The Marriage Feast

This is part one of a series based upon the Parable of the Marriage Feast referenced in Matthew 22:1-14. Each part stands alone with the other parts supplementing and adding to the whole.

Just like so many other Scriptures that we have looked at in the past, this Scripture is so incredibly rich. It just seems like almost every word is just jam-packed with rich, deep meaning. And so to clarify what is being said, we’ll be looking at various Scriptures, concepts, and precepts that are expressed all throught the Bible but primarily throughout the renewed covenant (N/T).

Matthew 22:1- 3
Today I would like to invite you to examine verses 1-3 with me.

Yeshua answered and spoke unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his Son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Matthew 22:1 reads “Yeshua answered and spoke to them again by parables”.

Red letters in the Bible
As most of us know, in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we see a lot of red letters. There are even some in the book of acts. We all know that the red letters are Yeshua’s words but today I would like to encourage you to purpose to pay special attention when Yeshua speaks. The other writers are priceless but we can not do any better than to embrace the words of Yeshua Himself.

Why did Yeshua speak in parables?
Yeshua often spoke in parables but there is a lot of misunderstanding regarding why He did so.

Yeshua didn’t speak in parables because He was trying to keep His message simple so that people could understand Him.

In Matthew 13:10 Yeshua was specifically asked, “Why do you speak in parables”? In response, Yeshua said “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. But to them, it is not given”… WOW!

It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. But to them it is not given

God desires that we are good stewards of what He gives us.
For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: But whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even from what he has. Matthew 13:12

Wow! These verses should just warm the cockles of your heart. They have been given to you.

The things of God are as foolishness to men.
It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Scriptures tell us that the things of God are as foolishness to men.

This is part of the reason that we’re having so many problems in America right now. God’s people have withdrawn over the last couple of centuries; particularly the last century. As the people of God have withdrawn, it has left a void. Voids are always filled and, of course, who mostly usually fills those voids is the evil one because he’s very aggressive by nature.

The nefarious entities have grown in quantity and in strength because the people of God have withdrawn. The result is a small group of people who appear foolish to the majority.

The things of God are mysterious and appear foolish to the ungodly.

A peculiar treasure: “a Segulah”
Many are called, but there are only a few who are chosen. It’s called the Segulah. I’ve talked about this Hebrew word many times over the years.

The king would ride through his kingdom and he would find the best draft horses, the biggest, the most muscular, the best conformation, disposition, and the best hooves. He would then claim those horses for his court in the Kingdom. The horses would then become the king’s Segulah: His peculiar, special treasure, chosen ones. And so, as the king rode through the kingdom, he would continue in this manner choosing his “segulahs”.

God says “many are called, but few are my segulah”. So in Matthew 13:10-11 when the disciples asked “why do you speak go everyone in parables”, Yeshua told them that He was only speaking to the chosen ones; the “segulah”.

He said that “it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. But to them it is not given.”

God is equipping His Remnant to reign and rule throughout eternity.

Whatever is outside of the Kingdom of God will either be destroyed or incorporated into the Kingdom for the glory of God.

So while it appears that he’s speaking to the masses, the reality is he is reaching into the hearts of those who have been called by the Father to enter into the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God vs. The Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 22:1-2: “Yeshua answered and spoke to them again by parables and said, the Kingdom of Heaven is like and to a certain king, which made marriage for his son”.

In Matthew 6:33 the kingdom of God is mentioned. Is the kingdom of God the same as the kingdom of Heaven? Yes; the Kingdom of God is the same as saying the Kingdom of Heaven. It would be sort of like saying “Johnny went home” or “Johnny went to the house”.

As evidence of this; in Matthew 20:23-24 we see Yeshua Himself referring to the kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God, one right after the other. Both are clearly referencing the exact same place. There’s no difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God. So here in Matthew 22 Yeshua spoke to them saying that the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son.

In a kingdom, there must be a King, His subjects and everything necessary to sustain everyone. This is what the Kingdom of God is: An infinite place to meet every need of the inhabitants.

An explanation of the parable of the Marriage Dinner
The King is Yahweh God who has delegated authority in the Kingdom to Yeshua. It is by Yeshua that all things consist (are held together)“. Absolutely nothing is outside of His reach. Nothing is outside of His grasp. The Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven: A marvelous, vast, infinite place where there is only one King and no lack.

Back to the parable: Verse 2 says that there is a certain King (God the Father) and He has a Son (Yeshua).

The King makes a marriage for his son. As we enter into verse 3 we read that “the King sent forth his servants to call them who were bidden to the wedding and they would not come“: Ominous, ominous words.

Those who had been invited would not come.

“The king sent forth his messengers to call them that were bidden”.

The king sent out his servants to call them that had been called to come to the wedding. The invitation had been sent out. Those who were supposed to attend knew that they should be there.

And so after the invitation had been sent out, the king said, Okay, the time has come. Come on over. Do you know who these people are? They are the religious people, the religious one who think things like “I got this handled”, “it’s all good, no problem”, or “I am born of the tribe of…”. These are the religious people who think that their eternity is secured because they’re part of a family, a church, a fraternity, denomination, or whatever. Because they are a part of a world system, they think that system is their key to eternity.

God desires a sincere relationship with you
I hope you can see what we are being told here. Just because you are part of a system, it doesn’t mean you’re “in”. It doesn’t mean that you are automatically one with God.

Today God is saying that despite what family you’re part of, what religion you’re part of or what day you go to church: I want a genuine relationship with you. Very few of us even know what that is; let alone have one.

Today my prayer is that you will respond to the King’s invitation. Praise Him! He is waiting for you.

Blessings in Yeshua, 
Parson Rayphe
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