Called, But Chosen
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
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.”
I was thinking about this particular verse this morning and what it meant to me. I thought of an employer calling 10 applicants for an interview, yet only seeing the 4 that showed up. They were called, but only a few were chosen. I also think of the guest in verse 11 who wasn't wearing wedding attire. How can one be invited to a wedding, yet don't take the time to dress for the occasion? That's how God sees us, but God is more concerned with the attire of your heart than that of your body. That's when mercy and grace comes into the picture.
Switching over to a different subject, I think of verses 9 and 10 when the king's servants went out and invited as many people as they can find. I think of those protesting against racial injustice and discrimination and how those holding signs, raising fists and chanting are dressed for the cause. Their physical attire also reflects the intent of their hearts. Many were called to gather and protest, but only so many were chosen to walk the front line. God has called us all to a banquet of love, understanding and compassion, but only a few will practice such acts with the intent of fulfilling our king's desire.
Driving to work, I was trying to figure this out in a way I could understand. God has called me to be a vessel and because I dressed for the occasion, I have been chosen to participate and enjoy the feast. No, I am not perfect, but our God is more concerned with the essence of our hearts than the perfection of our nature. Not everyone will wear a tie, blazer, or dress, but they will be fashionably compliant. Let us adhere to our calling so that not only can we enjoy the feast, but enjoy God's presence in the midst of earth's weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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.”
I was thinking about this particular verse this morning and what it meant to me. I thought of an employer calling 10 applicants for an interview, yet only seeing the 4 that showed up. They were called, but only a few were chosen. I also think of the guest in verse 11 who wasn't wearing wedding attire. How can one be invited to a wedding, yet don't take the time to dress for the occasion? That's how God sees us, but God is more concerned with the attire of your heart than that of your body. That's when mercy and grace comes into the picture.
Switching over to a different subject, I think of verses 9 and 10 when the king's servants went out and invited as many people as they can find. I think of those protesting against racial injustice and discrimination and how those holding signs, raising fists and chanting are dressed for the cause. Their physical attire also reflects the intent of their hearts. Many were called to gather and protest, but only so many were chosen to walk the front line. God has called us all to a banquet of love, understanding and compassion, but only a few will practice such acts with the intent of fulfilling our king's desire.
Driving to work, I was trying to figure this out in a way I could understand. God has called me to be a vessel and because I dressed for the occasion, I have been chosen to participate and enjoy the feast. No, I am not perfect, but our God is more concerned with the essence of our hearts than the perfection of our nature. Not everyone will wear a tie, blazer, or dress, but they will be fashionably compliant. Let us adhere to our calling so that not only can we enjoy the feast, but enjoy God's presence in the midst of earth's weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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