Lessons from the Marriage Feast — Matthew 22:1-14

Here are seven important lessons taught by our Lord Jesus Christ in this parable of the marriage feast. May God the Holy Spirit write them upon our hearts.

1. The salvation proclaimed in the gospel is comparable to a marriage feast (v.2). At a marriage feast everything is provided for the guests. They are not expected to bring anything. It would be an insult for them to do so. Even so, in the gospel of Christ there is complete provision for all the needs of a man’s soul before God. God provides everything. We bring nothing!

2. Our Lord reminds us that the invitations of the gospel are full, free, and unlimited (v.4). — “All things are ready, come to the marriage.” — There is nothing lacking. No barriers are set before you. No conditions are to be met by you. “All things are ready!” The gospel sets an open door before poor, needy sinners, and says, “Come.” No one is excluded from the range of its invitation. “Whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely.” — Election does not shut the door of grace. It opens it!

3. Our Savior shows us that the gospel of the grace of God is flatly rejected by many who hear it (v. 5). Most of those people who hear the gospel receive no spiritual benefit from it. Some of you hear the gospel of Christ week after week, month after month, year after year. Yet, you do not believe. The gospel profits you nothing. You see no beauty in Christ. You feel no need for Christ. You do not scoff and ridicule the message of grace. You do not outwardly oppose the gospel. You simply love other things and prefer other things. Your heart is full of this world, so full of the pleasures and cares of the world that there is no room for Christ.

4. Our Redeemer teaches us that many who profess to believe the gospel are yet without faith and under the wrath of God (vv. 10-13). C.H. Spurgeon said, “This man without the wedding garment is the type of those who pretend to be Christians, but do not honor the Lord Jesus, nor his atoning sacrifice, nor his holy Word.” The fact is — The vast majority of those who take up a profession of religion are walking in the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23).

5. We are assured that man’s unbelief will not alter, thwart, or in any way hinder the purpose of God (v. 10). — “The wedding was furnished with guests.” — I remind you once more that the purpose of God does not depend upon man. Though the Jews rejected God’s Son, he had a remnant according to the election of grace who gladly embraced him. And though many refuse to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, every chosen, redeemed, and regenerated sinner in this world, everyone purposed by God from eternity to be saved shall be saved by him and shall believe on him (Romans 3:3-4; 11:11, 24-26).

6. Our Savior tells us that in the last day, on the Day of Judgment, all false professors will be detected, exposed, and eternally condemned (vv. 12-13). In this life a profession of faith and a fairly moral life is enough to secure a name and reputation as a Christian. But when we stand before God, he will examine us completely and judge us according to strict justice by those things written in the court books of heaven (Revelation 20:11-12). If we are not washed in the blood of Christ and robed with his righteousness, we will be forever lost.

7. The Son of God declares that the source and cause of true faith is God’s sovereign, electing love (v. 14). — “Many are called, but few are chosen.” — If you and I are true believers, if we truly believe the gospel, if we truly rest our souls upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone, it is because God, from all eternity, chose us as the objects of his sovereign love and distinguishing grace (Jeremiah 31:3). — Every saved sinner gladly acknowledges his indebtedness to electing love.

Don Fortner

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