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His Universal Invitation and Gracious Provision
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Throughout the gospel of Matthew, Jesus frequently teaches on the Kingdom of Heaven by using parables to describe its many dimensions. Take, for example, the parables in chapter 13 which describe the various reactions to the proclamation of the Kingdom (vv. 3b-9; 18-23), the separation of the righteous from the unrighteous in the fullness of the Kingdom (vv. 24-30; 36-43; 47-50), the largeness of the Kingdom presently concealed (vv. 31-33) and the Kingdom’s incalculable worth (vv. 44-46).
Surveying the gospel as a whole, one notices a growing hostility between Jesus and Israel (as represented by the religious authorities) accompanying his Kingdom teachings. Jesus insists that only those who “actually do the will of my Father in heaven” will enter it (7:21), clearly excluding Israel from those He has in mind. Th is is emphasized in the story of the Roman offi cer in chapter 8 in whom Jesus sees a faith that is glaringly absent “in all of Israel” (v. 10). As a result, it will be Gentiles, like the offi cer, from the world around who will sit with the Patriarchs at the Kingdom feast, not “those for whom the Kingdom was prepared” (v. 12).
Th is hostility comes to a head in chapters 21 and 22 as Jesus enters Jerusalem to the acclaim of the crowds, clears the Temple and clashes with the priests and elders. His subsequent parables underscore His teachings from chapters 7 and 8. Th e Parable of the Two Sons (21:28-32) and Parable of the Evil Farmers (21:33-44) confi rm that rebellious Israel will have no place in the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Parable of the Wedding Feast (22:1-14) confi rms that God will extend the Kingdom to include the Gentiles.
As we seek to understand the nature and character of the Kingdom and how one may enter it, these parables off er a variety of helpful principles. Th e Parable of the Wedding Feast, for starters, establishes the universal scope of the invitation to the Kingdom feast. After the king’s initial invitations to join him in celebrating his son are ignored or refused (v. 3), he intensifi es his eff orts to fi ll his hall with guests (v. 4). But these overtures are met with increased levels of dismissal and hostility, with some ignoring the invitation and making excuses (v. 5) while others insult the king’s servants and put them to death (v. 6). Th is rejection provokes the king to do two things: destroy the wicked in judgement (v. 7) and expand the scope of the invitation to include all who will come (vv. 8-9).
Additionally, this parable illustrates the character of our King. He does not discriminate on any of the levels common to fallen humanity. Sinful people go to great lengths to divide and exclude one another however possible, but the King discriminates only on the basis of the response to His off er. Any and all may come, provided they come on His terms. He has spared no expense in preparing the feast, even covering the cost of admission. To enter, one need only accept the appropriate garments provided for the occasion. Th ere will be no room for pride or shame, for everyone will wear the same robes and celebrate together as equals.
Behold the lavishness of the king’s off er, a graphic depiction of the grace made available, in Christ, to all the world! It is matched only by the severity of His justice. He will not abide obstacles to His off er to come (v. 7) nor anyone’s eff orts to come on their own terms (vv. 11-13). Th ose who reject Him, or believe their own garments are suffi cient, will fi nd themselves on the outside looking in. In a nod to Isaiah 64:6, this parable affi rms that our very best is simply not good enough (vv. 11-13). As Spurgeon observes, “Woe unto us unless we are found wearing the righteousness of Christ, unless our lives are made holy by the gracious infl uence of His blessed Spirit! Th ese are the wedding garments which we are to wear.” In Christ alone have we been “dressed with the clothing of salvation” and “draped in a robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10).
The Parable of the Wedding Feast has this and much more to say to us today. If you have accepted the invitation from the King and have clothed yourself in the garments of Christ, you have also accepted the responsibility to serve Him by going to the “street corners” and inviting everyone that you see (v. 9), the “good and the bad alike” (v. 10). Yes, the invitation will be rejected by many, and His messengers may suffer great insult and harm, but we must continue on in the comfort and security of knowing the King is both gracious and just.
The Kingdom of Heaven is large enough to include all who will come through its narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14). Many are called, but few are chosen. Praise God that those whom He calls may effect their chosenness simply by accepting freely His universal invitation and gracious provision!
Rev. Sean Scribner is lead pastor at the Evangelical Methodist Church in Elizabeth City, NC.
*All references in this article are taken from the New LivingTranslation.
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