AM Feb 1st Matt 22

February 1^st       Matthew 22       The wedding banquet

1: And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2: The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3: And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 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. 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. 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. 8: Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 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. 11: And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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. 14: For many are called, but few are chosen.

Christ and taxes

15: Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 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 Caesar, or not? 18: But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 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, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22: When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

This parable of Christ is prophetic in the sense that it is regarding the coming kingdom In this parable it describes the ministry of the John, Christ His Apostles and the Tribulation saints. The judgment is possibly the destruction of Jerusalem. The Invitation of the King is all of his provision. He provides everything and the call is come for all things are now ready. Christ also describes the situation of a man who creeps in but has no wedding garment. He is bound hand and foot and cast out of the house where there is all darkness and weeping. The Pharisees try to entangle Christ but asking a trick question to which they think there is no answer. They ask, Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar? Which ever way Christ answers they think they have got him. If he says yes then he is betraying his Jewish heritage. If he says no they he is betraying himself to the Roman authorities. He calls them actors who show a false face but secretly seek to trap him. He says Show me the tribute money. Then Christ asks whose this picture is? They say Caesars. Then says give back to Caesar his own money and give to God what is his. The people were amazed.