In the last chapter we had how man under responsibility failed utterly and went on to slay the Son of God. But, wondrous grace! God would still act in grace for He is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:44But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (Ephesians 2:4)). In the next parable, which presents God the Father as the king with the son being the Son of God, we have the way in which grace goes out to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. He likens the kingdom of heaven to a king who made a marriage for his son — the King acts for the glory of His Son, “and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.” Thus the kingdom was announced while the Lord was Himself here below, but it says, “they would not come.” However, after Jesus died and rose He sent out a new appeal by other servants, saying, “Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.” But the gospel was not appreciated by the Jews, and grace was only despised. “They made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.” Then growing bolder in their slight and opposition, “the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.” Not only had they rejected Jesus as their Messiah, but they also rejected the ministry of the apostles and others, as is described in the Book of the Acts. “But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their cities.” Many were imprisoned while many more were slain, and finally the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.
The parable proceeds with the king saying to his servants, “they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.” This no doubt is the gospel call going out to Gentiles — to all men everywhere. “So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.” It wasn’t a question of character — one might have a bad character like the dying thief, or a good character like Cornelius. Grace not only invites sinners but makes them acceptable to the King.
Essential Clothing
“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment.” The king doesn’t inquire whether the man were a good character or bad; he might have been morally upright in every way like the rich young ruler. But this is not the ground of acceptance for a sinner. The man had no sense of the grace which invited him nor of the holiness which the presence of God requires. How many there are who hear the gospel but only receive it partially, and, thinking they are not as bad as others, they do not receive it into their hearts. But such will not find acceptance because they have to do with One who knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The king says to him, “Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.” Men may boast of pleading their own case before God, but they, too, will be speechless in that day. “Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Further Meditation
1. Why did the king send his servants out to the highways?
2. What makes someone like the man without the wedding garment gnash their teeth?
3. For more on the reality of eternal punishment consider reading Hell and Eternal Punishment by F. C. Blount.