The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-08-18
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNI(XSC1OOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR AUGUST %
THE WEDDING FEAST.
By z. o. SELLERS. Director OF Evening
Department. The Soody Bible Institute.
Chicago.l

~ ColSu INC lu1l SiSuluCduCC VI tAAo
parable which is alone recorded by
Matthew we need to be more or less
familiar with the Jewish pride of race
and their feeling of superiority over
all heather" or outsiders, and ale his
tory of their treatment of. Gods rep
resentatfves. the prophets.
Following upon the parable referred
to in our last lesson the Pharisees per
ceived that Jesus spake of them and
they sought to arrest him (ch. 81: 49,,
though restrained for fear of the peo-
pie.
In this lesson the figure of the king
dom, is changed from vineyard to
feast. There is no suggestion of toll
or responsibility, and every thought is
that of joy and festivity. There is,
however, the suggestion of RESPONSE
bility to the messengers of the king.
Relation to His People.
I. The Kings Invitation Rejected,
Wv. IL. The change of figure Just re-
ferred to suggests not alone an occa-
sion of festal Joy duke 14:16), but
also Christ's relation to his people.
which is that of husband to his wife
Che being the son referred to, see
Cor. 11:12; Eph 5:24-32; John 1929.
These Jewish leaders and their nation
were first to be invited to the mar
rage. This had been done by the
prophets of old and later by John the
Baptizer. Under this figure Of a mar
IYio 7 ~
ent invitations. The first one was re-
ceived with Indifference, but indiffer-
ence never removes responsibility.
| The second invitation was received
with hostility. Nothing more fully
reveals the foolishness and hardness
of the human heart than the way in
which men treat the gracious invita-
tons of Gods love. Notice they shut
out themselves, the king was in no
way to be blamed. Jesus reference to
all things being now ready" points to
the period of his rejection and to the
hour of the destruction of Jerusalem.
The third invitation is that in which
those outside the bounds Of the He
brew national life would be called to
the privilege of grace in the kingdom
of God, our day Of grace.
Wonderful indeed is the forbearance
of God. The sin of rejecting the cross,
Gods offer of grace. is UNNECESSARILY
greater than that incurred by those
Jews who rejected the Man of Cali
lee." Verse five suggests who these
men were so Indifferent, viz, business.
1t is our business to work most GER
tainly, but this is the work of God
that We believe on him whom he hath
sent" Historically we see the culmi-
nation of this rejection. not only on
Calvary. but in the lives Of the disci-
pies also, see Acts Alb; 7:54-59. and
even today Gods servants are so
treated Verse seven is prophecy of
the final overthrow of the nation
which came in the destruction Of Jeru-
salem and the cause thereof, viz, the
erucifxion of Jesus, see 1924;
21:20-22, also Daniel 9:26; Micah BIZ.
Question of WorthIness
II. The Kings Invitation Accepted,
w. $40. Those invited had judged
themselves mot worthy" Now go to
the parting of the ways where people
| congregate and gather them in" Our
worthiness is in that we accept, and If
we reject we are mot worthy" This
command to go outside was prophecy
of the time when the Gentiles should
likewise be 'partakers of grace"
Those who finally accepted the
kings invitation were both good and
bad w. 10). but the act of acceptance
was not an assurance Of position as
we can see from the lag: part of the
parable. 1t is sad to think of the many
servants Of the king who have neg
lected his command thus to go forth
and recruit the banquet feast. Final
ly ". 10) we read that the wedding
was filled" Heaven will not be an
empty place. Rev. 7:9-14.
III. The Unprepared Guest, w. lila
Every guest was scrutinized by the
king 1t was a strange sight to see
one who had neglected to avail him
self of the garment freely provided in
which to appear on such an occasion
This robe is symbolical of the robe Of
righteousness with which God viii
clothe all who accept his invitation
lisa. 61:10; Rev 1877, S; Eph. 4:24
himself clothed in his own carmen
was to insult the king, SO our owl
righteousness is as filthy rags" In hill
sight, lisa. 64:6; Phil. 3:9 R. " Wher
questioned about this act of insolenc,
the guest was ''speechless." So like
wise will all unbelievers stand on,
day before the great king.
The Teaching Of this parable EN-
phasizes our privileges in the king
dom of God, A full realization of tina
kingdom means joy, gladness and per
| feet satisfaction. On a previous occa
sion Jesus gave up the parable of tn,
Great Supper which so much resem
bles this Both of these parallels hav,
70 do with the attitude of men to TIL
Gospel invitation. There is the furthe
emphasis upon the nature of the an
swer of men to this invitation. TIL
first is that of men who are blind t,
n the glory and beauty of that which 1
:. offered to them, though their refusa
was not final. Men, still blind. trea
this invitation contemptuously an,
turn to their own interests, seekinI
satisfaction, while others shameful.
treat the kings messengers. Thi
treatment is followed by swift jude
ment. Once more the invitation an,
and mixed company are gathered
soroa with worthy and some with mn