Who is Jesus? Chapter 39 "Jesus Speaks About Two Weddings"

 

Who is Jesus? Chapter 39 Jesus Speaks About Two Weddings

Matthew 22 and also in chapter 25; Jesus told two parables about a wedding. His stories always had a deeper meaning. See if you can understand and realize the answer to the question even before the question is asked.

Crowds gathered to hear Jesus, and as always there were the chief priests and scribes who listened with anger because they knew he was referring to them in many of his parables.  And although they were wanting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because the people counted Jesus to be a prophet.

The first story Jesus told was "The Parable of the Wedding Feast." There was much interest about the kingdom of heaven so Jesus was again speaking to the people in parables, saying,  “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to remind those who were invited to the wedding feast, that today is the time to come, but they paid no attention because they were very occupied doing things that pleased themselves.

Again, he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they were too busy to heed the Kings invitation and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized the King's servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 

This exceedingly angered the king, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 

Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited have not accepted the invitation. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’  So, the servants went out into the roads and the highways and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good.  So, the wedding hall was filled with guests, each dressed in the wonderful wedding robes the king had so freely provided.

 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.  And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a special wedding garment?’

And the man was without excuse, but he refused to answer the king because he was proud and hard-headed wanting to do his own thing. He considered his clothing good enough and the man had contempt for the King's provision.

Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and toss him into the outer darkness, because he is stubborn and rebellious.

In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  For many are called, but few are chosen.”

In this story, the fact is we all have been invited to the banquet, but we have a choice to decide to receive Jesus into our life in order to be present at that great celebration in heaven.

In God's sight, our own goodness and honest good deeds are as filthy rags. We cannot come to God any other way except by the means the Lord has provided for salvation and that is by receiving Jesus and following Him. We must be willing to lay aside our own “good works” and our rebellious attitude and to accept the garments of salvation and be clothed in the Robe of the Righteousness of Christ.

* * * *

Jesus told another parable about a wedding and the Ten Virgins who were invited. He began by saying; “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no extra oil with them, but the wise took additional flasks of oil with their lamps. 

Because the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and decided to take a nap.  But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

 Then all those virgins quickly rose up and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 

But the wise answered, saying, ‘We cannot do that because there will not be enough for us and for you, go find the sellers of oil and buy for yourselves.’ 

And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.  

Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’  Watch therefore, for you don't know the day or the hour when the bridegroom will come.

In this story, the fact is even those who are willing to come to the celebration, must keep the fresh oil of the holy Spirit burning in their spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 Be ever filled with the Holy Spirit.

It is a wise person that will meet Jesus daily in their secret place to read their Bible and be thankful as they sit for awhile in His presence. Today will you make that decision to be that wise person who will early each day meet with Jesus and receive a fresh supply of oil in your spirit? You will be so happy you did so.