St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verse: 13; The Guest is cast out.

Our paragraph topic is:  (One guest is cast out) Part 3. 

And now in the final episode of this parable where the king enters the ballroom to find the guests enjoying the celebrations that he has prepared.  At last now he has a party that will be remembered by all.  He has brought together enough people that will remember this celebration of the union of the bride and the groom.  This is a celebration for all to talk about.

But wait.  All were talking about something else.  They were talking about a guest at the wedding feast that did not wear a wedding garment.  They were talking about a person who came to the wedding feast who dared to come without the appropriate attire in defiance of the king, in defiance of the host of the celebration.  And the king was not going to have this person spoil his party.  "Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet and cast him forth into the darkness outside, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth.' "  

The party was not going to be spoiled by one guest who came with the intent to disgrace the host.  This was an important celebration that the king wanted all to remember.  He wanted all who came to spread the word of this one celebration.  He wanted all who came to tell everyone so that all would remember the wedding feast held by the king.  And this was not going to be a feast that one guest spoiled.

So this one guest was cast out into the darkness.  He was thrown outside where the animals who are hungry were wanting to get into the party.  They smell the food and they want to come in.  The teeth were gnashing and the mouths were watering and the stomachs were hungry for the great feast of food that inside the great hall.  But they could get in.  And that is the way that it was. 

There are some parties that we would like to go to.  There are some parties that we would die to be invited to.  There are some parties that would kill to get into but the guards at the gates will not let us in.  What do we do?  We accept with anger that we are not invited.  We accept with disgust that we are not a part of that crowd.  We accept with frustration that we will get even with those guys when we see them again.  But we still cannot get into the party.

This is not the case with the kingdom of heaven.  All are invited.  All are welcomed to come.  All are given the message about the celebration to come and be a part of the wedding feast.  But you must wear a wedding garment.  You must wear the proper attire.  You must come prepared to enter or you may be asked to leave or you may be thrown out into the darkness.  You may be embarrassed in front of all your friends and asked to leave by the host.  God wants all to attend but you must come prepared for the feast.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in. 

St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verse: 10a; They gathered all.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The king's anger) Part 5.  

The king wanted to have a party.  He had made preparations to have a wedding feast and that was what he was going to do.  But no one came.  So he had to find people to attend.  He sent his servants out to the crossroads of the town and invited all that they saw, all that they met who were passing by the town, to come to the celebration.  There was a party going on.  There would be wine, and music, and food, and dancing, and laughter, so stop by on your journey and refresh yourself at this joyous event.

This was the message that was told to those that were met on the crossroads of the town.  They were greeted with this great celebration so that they would take a detour and come to the party and the king would have his celebration.  "And his servants went out into the roads, and gathered all whom they found."  

The king wanted to celebrate the wedding feast.  Christ is telling this parable so that the people will understand the kingdom of heaven.  God our Father wants to have a celebration and he wants to invite all to come.  He will send his servants out to all parts to gather all those that can come to the feast.  His love for all determines to what lengths he will go to make sure that all are included and no one is left out.

He has already made the invitation to those that he thought were special.  They refused his invitation and killed his messengers.  They did not want his message to spread to the people so they tried to stop it from spreading.  He sent his army out and burned their village and killed all involved.  He now invites all those who were not special, the common man, those on the crossroads of life, those who have not heard of the celebration, those who are not a part of the town where the king reigns, the outsiders.

This king is generous.  He is loving.  He is kind.  He is just.  This wedding feast is important to him because it is his son that is being wedded to the bride.  And that is something that is very important for him that he wants all to know and recognize.  Come to the wedding feast and see the bride.  Come to the wedding feast and celebrate the union of the two who will be joined together for life.  Come to the wedding feast and recognize your part in honoring the bride and groom.  For this is your future.  This is your past.  This is your place of worship and peace.  This is where you belong in this house, in this building, in this sanctuary with your brothers and sisters alike.  They await your coming.  They welcome you with open arms.  They greet you with a holy kiss.  They are yours and you are theirs.  Come! 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.