Illustration Of The Marriage Feast

This work of gathering guests from the roads outside the city of the invited ones begin in 36 C.E. The Roman army officer Cornelius and his family were the first of the uncircumcised non-Jews gathered. The ingathering of these non-Jews, all of whom are replacements for those who originally refused the call, has continued on down into the 20th century.

It is during the 20th century that the room for the wedding ceremonies become filled. Jesus relates what then occurs, saying: "When the king came in to inspect the guests he caught sight there of a man not clothed with a marriage garment. So he said to him, 'Fellow, how did you get in here not having a marriage garment?" He was rendered speechless. The the king said to his servants, 'Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the darkness outside. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.'" The man without a marriage garment pictures imitation Christians of Christendom. God has never recognized these as having the proper identification as spiritual Israelites. God never did anoint them with holy spirit as Kingdom heirs. So they are thrown outside into the darkness where they will suffer destruction.

Jesus concludes his illustration by saying: 'For there are many invited, but few chosen." Yes, there were many invited from the nation of Israel to become members of Christ's bride, but only a few natural Israelites were chosen. Most of the 144,000 guests who receive the heavenly reward prove to be non-Israelites. Matthew 22:1-14; Exodus 19:1-6; Revelation 14:1-3.

Next time: They Fail To Entrap Jesus

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991