Have you ever wondered why Jesus Christ came in the flesh? And why God divorced Israel? And why not everyone who is an Israelite is saved? Why don’t we take a look at it from the prospective of this parable in which Jesus relates the lesson to His wedding that will come at the time of His return, at the 7th trump.
(Matthew 22:1) And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Jesus often taught in parables so that only those who are supposed to understand the lesson would understand it fully. Everyone can understand different aspects of a parable, but a parable can be taken much deeper because a parable can be applied fully to completely understand what is being taught. It can be taken even much further than what is said on the surface. God created the world this way so that His creation works in a way that can be a model to the things He wants to teach and what He wants us to understand if we care to investigate much more deeply.
(Matthew 22:2) The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Of course, this wedding is the same as the wedding between our Bridegroom Jesus Christ to His bride, true Christians, the Christian church, those whom please Him. And, obviously, the king is the Father of the Son.
(Matthew 22:3) And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
These servants are dedicated people that God has chosen because He knew they wouldn’t ever stray from Him. These servants are chosen before they are even placed on this earth and He always chooses them to perform tasks for Him. In this case these servants are prophets that are calling those who are known as His people, the Israelites, to serve Him and be His people.
Remember, Christ is a form of God, He is one of the roles God takes and He has always existed since before the creation, but He had not been born in the flesh. He was there in Old Testament times and often referred to as, the son of man, the angel of the Lord or Melchizadek.
(John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(John 1:2) The same was in the beginning with God.
(John 1:3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
(Eph 3:8) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
(Eph 3:9) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
In the Old Testament times, God sent His servants, the prophets, to warn the Israelites to turn back to Him, as they had strayed and began to go after idols and pretty much anything that could come between them and God. However, they wouldn’t listen, and continued the same way they were going and doing whatever made them happy.
(Matthew 22:4) Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
The Israelites continued on their path to destruction for many years, so God sent more prophets to warn them one last time to turn back to Him. God wants to give people as many chances as He can to return to Him because He doesn’t want to destroy anyone unless there is no other choice.
(2Pe 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
(Matthew 22:5) But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Still, the Israelites would not listen. They just wanted to continue doing the things they had always done, and live their lives being oblivious to God.
(Matthew 22:6) And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Some of God’s servants were even killed by those who didn’t want to be told how to live.
(Matthew 22:7) But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Just as God had wiped out whole cities and civilizations in Noah’s flood and in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah because they were so perverted and didn’t care about Him as all, these Israelites He led into captivity, and many were killed, and their cities, such as Jerusalem were destroyed. The people were led away as slaves and the temple was torn down.
(Matthew 22:8) Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
The Israelites, as a whole, weren’t worthy to be wed to Christ, so God divorced Israel from being His bride. Israel (and the southern kingdom of Judah) had committed adultery by putting other things before God, who was supposed to be their Bridegroom. So by being unfaithful to God, they committed acts of whoredom and became a harlot.
(Jer 3:6) The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
(Jer 3:7) And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
(Jer 3:8) And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
(Matthew 22:9) Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
From this point, God would come to earth born in the flesh as Jesus Christ so that He could suffer the life of man and die in place of all sinners who would accept Him, so that anyone who would choose to be could be saved from the final death of the Lake of Fire, and receive eternal life.
(1Ti 3:16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
(Heb 2:14) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
(Heb 2:15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
(Heb 2:16) For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
(Heb 2:17) Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
(Heb 2:18) For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
This salvation would be offered to all regardless of whether they were of Israel, or were gentiles. Just the same, even Israelites would have to accept Jesus Christ because God had divorced the entire family of Jacob (Israel). Now everyone was on an even playing field regardless of birth and all could attend this wedding as the Bride of Christ if they accept Him as their Bridegroom and remain faithful to Him. Even when we stray, we can be forgiven in His name if we repent.
(Eph 3:8) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
(Eph 3:9) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
(Matthew 22:10) So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
So these servants, the apostles, went out spreading the teachings of Jesus, and offering this salvation to anyone who would accept it, no matter what was their background.
(Matthew 22:11) And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
From the time that Jesus returns, we will be clothed by our righteous acts we had while in the flesh. These are white linen robes that are washed clean in the blood of Jesus. This is our wedding garment.
(Rev 19:7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
(Rev 19:8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness (righteous acts) of saints.
(Rev 19:9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
(Rev 7:13) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
(Rev 7:14) And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
(Rev 7:15) Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
(Rev 7:16) They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
(Rev 7:17) For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
(Rev 16:15) Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
(Rev 3:18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
(Matthew 22:12) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
These who are not wearing these white robes made of linen and washed clean in the blood of Christ will obviously be out of place. There will be many who come to Jesus claiming to be faithful servants, but they will be turned away because they never really knew Him, and He never knew them.
(Matthew 25:10) And while they went to buy (the oil of the Holy Spirit), the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
(Matthew 25:11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
(Matthew 25:12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
(Luk 13:24) Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
(Luk 13:25) When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
(Luk 13:26) Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
(Luk 13:27) But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
(Luk 13:28) There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
(Mat 7:17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(Mat 7:18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(Mat 7:19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(Mat 7:20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(Mat 7:21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(Mat 7:22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
(Mat 7:23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(Mat 7:24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And that Rock is Jesus Christ.
(Matthew 22:13) Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
All of these who are not allowed into the wedding will be locked out, but will have a chance to redeem themselves by the end of the one thousand year period, called the Millennium, in which Jesus rules here on earth, and we are allowed to teach those who fell short, so that they may be corrected from how they went astray in the flesh period before Jesus returned.
(Matthew 22:14) For many are called, but few are chosen.
In this period of grace, everyone is called and has an equal chance to accept Jesus Christ, but everyone must accept Him, in order to be saved and allowed into this wedding. And everyone who accepts Him will produce good fruit and therefore be clothed in the proper wedding garment that is made up of this righteousness.
So the moral of the story is to make sure you accept Him and are not naked, bearing your shame, by producing good fruit for Him and earning this fine white linens.
