This is a different parable than the Parable of the Great Banquet which Jesus gave at a meal (Luke 14:16-24).
Jesus gave the Parable of the Wedding Feast later in his ministry and in the temple--it is found only in Matthew
22:1-14. (Trench, NOTES ON THE PARABLES OF OUR LORD, p. 75).
The Story
Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
"Then he sent some more servants and said, `Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' "But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king
was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. "Then he said to his servants, `The
wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. `Friend,' he asked, `how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.
"Then the king told the attendants, `Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are invited, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14, New International Version).
A king prepared a wedding banquet for his son. According to Jewish custom, no time was specified in the invitation to the big feast. When everything was ready, servants were sent out with a final summons. (William Barclay, DAILY BIBLE STUDY SERIES, MATTHEW, pp. 293 ff.). When the servants were sent out for the final summons, those who were invited refused to come. Then the king sent out more servants to bid those who were invited. Again, those invited paid no attention. Some
went to conducting business as usual, and others mistreated the king's servants and killed them. The king became furious and sent his army, executing those who murdered his servants and burning their city. The king then issued orders to his servants to go to the street corners and gather both good and bad people to his son's wedding feast. People responded and filled the wedding hall. The king then came into the wedding hall to see the guests and noticed a guest who was not wearing wedding
clothes. Wealthy people of the East would have a large number of expensive garments for such occasions and the rejection of wedding clothes would be a sign of contempt. (R. C. Trench, NOTES ON THE PARABLES OF OUR LORD, p. 80).
When the king confronted the guest without wedding clothes, the man had no excuse. The king had his attendants bind the man without the wedding clothes and throw him outside in the darkness.
The Interpretation
The characters of the story and the people whom they represent are:
1. The King God the Father
2. The Son God the Son
3. The first group invited The Jews
4. The second group invited The Gentiles and sinners
God's chosen people, the Jews, were the first to receive the joyous call to receive the Messiah, whom they rejected. The Gospel was then given to other nations (Gentiles). In short, everyone has been given an invitation, but not everyone has accepted the invitation. The wedding will take place in the future when the Lord calls us. The time is unspecified--only God knows. We who have responded are the Church--not denominations, but the universal church, which is composed of every individual who has responded and who will respond to the call of the Father to accept his Son. The wedding garment represents the righteousness of Christ. Paul explains in the book of Romans that "self- righteousness" will not satisfy the holiness of God, only the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. (See the chapter on "Righteousness" in my shareware book, HOW TO RAISE YOUR SELF ESTEEM: PROVEN BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES). The outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth is the place of eternal separation from God and from redeemed humanity. Barclay reminds us that part of the pain will be the joy missed. It would be terrible to spend an eternity without a changed nature and without having the love
nature of God.
Central Truth
EVERYONE IS CALLED TO BE SAVED, BUT ONLY THOSE WHO RECEIVE CHRIST AND HIS FREE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE SAVED.
Conclusion
It is very foolish to reject the invitation of our Creator. He has so much joy in store for us. If it hurts human beings to have their love rejected, how much more does it pierce the heart of God to have his love and his Son rejected? Let us carry the message of the Good News (Gospel) to all!
END