THE PARABLE OF A WEDDING AND FEAST

This is the parable of a Wedding and Feast found in the 22nd and 23rd Chapters of Matthew.  

Chapter 22:
          The Kingdom of Heaven is similar to the parable of a certain King who planned a Wedding for his son.  The King sent out servants to invite people to the wedding, but they would not come.
          So the King sent out more of his servants to invited the people to a special feast he had prepared for them.  But they made light of the inviti-tion and went their own ways.  One went to his farm.  Another went to sell his merchandise.  The rest took his servants, harassed them and killed them.  When the King heard what the people had done to his servants, he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and burned up their city.
          The King then said to his servants, "The Wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.  Go to the highways and find people to invite to the Wedding."  So his servants went out and found both good and bad people to invite.  Finally the Wedding was furnished with guests. 
         When the King came to see the guests, he saw a man without a Wedding garment on.  He asked the man why he came to the Wedding without wearing a Wedding garment?  The man was speechless.  The King told his servants to bind the man's hands and feet and throw him out.  
          Jesus told his disciples that when the Kingdom of Heaven comes, those not ready will be cast out into darkness.  He also said there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth from those cast out. "For many are called, but few are chosen."  Then the Pharisees talked among themselves on how they might catch Jesus in a lie.  The Herodians were sent to Jesus saying, "Master, we know what you what you are saying is true, teach us the way of God in truth.  Do not cast out any man."  Then they asked Jesus a question.  "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar?"  Jesus saw their wicked-ness and said, "Why tempt Me?  You hypocrites!  Show me the tribute money."  They brought him a penny.  Jesus said, "Whose image and sub-scription is on the penny?"  The Herodians said Caesar's. Then Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are his and unto God the things that are God's."  When they heard his answer, they marveled and left him, and went their way.  
          On that same day the Sadducees, who say that there won't be a resurrection of the dead, came to Jesus and asked him, "Master, Moses said if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up his brother's seed.  What happens when there are seven brothers and the first married his brother's wife and he dies without having an heir, likewise the second also and the third and on to the seventh.  Last of all the woman dies.  In the resurrection whose wife shall she be?" 
          Jesus said to them, "You do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.  In the resurrection there will be no marriages.  The people will be as the angels of God who are now in heaven.  Have you not read what God said about the resurrection of the dead?  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.  God is not a God of the dead, but of the living."  When the multitude heard what God said, they were astonished at Jesus' doctrine.
          When the Pharisees heard Jesus put the Sadducees to silence, they gathered to gather and one of them who was a lawyer asked Jesus a ques-tion. (temping Jesus)  "Master, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"  Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as your-self.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
          While the Pharisees were there together, Jesus asked them a question, "What do you think of Christ?  Whose son is he?"  The Phari-sees said, "The Son of David!"  Jesus then asked them, "How then does those in the Spirit of David call him Lord?  The LORD (God) said unto my Lord, "Sit on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool?  If David then called him Lord, how is he his son?"  Not one of them were able to answer Jesus' questions.  No one asked him any more. 
          
Chapter 23:
          Jesus spoke to the multitude, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.  Therefore observe and do what they command.  But do not follow after their works.  The burdens are to heavy for them to bare.  They put them on men's shoulders, but will not help with those burdens with even one of their fingers.  All their works they do to be seen of men.  They modify their garments for show.  They love the best rooms at feasts, chief seats in the Synagogues, and greetings in the markets and call them  Rabbi's.  You are not to call any man on the earth, Master.  Only one is your Master, Christ.  All of you are brothers.  Call no "man" your Father upon the earth.  Your only Father is in heaven.  Neither be called Masters, for your Master is Christ.  The ones who are the greatest among you will be your servants." 
          "Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  You shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men.  You do not go yourselves and neither suffer them that are trying to enter unto you.  Woe unto you  Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  You devour widows houses and to be seen.  You make long prayers.  You shall receive the greater damnation.  Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the dam-nation of hell?" 
          "I send to you, prophets, wisemen and Scribes.  Some of them you kill and crucify.  Some you scourge in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city.  O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often have I gathered your children to me, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not come!  I say to you, you shall not see me anymore till you say, "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the LORD!" 

Taken from the KJV version of the Bible, by *Starlight*  October 10, 2023.