Tuesday, March 30 - Devotional

Matt 22:1-14
Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
4 "Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'
5 "But they paid no attention and went off — one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.
13 "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14 "For many are invited, but few are chosen." NIV

From the time Jesus enters Jerusalem on Sunday to his arrest Thursday night Jesus teaches in the Temple and along the roads He travels. Sometimes His teaching is in response to trick questions and sometimes He teaches His disciples prophecy and what His hopes and prayers are for them. In today's passage from Matthew Jesus is teaching in parables and they are parables that the chief priests and Pharisees know are about them.

But I want to challenge you to consider that this parable has lessons for anyone who is more interested in themselves than they are in the Father.

Lesson # 1: God resists the proud. The initial invitees were too busy and arrogant to bother with a king's son's wedding feast. Some had work to do, others were simply cruel. They paid a price for that pride, too. Instead of receiving the benefit of the king's hospitality they find His army burning their city to the ground. The Pharisees and chief priest were the primary targets here, but our pride can get just as seriously out of control as theirs did. Oh that God doesn't choose to judge our pride with the "burning" of our communing

Lesson #2: God desires a full house. When the initial invitees are "unavailable," the King calls on the servants to invite people from the street. For them is isn't pride; it's awe. The king invites us to a family wedding? I'm not worthy, yet the servant insists it is true. All they need to do is get ready and come. We live in a world that is waiting for their invitation. As His servants we need to get about the business of filling the house. Who are we inviting this Easter season to come to the Master's table? He really does want His hall filled, and we are His servants. We need to get back to work.

Lesson # 3: Everyone has to get dressed A strange thing happens at this feast. Someone made it in the door with out the proper dress. He got his "emergency" invitation, but he didn't bother to respect the King's presence. Many commentators believe that the wedding garments spoken of here were supplied by the King. Others say each person is responsible for cleaning up, and dressing appropriately. Either way, their presumption that since they were invited they were exempt from the King's expectations. Could it be that someone reading this blog today has made it to church and even leading in ministries, but has never confessed their sin and sought the forgiveness that only Jesus can give. They have not, "[bought] from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." Rev 3:18 NIV

The wedding feast has begun. Make sure you have your wedding clothes- the only ones bought with the price of the sacrifice of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Put them on and wait for the Bridegroom. He is coming again!