Help with a parable Matt 22

1,631 Views | 20 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by Junction71
Yukon Cornelius
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AG
Who is the man representing in verse 11?

Matthew 22:114 (ESV): 22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast." ' 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
Martin Q. Blank
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A gentile who continues in his impenitent ways after being called out of darkness. Rom. 11:21
Zobel
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AG
The man is you.

St John Chrysostom:

Then in order that not even these should put confidence in their faith alone, He discourses unto them also concerning the judgment to be passed upon wicked actions; to them that have not yet believed, of coming unto Him by faith, and to them that have believed, of care with respect to their life. For the garment is life and practice.

And yet the calling was of grace; wherefore then does He take a strict account? Because although to be called and to be cleansed was of grace, yet, when called and clothed in clean garments, to continue keeping them so, this is of the diligence of them that are called.

The being called was not of merit, but of grace. It was fit therefore to make a return for the grace, and not to show forth such great wickedness after the honor. But I have not enjoyed, one may say, so much advantage as the Jews. Nay, but you have enjoyed far greater benefits. For what things were being prepared for them throughout all their time, these you have received at once, not being worthy. Wherefore Paul also says, And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. Romans 15:9 For what things were due to them, these you have received.

Wherefore also great is the punishment appointed for them that have been remiss. For as they did despite by not coming, so also thou by thus sitting down with a corrupt life. For to come in with filthy garments is this namely, to depart hence having one's life impure; wherefore also he was speechless.

Do you see how, although the fact was so manifest, He does not punish at once, until he himself, who has sinned, has passed the sentence? For by having nothing to reply he condemned himself, and so is taken away to the unutterable torments.

For do not now, on hearing of darkness, suppose he is punished by this, by sending into a place where there is no light only, but where there is also weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 22:13 And this He says, indicating the intolerable pains.

Hear ye, as many as having partaken of the mysteries, and having been present at the marriage, clothe your souls with filthy deeds. Hear whence you were called.

From the highway. Being what? Lame and halt in soul, which is a much more grievous thing than the mutilation of the body. Reverence the love of Him, who called you, and let no one continue to have filthy garments, but let each of you busy himself about the clothing of your soul.

Hear, you women; hear, you men; we need not these garments that are bespangled with gold, that adorn our outward parts, but those others, that adorn the inward. Whilst we have these former, it is difficult to put on those latter. It is not possible at the same time to deck both soul and body. It is not possible at the same time both to serve mammon, and to obey Christ as we ought.
dermdoc
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AG
I think the wedding clothes are the imputed righteousness of Jesus granted to us by grace through faith.

All of our works are "filthy rags" but we are made righteous by Jesus. And thus the wedding clothes which are given to us. Not earned.
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10andBOUNCE
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This is similar to some of the commentary I have read.
Yukon Cornelius
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I was thinking it was the Jews since that is His audience and they were "chosen" people.

I don't really understand your post Zobel. Can you explain it to me?
Martin Q. Blank
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The entire parable represents God's favor going from one exclusive to the Jews to being broadened to the Gentiles. The Jews are the ones invited first (v3, 5). The servants being the prophets. v7 could represent God's favor being removed from Israel culminating in the destruction of the temple. v8-10 are the gentiles being invited. This is one of the great signs of the destruction of the temple: Matt. 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. The end being the end of God dwelling exclusively with Israel.

Given this, the guests are obviously gentiles. The wedding garments could represent a host of "spiritual" clothing. Eph. 6:13-17, Is. 61:10, Job 29:14, Rom. 13:14

The man found to not be wearing these spiritual clothes is trying to communicate that even though you may be at the wedding doesn't mean you won't one day be found out to not belong.

Rom. 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Yukon Cornelius
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I guess maybe it's not specifically a gentile then if that's the correct interpretation. It would be anyone thinking they are Gods but find out they are not right? Which can include Hebrew or non Hebrew alike.
Zobel
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St John's homily was to Christians. That person is anyone at the judgment who is unrighteous, gentile or otherwise.

When I said it is you, I mean "you the reader" not you personally. The warning applies to each of us.
Mostly Peaceful
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Yukon Cornelius said:

I guess maybe it's not specifically a gentile then if that's the correct interpretation. It would be anyone thinking they are Gods but find out they are not right? Which can include Hebrew or non Hebrew alike.

This is my understanding. Perhaps the same kind of person that says Lord, Lord in Matt. 7:22.

Now, when is someone going to exegete verse 14?
dermdoc
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Zobel said:

St John's homily was to Christians. That person is anyone at the judgment who is unrighteous, gentile or otherwise.

When I said it is you, I mean "you the reader" not you personally. The warning applies to each of us.
I agree. And I think we are made righteous by grace through faith. All about faith in Jesus.
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Yukon Cornelius
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Got it, thank you
Yukon Cornelius
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Well as I was thinking it was pointed towards the Jews. Since they were "chosen" but rejected Jesus and thus Jesus then calls out to many. And that's why I was thinking the man who was there was representing a chosen one. Having been given admission but upon being face to face with Jesus he is removed. Like the other verse "I never knew you".

Mostly Peaceful
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I hold the reformed view that sees it as an illustration of the gospel call vs. the effectual call. The gospel call being God's general revelation to mankind through His creation and the preaching of the word. This call can be rejected, but the effectual call, God's sovereign drawing of man, results in faith and repentance.

Reasonable minds can disagree.
Yukon Cornelius
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So God is ineffectual then has to have a second calling that is more potent?
Mostly Peaceful
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Not everyone who hears the gospel believes it. I believe faith is a gift from God.
Yukon Cornelius
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Right but that doesn't answer my question
BluHorseShu
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Yukon Cornelius said:

Who is the man representing in verse 11?

Matthew 22:114 (ESV): 22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast." ' 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
While Christ minimized the material importance of clothing (Matt. 6:2533, Luke 12:2228), he emphasized the importance of the symbolism of the wedding garment. Many other passages in Scripture use clothing as a symbol of virtues and good works. The saint's good deeds are likened to the white linen garment of the bride (Rev. 19:78). Isaiah compares the garments of salvation and justice to the apparel of the wedding party (Is. 61:10).
The acceptance of the wedding invitation is a call to faith, while the proper garment is the sign of one's good continued faith (which includes living the life we are called to live and the things Christ asks of us). Both are necessary to partake in the feast; though many are called, few are chosen.
Faithful Ag
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I have understood the wedding garment to be a type of our Baptism. It is through Baptism that we are saved and our sins are washed away and our robes are made clean.

ETA: Baptism is our initiation into the Christian faith and makes us members of the body of Christ which is the church and the bride of Christ.
dermdoc
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Mostly Peaceful said:

I hold the reformed view that sees it as an illustration of the gospel call vs. the effectual call. The gospel call being God's general revelation to mankind through His creation and the preaching of the word. This call can be rejected, but the effectual call, God's sovereign drawing of man, results in faith and repentance.

Reasonable minds can disagree.

I completely disagree with reformed theology. But I love my reformed brothers/sisters in Christ.
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Junction71
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The wedding garment is the Righteousness of God that is Grace given to the believer. To refuse and show up in your own clothes is to refuse what God offers and show up touting your own self-effort, human performance as good enough. It wasn't good enough, and never will be as seen by the ultimate result. Such is the difference between professing Christianity or Christendom and those actually saved. This is very similar to "wheat and tares" parable where both the real thing and false thing are found together, like in the visible Church today. God knows the difference and will separate one to Judgement.
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