Rejected 2

Matthew 22:8-10

At our previous church we held a catered dinner at Christmas for the congregation. The meal was delicious and a bit fancy. When it was over we had sufficient food left over that we were able to take several complete meals to a nearby shelter, feeding all the residents.

What a delight it was to me to be able to provide direct and tangible help to people in need, and what a wonderful treat that must have been to those people – a lovely, catered meal.

Continuing with the parable of the wedding banquet, there is a great abundance of food that has been prepared, but the invited guests have rejected it. What does the king command? What is the result?

Specifically, this parable addresses the fact that Jesus was sent by God to offer salvation to the Jews, God’s chosen people. But most of the Jews rejected Christ, choosing not to accept him as the Messiah. Now, the message and offer of salvation – the banquet of God’s abundance – is being given to anyone, Jew or Gentile, who will believe.

But this parable can apply to any of us today. The blessings of God, if rejected, are not wasted. If any person chooses not to accept the blessings of God, not to accept God’s mercy and love, these gifts do not wither or diminish.

Instead these blessings pass on to those who will indeed believe and receive. If you will not come to the table of God and take part in His abundant mercy and goodness, there are others who will come.

And that is part of our work as believers. We are to be like the servants, going out in the world and finding all those who are willing to receive from God. Just as in the parable of the wedding banquet, God desires that His hall be filled with guests.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you help to fill God’s hall with guests?

Rejected 1

Matthew 22:1-7

The image of God’s goodness as a banquet, a great table of abundance, continues in Matthew with the parable of the wedding banquet. Just as with the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, a wedding celebration, so familiar to so many people, represents the goodness of God’s grace.

Who prepares the wedding banquet? What did the invited guests do? What enticement does the king offer in verse 4? What was the result of the second invitation? How did the king react?

A similar parable to this one is presented in Luke 14:16-24, but this story in Matthew has a distinct edge to it. How does the king react? He kills those who rejected his invitation and destroyed their city. His wrath was great.

If the king represents God, then Jesus is warning us of a vengeful side to God. Rejecting His invitation not only makes us bypass blessings, it might spark God’s anger.

Another element missing from Luke’s version are the details we see in Matthew 22:4. In this version we see the abundance that is offered – fattened cattle and oxen have been butchered. The meal is ready. The king is reminding everyone of what they might expect. He is hoping to entice them to come.

Yet, this invitation is neglected. Those invited turn their backs.

And like so many passages in the Bible we can cluck our tongues at these foolish people. But, how different from them are we?

Don’t we bypass the blessings of God by refusing His invitation to us? Don’t we miss out on the great and wonderful grace and goodness God will pour out on us because we turn away from God?

There are so many who will not come to God’s table. Through fear or doubt, they avoid that deeper relationship with the Lord, a togetherness that will fill their lives with richness. A fabulous gift is offered, but many do not accept it.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you avoid missing God’s banquet?