Illustration Of The Marriage Feast

BY MEANS of two illustrations, Jesus has exposed the scribes and the chief priests, and they want to kill him. But Jesus is far from through with them. He goes on to tell them yet another illustration, saying: "The Kingdom of the heavens has become like a man, a king, that made a marriage feast for his son. And he sent forth his slaves to call those invited to the marriage feast, but they were unwilling to come."

Jehovah God is the King who prepares a marriage feast for his Son, Jesus Christ. Eventually, the bride of 144,000 anointed followers will be united with Jesus in heaven. The King's subjects are the people of Israel, who, on being brought into the Law covenant in 1513B.C.E., received the opportunity of becoming "a kingdom of priests." Thus, on that occasion, they were originally extended the invitation to the marriage feast. "

However, the first call to those invited did not go out until the fall of 29 C.E., when Jesus and his disciples (the king's slaves) began their work of Kingdom preaching. But the natural Israelites who received this call issued by the slaves from 29 C.E. to 33 C.E. were unwilling to come. So God gave the nation of invited ones another opportunity, as Jesus relates: "Again he sent forth other slaves, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Look! I have prepared my dinner, my bulls and fattened animals are slaughtered, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast."'" This second and final call of those invited began at Pentecost 33 C.E., when holy spirit was poured out on Jesus' followers. This call continued until 36 C.E.

The great majority of the Israelites, however, also spurned this call. "Unconcerned they went off," Jesus says, "one to his own field, another to his commercial business; but the rest, laying hold of his slaves, treated them insolently and killed them." "But," Jesus continues, "the king grew very wrathful, and sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers and burned their city." This occurred in 70 C.E., when Jerusalem was razed to the ground by the Romans, and those murderers were killed.

Jesus then explains what occurred in the meantime: "Then [the king] said to his slaves, 'The marriage feast is indeed ready, but those invited were not worthy. Therefore go to the roads leading out of the city, and anyone you find invite to the marriage feast." The slaves did this, and "the room for the wedding ceremonies was filled with those reclining at the table."

Next time: Conclusion of Illustration Of The Marriage Feast

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991