Thematic Selections from the Bible

Everyone suddenly starts coming up with excuses to not show, and you wonder why nobody wants to. How would you feel? Annoyed? Upset?

Now imagine that Jesus invites you to come to Him. What would be your reaction? Perhaps going to church now and then might not be such a bad thing. But walking with Jesus? What if people see me next to Him? They might think “now he’s gone and lost it”, or “that’s just too much, too religious!” Are we proud of Jesus as a friend, or are we too ashamed to be with Him, and end up giving excuses for this not to happen?

What does Jesus do then? He invites people who originally weren’t invited, people who are just as important and loved by Him. He doesn’t force anyone to come – anyone can take or reject His offer. This parable was brought about to explain why Christianity spread from being exclusively Jewish, to be available to the rest of the world. The Jews were God’s chosen people, the ones who had the privilege of knowing God and having His blessing. Yet they did not appreciate it, and chose time and again to worship other gods. Jesus then prepared a feast – He died on the cross, and opened up His invitation to salvation to the rest of the world.

Mt 22:2-14

2 The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,

3 and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come.

4 Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise;

6 and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.

7 But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.

8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy.

9 Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast.

10 And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests.

11 But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment:

12 and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few chosen.

Lk 14:16-24

16 But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many:

17 and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for things are now ready.

18 And they all with one began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused.

19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.

20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

21 And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame.

22 And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room.

23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain to come in, that my house may be filled.

24 For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper.