Verse: Matthew 22:1-14
1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Devotion
When Jesus taught people here on earth, He often used stories to get His point across—parables. These weren’t just nice illustrations—they were deep, soul-searching truths wrapped in everyday language. And when we read them, we usually try to find ourselves in the story. We want to be the faithful one, the hero who says “yes” to God. But sometimes, we realize we’re not. And that can sting.
This particular story—about a wedding banquet—lays out God’s invitation to His Kingdom throughout history.
Here’s how the different parts break down:
- The first invited guests represent Israel.
- The messengers in the story are the prophets and apostles—those who carried God’s invitation to the people.
- The second wave of guests—the “good and bad alike”—that’s the Gentiles, the outsiders, people like us who didn’t originally have a seat at the table but were welcomed in.
- And the man without wedding clothes? That’s someone who showed up but didn’t come ready. It’s like wanting everything God offers but resisting the change that comes with it.
Two things really stand out to me in this story: God’s grace and God’s justice. Grace is all over it. The invitation keeps going out. Even after rejection, God keeps pursuing. The Old Testament is filled with moments where God rescues, restores, and loves His people—only for them to forget. But still, He doesn’t give up.
Then there’s justice. I think as we read the part about the person that gets throw out, we are upset. But that’s the thing about justice, it doesn’t always feel good. There will come a point where the intentions of one’s heart are revealed.
Grace and justice can feel hard to hold at the same time. But God doesn’t shy away from the tension. He keeps extending the invitation. He reminds us that we’re part of something so much bigger—and that what’s inside our hearts does matter. He sees us clearly, and He still calls us in.
So today, I’m reflecting alongside you. Not with fear—but with hope. How’s my heart? Am I coming to the wedding? Not perfect, but present and willing.
Author: Joanna Martin
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