VER. 4.]

Parable of the Marriage Feast.

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CHAPTER XXII.

1. The parable of the marriage of the king's son. 9. The vocation of the Gentiles. 12. The punishment of him that wanted the wedding garment. 15. Tribute ought to be paid to Cæsar. 23. Christ confuteth the Sadducees for the resurrection: 34. answereth the lawyer, which is the first and great commandment: 41. and poseth the Pharisees about the Messias.

AND Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables,

Once more, and for the last time, our Saviour utters a parable to the people (for those in chap. xxv. are for His own disciples only), but it is more grave and stern than before, and warns them of judgment to come. His gracious discourses begin with blessings and promises, but if unheeded lead up to grave warnings at last.

2. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

The union of God with the soul is expressed by marriage. As the wife is knit to the husband by the most tender and intimate union, so is the soul of the believer to God. The Son of God came down to take our nature and win our hearts. To despise or disobey Him is like the conduct of a wife who should turn against her husband. The marriage supper of the Lamb will be the perfect joy and glory of heaven, where believers' souls will be knit to their Saviour, never more to part.

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

The Jews had been bidden by the prophets, and called by our Lord and His disciples, yet they held back from the heavenly feast. We too, under the Gospel, receive God's gracious invitation, and often neglect it.

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.

God is not easily tired out. He perseveres in His efforts to have our hearts. The apostles and early Christians went out after the Saviour's ascension and spoke of the blessings offered in the Church of Christ, told of grace and pardon and communion with God. Here is food to strengthen the weak. Here Christ's own body is spiritually offered and partaken by the faithful. Taste and sec how gracious the Lord is.

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Guests are called in.

[S. MATT. XXII.

5. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6. and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

Many of the Jews received the heavenly message thus, with contempt or with outrage. Many too amongst Christians prefer their pleasure or their business to religion, and even treat those who speak of it with hatred or reviling. If you speak to men about their souls do not expect a more favourable reception than the saints had. They were thought fools or deceivers, why should we be thought better of?

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.

This destruction was to happen to the holy city, the perfection of beauty, the home of God and His saints; it became a den of murderers, and so was burned up. This was a figure of God's wrath upon sinners. Those who despise Him here will find one day that all the world which they loved is destroyed, and themselves left alone to face His anger.

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

Religion is not wanting in love and joy; it does not lack a cure for ills, and a gift of peace, and a friend ever at hand; it does not fail those who try it, it is only you who are not fit to discern its beauty. God has great gifts ready, it is only your blind and deaf heart that will not draw near to receive them.

9. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 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.

When the Jews rejected the Gospel, then the apostles turned to the Gentiles and gathered out of them the Holy Catholic Church throughout the world. Salvation is open to all, however widely they have strayed, however sinful and ignorant they have been. All alike are called to be God's children. Let us do our best to gather in some wandering souls of His.

II. ¶ And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment :

The man without a wedding garment, seated among the other guests, but in mean or foul apparel, signifies a Christian attending church or coming to the Holy Table without inward fitness. He comes with others, he looks like them, but he has no love, no purity, no faith. Human eyes cannot discern this difference, but God knows who are His.

VER. 17.]

The unworthy Guest cast out.

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12. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. There will be nothing for us to answer at the last day to such a question. God offers us Christ's righteousness for a wedding garment. He can clothe our hearts with purity, and cover all their defects, if we will but accept this gracious gift. How can we dare to come to Holy Communion, to pray, to live, or to die, without having sought His pardoning mercy in Christ!

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.

Yes, there is such a state possible for us, where it will be no more in our power to do good, or atone for evil, or seek pardon, a state without hope or joy, with no love to God or wish to be better. Indeed this hopeless condition begins on earth, and if it is not done away by forgiveness here, will continue for ever in the other world. What is hell but endless loss, the ruin of happiness and peace, and this of our own choosing?

14. For many are called, but few are chosen.

I who read this am called, O Lord, into Thy Church, but who knows if I am chosen into Thy kingdom? I do not presume to know Thy counsels, but I am in Thy hands and will not despair. I fear my own weakness and the strength of sin, but I know Thy mercy is infinite.

