Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-02-04
IMPROVED UNlYoRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNIMYS01O0L
LESSON
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 6
THE MARRIAGE FEAST. MAY Be
Used With Missionary Applications)'
by REV p. b. FITzWATER, d, D..
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
Ia 1N2n Mesiern NeMsnnper IniOnO

LESSON TEXT-Matt. 221-A.
GOLDEN TEXT-Go out into the high
ways and hedges, and compel them 10
come in.-Luke 14.23.
REFERENCE MATERIA1,-lsa b5:l-ll;
Matt. 1880; Luke l4:15-24 Rev. 3'l1.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Story Of We'd
ding Party.
JUNIOR TOPIC-An Invitation to a
Wedding.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Accepting and Extending the Great In
vltation
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Great Invitation
In the previous parable the respon-
sbllltles of the subjects of the King
dom were before us for consideration
IN the light of the obligation to rem
der to the householder the fruits or
mis- vineyard In this one the ethlc
Is changed, and the privileges ana
blessings Of the kingdom are placed
on exhibition. This parable lifts the
conception of the kingdom and places
1t on high plane. 1t Is much more
than paying rent to king; II Is FEAST
ing at the Kings table on fat things
which He has prepared with great ex'
pense 10 Himself. Let every teacher
strive to show that Christ's kingdom
Is infinitely more than a system or
laws and regulations to be obeyed. 1t
Is system to provide rich dement's
and blessings even as infinite love pro-
vides for dear children. The figure or
marriage Is most suggestive; 1t repre-
sents the highest ideal Of love and
friendship.
|. The Kings Feast Despised wv.
1-O.
The previous parable exhibits the
attitude of the Jewish people toward
the king up TO the cruciiXion OF
Christ. This one carries us beyond
the cross, even through the present
ace OF the Gentiles. The marriage
feast which the king made for his son
and to which he invited guests repre-
sents the gracious offer of God TO give
10y and blessing to certain of His
creatures. This feast has been made
IN honor of his Son and Is an exceed
ing rich one. His oxen and fatllngs
are ready. His repeated invitations
show Gods earnestness In seeking
TO bless men. God does more than
simply invite men once; He presses
His invitation again and again most
earnestly. How many times from our
childhood has He not pressed His In
vitatlon upon us! The attitude of
those invited toward the invitation and
toward the king is passing strange
and exceeding sinful. To treat the
kings invitation with such contempt
after he had made such costly prepa'
ration deserves the severest punish
ment. They not only neglected 1t but
made light Of It and hurried on to
their worldly business, showing that
they regarded 1t as Of more impor'
lance than the salvation Of their poor
lost souls. Some went forth and even
did violence to the messengers of the
king, killing them.
While this Is picture Of the atti'
tude of the Jews from Christs cruel
fixiOn to the destruction Of Jerusalem
ii has its counterpart in the day In
which we live. Some today are indlff
erent to Gods invitation; some are
making light of Gods way Of salvation
and others are hostile to the mes
sengers of Christ. Their attitude nnc
behavior melted the anger of the kinl
and he executed vengeance upon them
burning up their city. This was his
torically fulfilled In the destruction
OF Jerusalem by the Romans in 10 A
D., and Is typical OF what He will a.
to those that neglect or reject His In
vitation at the close Of this dispense
ton.
n. The Kings Invitation Accepted
wv. S-10).
When those who were first invite'
refused, the king sent his servant
to others; for his table must be pro
yided the guests. He has prepare,
this feast at an infinite cost, an
most urgently invites to the accept
ance of 1t. Though He urgently In
vites, He will not compel any one t
accept. Those that were shut out wer
shut out because they refused to az
cent, not because the king was unwl
ling. When this was done he sen
his servants among the Gentile'
which is shown in His going into tn
highways and hedges.
III. The King Inspecting the Guest
wv. lid.
AS he made this inspection the kin
found one among the guests who Ia
not on a wedding garment-had nc
conformed to the regulations Of tn
feast. The custom In the East wa
for the king to furnish the guests wit
n suitable garment. There could thu
be no excuse for not having one OF
Therefore, this act of the man Shove
TINT he only accepted the lnyitatio
for selfish ends, not desiring to col
form to the regulations of the kin
The wedding garment which the Kin
provided in this case is the righteou
ness of Christ, which alone will el
title one to the place at the King
marriage feast. This Righteousness
obtained by faith in the atoning bloc
of Jesus Christ