Thursday, October 25, 2012

GOSPEL: Matthew 22:1-14

Reading:

And Jesus answered and spake 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.   Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.   But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:   And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.   But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.   Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.   Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.   So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.   And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:   And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.   Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.   For many are called, but few are chosen.

Commentary:

Our Lord tells us in the Gospel that all sins are now forgiven, for Jesus' sake.  The preaching of this Gospel is here compared to a king who invites all to the wedding of his son.  Those who were invited and made excuses represent the Jews of Jesus' day, but they are also those in our day who love the world and find no "use" for Christ.  As Christians who know Christ, we also make excuses however, for we let the world interfere with our church attendance, the Means of Grace, and we always have "better" things to do.  Just as bad, we call upon God only when we need Him or when He is convenient, or we can fit Him into our calendar.  When we see how easily and how often we put Christ last rather than first, we should in all earnest confess these sins to God in prayer and ask forgiveness for Jesus' sake.  Faith then is to dress oneself in Christ knowing Jesus is the Lord our Righteousness.  Only those who believe in Him will be saved.

No comments:

Post a Comment