To Have and To Hold

Matthew 22:1-14

Wedding season is upon us and each is an occasion to genuinely celebrate.  How do you typically respond when you are invited to a wedding reception?  As I’m writing this, I’m looking forward to the weekend and rejoicing with some dear members of our church that are getting married.  I’ve also got my own daughter’s wedding on my mind as it is coming up in the Fall.  I want the experience to go along beautifully for my beloved daughter.  I hope she feels complete joy, support, and honor while she enters into this sacred covenant with her husband.  Pray for near and dear newlyweds to love like Jesus loves.

In this week’s text, Jesus tells a parable comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a king throwing a wedding feast for his son.  The parable is definitely not a how-to guide for anyone planning a wedding reception today.  Jesus is teaching something deeper about the kingdom of heaven and the invitation we have through Him.  Some people in this parable react very strangely to the invitation for that wedding feast.  Some ignore the invitation.  Others went so far as to act violently and commit murder on those who were bringing the invitation.  Jesus tells this parable to an audience with religious leaders that are seeking to arrest and quiet Him.

What if I told you that the wedding feast symbolizes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  What if I told you that the wedding garment symbolizes confession and belief in Jesus as the Messiah.  Then could you see how the reaction of the first invitees in Jesus’ parable might relate to the hostile individuals surrounding Jesus then or even now?  Based on what we know about human nature and our struggle with self- worship, could it be that some respond with contempt and violence because they just don’t want to honor the Son?  Is it because the attention is going to someone else other than themselves?  Is it that they don’t want to agree to another’s beck and call? 

Again, Jesus is teaching something deeper about the Kingdom of Heaven and responding to the invitation to partake with Him in it.  How will you respond today?  Pray for a receptive heart.

The wedding season is still upon us as Jesus Christ, the bridegroom, is gathering the church, His bride.  You and I are invited to join the celebration of God’s Son that is the Kingdom of Heaven by receiving the Gospel and confessing Jesus as our Redeemer and Lord.  May we not be like a runaway bride or an unrepentant bystander.  Instead let us be unified with Christ and holding dearly to the sacred covenant He has made with us to bring us graciously into His Kingdom!

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon