AT 22{Verses 1-14. In the first part of this parable of the kingdom of heaven we have another view of Israel's failure. Not this time their responsibility to bear fruit, but on the ground of grace-the grace of the gospel-which, if received, would produce fruit.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a king, which made a marriage for his son. God would have His Son honored. The Jews, the invited ones, are bidden to the wedding, but they would not come. In the second vex se the message was during the Lord's lifetime on earth. (cf. Matt. 10:5-6.) But it was rejected; they would not come. In the fourth verse again the message goes 'forth, after the death and resurrection of Christ, when the work of atonement was finished: I have prepared My dinner" * * * "and all things are ready; come unto the marriage." "But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise." These are only seeking their own interests and shutting God out. The rest took His servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. This is the religious opposition; the nation is hardened in its sins. Peter, in Acts 3, preached grace to the. nation, but the grace was rejected; Stephen was murdered. And because of it the King sent His armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. They, refusing grace for themselves, and also "forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, to fill up their sins al-way; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost" (1 Thess. 2:15, 16; cf. Matt. 18:23-34), are now an outcast nation, though there is still a remnant of them saved as individuals, and brought into the Church. (Rom. 11:5; 1 Cor. 12:13.)
Verses 8, 9. The servants are now sent to the highways (that is, the Gentiles) and gather together all, as many as they found, both bad and good; thus the wedding was furnished with guests. Whatever the character of the guests before, to be there they must have on the wedding garment, and at such an occasion this was furnished by the King. The standing of the guests depended on having it. High or low, rich or poor, religious or irreligious, moral or immoral, none are suited to the place without the wedding garment. All must be tested. This world is the robbing room; the righteousness of God put on by faith is the wedding garment. A sample is shown us of this testing. The King came in to see the guests and saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment; and He saith unto him, "Friend (he was really an enemy but is taken on his profession), how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" He had nothing to say; no excuse, for a garment was provided; no use to say anything of his own goodness. It is. the wedding garment alone that will fit him to be there. Then said the King to the servants (not the gospel preachers this time, but the angels, Matt. 13:41-49), "Bind him hand and foot and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." The end of the empty professor is eternity with the lost; his privileges have added to his torment; he is beaten with many stripes. (Luke 12:47.) The Jew will be judged by the law, and the Gentile shall perish without law (Rom. 2:12), but the Christ rejector has added to his many sins the worst of all in rejecting the Savior.
Verse 14. "For many are called, but few are chosen." The gospel goes out to all and may seem to bring in many. Some say, "I am a church member." Yes, but have you taken your place as a lost sinner before God? Have you submitted yourself to God's righteousness? (Rom. 10:3.) This is what marks out those who are chosen. The good news calls them, but they do not let the need into their souls. "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Cor. 4:3, 4.) The marks of those chosen of God are, they own their no goodness, and believe the gospel. (2 Thess. 2:13, 14.)
Verses 15-22. Different classes now come forward. The Pharisees take counsel how they Might entagle Him in His talk. They send their disciples with the Herodians (Herodians favored the Roman authority; Pharisees were opposed to it. Here they come together), 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. Tell us, therefore, what thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites? Show Me the tribute money. And they brought unto Him a penny. And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and suprescription? They say unto Him, Caesar's. Then saith He unto them: Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they heard these words they marveled, and left Him and went their way." Perfect in knowledge of their wickedness and want of conscience, His answer, wise and comprehensive, exposed their sin that had brought upon themselves this chastening of God. They wanted Him to renounce His claim as Messiah. or become an offender against the Roman government. He did neither, but showed them that they had, by their sin, come under this yoke, and now must bear it. Had they rendered to God what was due to Him they would not have been under Caesar. Let them render to God the things that are His, and to Caesar the things which are his. (cf. Deut. 28:13, 44.)
Verses 23-33. The same day the Sadducees, who profess to believe Moses, but say that there is no resurrection of the dead, came to catch Him on that question. A woman had seven husbands and no children. In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? For they all had her. "Jesus answered them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saving, 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." They are still living though dead, and will be raised again. How different from mere animals? How could the promises of God be fulfilled if the dead rise not? Their infidelity attacked the word of God and the power of God. Jesus reminded them that what was spoken to Moses was spoken to them. What a proof is here of the abiding character of the word of God!
Verses 34-40. The multitude are astonished, the Sadducees are silenced, and now the Pharisees gather together. One of them, a lawyer, that is, a teacher of the law of Moses, tempting Him, said: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." These are the gist or substance of all the law; in keeping these, all are kept. Christ kept it perfectly; yea, went beyond it, and gave Himself for us. Could any sinner do so? No; God's word lays bare man's evil and helplessness. Grace comes in where failure is owned, but that is not law.
Verses 41-46. The Lord now asks them a question which brings out the position He will soon take. Could they understand it? By it they are effectually silenced. "What think ye of Christ? Whose son is He?" They say unto Him, David's. He saith unto them, How then Both David in spirit call Him Lord, saying: The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? If David then call Him Lord, how is He His son?" Here we see the rejected Christ ascended and sitting at the right hand of God, until God gives Him the kingdom and establishes His throne in Zion. He is seated there now, and now grace is gathering out His heavenly companions. The Pharisees could not understand it, nor could the prophets (1 Peter, 1: 10-12), or they would have understood all the ways of God in His sufferings and glories. And also His glorious person, as the eternal Son of God, David's Lord, as well as David's son. It is our blessed portion now to know these things. (1 Cor. 2:9, 10.)
From that time they durst not ask Him any more questions.