, GOD DOES NOT CHOOSE TO WORK IN THEIR LIVES TO
BRING THEM TO CHRIST. MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE "CHOICE ONES" FOR GOD.
- THE WEDDING FEAST REPRESENTS ALL THE BLESSINGS OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:
- PARDON OF SIN
- FAVOR WITH GOD
- PEACE OF CONSCIENCE
- ACCESS TO THE THRONE OF GOD THROUGH PRAYER
- COMFORT AND GUIDANCE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
- HEIRS OF GOD AND JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST
- ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD’S PRESENCE
- WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST AND THE GARMENT?
- GOD CALLED THE JEWS OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO BE A PART OF HIS KINGDOM. THEY REFUSED, EVEN
KILLING THE PROPHETS THAT GOD SENT WITH THE INVITATION. AS A RESULT, GOD WOULD DESTROY
JERUSALEM AND CALL THE GENTILES INSTEAD. BUT ANYONE IS ACCEPTABLE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD IF
HE PUTS ON THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.
- HOW DOES A PERSON PUT ON THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST?
- HE PUTS ON THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST WHEN HE RECEIVES JESUS CHRIST INTO HIS HEART BY
PRAYER. (GAL 3:26-28)
- THE MESSAGE TO THE RELIGIOUS JEWISH LEADERS THAT HEARD THIS PARABLE WAS ONE OF
CONDEMNATION AND COMING DOOM BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT REPENT AND BELIEVE IN CHRIST.
HOMEWORK
THE PARABLE OF THE BEASTS THAT ARE HEAVILY BURDENED (MAT 23:1-4)
THE PARABLE OF THE BLIND GUIDES, THE GNAT, AND THE CAMEL (MAT 23:16-24)
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR
CORRECTION.
- APPLICATION OF THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST AND THE GARMENT (MAT 22:1-14
- HAVE YOU PUT ON THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST BY ACCEPTING JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND
SAVIOR AND THEN CLEANING UP YOUR LIFE TO CORRESPOND TO HIS CALL? READ GAL 3:26-28 EPH
4:17-32 COL 3:1-10
- WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU MADE TO YOUR LIFE?
PREPARATION FOR THE PARABLE OF OVERLADEN BEASTS OF BURDEN (MAT 23:1-4) AND THE PARABLE
OF THE BLIND GUIDES, THE GNAT, AND THE CAMEL (MAT 23:16-24)
- READ MAT 23:1-36 FOR THE CONTEXT OF THESE TWO PARABLES.
- TO WHOM DID JESUS SPEAK THESE TWO PARABLES?
- THE PARABLE OF THE OVERLADEN BEASTS OF BURDEN (MAT 23:1-4)
WHO IS IT THAT PUTS HEAVY BURDENS ON MEN’S SHOULDERS?
WHAT ARE THE HEAVY BURDENS?
WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THIS PARABLE?
- THE PARABLE OF THE BLIND GUIDES, THE GNAT, AND THE CAMEL (MAT 23:16-24)
WHO ARE THE BLIND GUIDES?
- WHAT DO THEY DO THAT JESUS CONDEMNS?
- WHAT DID JESUS MEAN BY THE PHRASE, "STRAINING AT A GNAT AND SWALLOWING A CAMEL?
- WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THIS PARABLE?