15. ¶ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

Instead of profiting by our Lord's Divine words, His enemies planned how they might best turn them to His harm. Such opportunities they threw away which might have been blest to their endless good, and made them only occasions of sin. All they could think of while with Him was how to overthrow His influence. O deaf ears and blind eyes! and yet there are many like them.

16. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?

The Pharisees, who did not like to acknowledge any earthly king, and the Herodians, who upheld the heathen dominion over Israel, joined together against Jesus Christ. They put aside their own differences, and came together to ask which the Lord agreed with, whether it was right to pay taxes to the emperor or not, meaning to turn against Him whatever He might say. They began with flattery, praising up Christ's sincerity, and then they put this delicate question.

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Cæsar's Due and God's Due. [S. MATT. XXII.

18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

How much that we say sounds hypocritical before God! He alone knows our intentions, how often we speak in a plausible or even devout way, with a hidden meaning, either to glorify ourselves or depreciate others, or bring about some crooked ends. Give us, O Lord, a sincere and honest heart, that we may speak the simple truth in love and kindness.

19. Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21. They say unto him, Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. The head and name of the emperor stamped on the coin marked it as his; it was a sign of his authority in earthly things. Render to all who are set over you what is their due, only remember that there is a higher Sovereign Whose image is stamped on your soul, and Who claims all your time, all your love, all your profits. Perform your duties as a citizen of this world, only bear in mind that there is something higher than this world, a kingdom of God which gives laws to conscience.

22. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Thus God's wisdom overthrows the plans of cunning men, and sets free those who are on His side. Some when they cannot get their own ends leave the Lord Jesus and go on their own way, but we will keep stedfastly to Him and find all our good in His company.

23. The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

Such are found among us also. How terrible a thing it would be for mankind if the doctrine of the Sadducees prevailed, and men lost their faith in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come! into what depths of sin and despair we should fall if that hope was lost. God keep it ever burning brightly in our hearts.

24. Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

This was the law among the Jews, to keep a man's name and inheritance from being lost, for the first-born son of the second marriage inherited from the elder brother and bore his name. We may perhaps see figured here the work of Christian ministers in raising up spiritual children to Christ, not to themselves. They only represent Him, and must not pretend to claim hearts for their own. 25. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first,

VER. 33.]

The Sadducees' Question.

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when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26. likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27. And last of all the woman died also. 28. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

This is their difficulty, how to suppose a resurrection life, because earthly relations will all be confused there. Human life is based on succession, one stepping into another's place, as in this story where a woman is several times married. How could she and her several husbands live all together in the world to come? No doubt the questioners invented this particular case, but yet the difficulty is a real one; let us strive to meet it in the same spirit that Christ did.

29. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

They did not know the Scriptures, they read them indeed, but only in the letter, and they did not know God's power. He Who made all things at first is able to remake the body though it has perished. Scripture has great depths. God's power is unsearchable. Let us keep these two thoughts in mind, and our faith will remain stedfast. 30. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. O blessed answer! Lord, Thou hast opened the door of heaven and given us a glimpse of that glorious state. Thou hast taught us more in one short word than all the world's learning could teach. We shall be as angels, and lead a life with no death, no pain, no fear nor sorrow. All will be love and purity, all things will be made clear, and faith shall see God.

31. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. When God revealed Himself to Moses by this great Name, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had long been dead, and yet He says, "I am their God, they trusted in Me, and I have not failed them. I am theirs, and they are Mine." Where then, O Lord, for their bones are long since turned to dust in the Hittite's cave? And God does not tell us where, but yet does tell us plainly that the faithful departed are still His, and He theirs. If we die in God's love, what can separate us from Him? He gives us a share of His immortality. 33. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

Listen to the words of Jesus Christ, not only with admiration but with obedience. His doctrine is that we shall live for ever and that our bodies will rise again. We should therefore look forward to the eternal world, and prepare for it in purity and reverence.

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