The Other Jesus Wedding Story That Is Far Less Popular

We're looking forward to several weddings just around the corner, some of whom have grown up in our youth ministry, entering into the adult-seasons of their lives. Several weeks ago Jill and I were explaining to the kids that some of our friends are getting married. Davis, in a pretty concerning tone, said, "I don't want them to get married." "Why not buddy?" I asked. Keep in mind, he's three. "Because then they can't get out!" He thought we were saying "buried." But then I thought to myself, he might have a point. Perhaps getting married and buried aren't too different after all...

THE WORD

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

-Matthew 22:14

I'm willing to bet that when you think of Jesus and weddings, the first story that comes to mind is His debut miracle of turning water into wine at the request of His mother. I'd call it His rookie season but He seemed to be a veteran even in the womb. We love this story so much because not only does it demonstrate Jesus' value for celebration and community but it also reveals a much deeper truth about His love for us. Jesus' first public miracle in scripture takes place at a wedding, possibly because the union between husband and wife is the greatest depiction we have of heaven on earth. At the end of all things, in Revelation 19, we find that all things are leading to a wedding. We often refer to it as the "marriage supper of the lamb" where the global and collective Church (the bride) will be united with Christ (the bridegroom). So, needless to say, weddings hold a special place in the heart of God.

Jesus didn't just attend weddings, however; He told stories about them too. In Matthew 22 we find one of Jesus' more detailed parables about a particular wedding celebration. This is the other Jesus wedding story we rarely talk about.

THE KING

2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son." - Matthew 22

It's important to take note that this story is centered around no ordinary man but a king. A king has authority to both bless and punish, both of which are on display in this story. So take note; we have a king, with power and dominion, who has a son that he wishes to throw a wedding banquet for. This ringing any bells? (Wedding bells... eh? ...Ok, no more puns)

What I'm getting at is that it's safe to say the King represents God. It's important to note this man's Kingship because there's a difference in getting an invitation from your friend and an invitation from your president, leader, boss, or authority. One is a choice, the other is an expectation. You could also say that one is an OPTION and the other is an OPPORTUNITY. To not see such an invitation as a privilege is probably an indication of pride or ignorance. The fact that he is a King means he stands to gain nothing from the people coming to the banquet. He has everything he needs yet he desires communion with them. His invitation is his gift, his blessing, and his love on display.

THE CALL

3"He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come." - Matthew 22

Jesus goes on to tell us that many in the kingdom who were invited refused to go. Now is a good time to address the proper context of this story. Jesus is speaking to a Jewish audience, a people who are very familiar with God but, at this point, are not accepting of His Son. The servants in Jesus' parable represent the prophets and judges that God sent on the earth for centuries, preparing the way of the Messiah to come and the people to receive Him.

To deny Jesus is to deny the Father. To not receive the Son is to not revere the Father. This is just as true for us today as it is for any person of Israeli descent. We have been called by the King to a celebration of the Prince of Peace. To join in that celebration is to join in the reward of His suffering and to know His peace.

THE CLARIFICATION

4“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.’ 5“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city." - Matthew 22

Perhaps this is the reason why this is much less popular than the story of Jesus making wine. We are reminded often in the scriptures of wine as a symbol of Jesus' blood. But in this wedding story, the only blood that is spilt is that of servants and citizens. Once again this communicates the deaths of many of God's messengers at the hands of His people over the years, including the most recent beheading of John the Baptist in prison.

In response to the deaths of his servants, the King orders the death of the citizens. It's a stark reminder that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and that means if Jesus' blood is not applied to our debt, we will pay with our own. While it may be difficult to accept this reality, our eternity depends on it.

We are mistaken to give so much attention to how bad Hell is when we should be focused on how good His grace is. Notice the beauty in this story. He gives the call to come and when they refuse he sends his servants AGAIN, this time even clarifying the sacrifices he has made for them. He tells them, "I've slaughtered the oxen and the fattened calf... I've prepared... I've paid a price!" He didn't threaten them with death, though death was coming. Romans 2 says it's the kindness of God that leads us to repentance.

But the response of the people was first, disregard and second, disorder. To ignore or resist the call of Jesus is to align with the world and its rebellion. Resisting the truth always leads to rebelling against it. The reality is we are born with a sinful nature and an inclination to rebel.

Notice, to the King, there was no differentiation between those who went off to their farm or business and those who responded with violence. We've somehow convinced ourselves that it's acceptable to reject the things of God (i.e. our spiritual formation, inserting ourselves in a Christ-centered community, serving others, being generous, etc.) due to our hectic lifestyles and worldly ambitions. While God knows the intentions of our hearts, He also knows the motivations. When we are more devoted to temporal success than eternal reward we are walking in deception.

Disregard leads to disorder. Not just in society, as we have seen with the rejection of prayer in our schools or Biblical values in our nation, but also in each individual's life. NEGLIGENCE to His call results in IGNORANCE to His freedom.

THE CROWD

8“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests." - Matthew 22

Rather than celebrate alone the kings expands his invitation to anyone and everyone who will come. Jesus was alluding to the coming global revival of the Gentiles who would receive the gospel. It's a powerful picture of God's love being poured out to all the world. Just imagine the homeless man on the street corner being welcomed into the palace for the grand banquet of the Prince of the Kingdom!

What I find most interesting here is in verse 10 where it says they gathered ALL the people they could, both the "bad as well as the good." Other translations say both "good and evil." First, as King, he gets to decide what is good and bad. Ruling authorities set the laws and God ultimately judges what is right and wrong. He has written a moral law on our hearts so that even those who are not in relationship with Him have a conscious understanding of objective right and wrong behavior.

But why include the "bad" or "evil" people if he already killed others in their rebellion? It's because this story is not about who earns their invitation to the banquet, but rather who accepts it.

THE CLOTHES

11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

13“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.’ - Matthew 22

Without context this is perhaps one of the most confusing parts in any of Jesus' parables. Why would the King invite misfits to the party yet have an unrealistic dress code to which they must adhere? Unfortunately this is how many view Christianity. They see God or His Church as a condemning voice telling them what they're doing wrong. That's a grossly-misguided view of God and the scriptures.

It's vitally important to understand that in Hebrew culture it was custom for the host of the banquet (in this case the King) to provide their guests with garments. The fact that everyone else was dressed in the proper wedding attire concludes that they had been provided with the garments and accepted them, where as this man, for whatever reason, did not.

This once again speaks to the reality that we as Gentiles are just as prone to reject that which is freely given to us. The reality is, we can show up to the event, be a part of "church" and go through the motions, but if we are not clothed in Christ, we are not part of the bride.

Paul admonishes us in Romans 13:14 to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." Don't just bear His name, WEAR His righteousness. In doing so, you will no longer be considered good, bad, or evil, but simply worthy of the call to the palace and the invitation as His child. Revelation 19 even says that at the marriage supper of the Lamb the bride (once again, that's us) is given fine linen to wear. The covering is provided. The receiving is up to us.

THE CHOSEN

14“For many are called, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22

This verse used to scare me. What is the difference between those called and those chosen? What if ultimately I'm not one of the chosen?

The bottom line of Jesus' parable is that the chosen are those who answer the call. The greatest calling on your life is not to something but rather to someone. The invitation of the King was simply this: come and dine with me. Discipleship, the commands, the great commission, all of those things come naturally for the one who determines to make his home the courts of the King and to make his family the Ruler of the kingdom.

CONCLUSION

Life is all about Christ, so join Him. God is all about the call, so answer it. Eternity is all about your choice, so make it wisely.