After the last three weeks of parables about working in vineyards, we switch metaphors today to a wedding banquet. This parable is found in both Matthew 22:2-14 and Luke 14:16-24. It is a little similar to last week’s parable of the Wicked Tenants because the king sends invitations to his son’s wedding and the guests all make excuses and/or beat the servants.
Scripture
‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave
a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who
had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again
he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have
prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and
everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” 5But they made
light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while
the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. 7The
king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned
their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but
those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets,
and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” 10Those slaves
went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad;
so the wedding hall was filled with guests.’ (Matthew 22:2-10)
In Luke we learn a little background. Jesus is at the house
of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath…One of the dinner
guests said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of
God!’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17At
the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited,
“Come; for everything is ready now.” 18But they all alike began to
make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must
go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” 9Another said,
“I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept
my apologies.” 20Another said, “I have just been married, and
therefore I cannot come.” 21So the slave returned and reported this
to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave,
“Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor,
the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” 22And the slave said, “Sir,
what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” 23Then the
master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people
to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24For I tell you, none
of those who were invited will taste my dinner.” ’(Luke 14:16-24)
The Matthew version is a little more violent, in that the
guests even seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them, a
reference as in other parables, to the prophets who have come to Israel in the
past. Jesus says that the King then tells his servants to go out into the
roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled.
The servants go and bring in a crowd of people, both good
and bad. There is no judging of who is worthy to come to the wedding party.
EVERYONE is included, except those who rejected the invitation. The invited
guests, (i.e. Jewish leadership) rejected the invitation to the banquet. We are
told, the King stated, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.
Conversation starters
Anyone who has planned a party or other event knows how
frustrating it is when people make excuses at the last minute for not coming.
After all, you have planned for a certain number of people for food and seating
and entertainment. Then, suddenly, you are left with all the preparations going
to waste. No wonder the King wants to fill the house with any- and every-one.
In the center of the three lancet windows above the High
Altar at the Cathedral of St. John, Albuquerque, is an image of Jesus presiding
at the Last Supper. A previous bishop of the diocese once preached a sermon
noting that the Table extends backward to Jesus, through us, and into the
future to include everyone.
Jesus says invite everyone you find to the wedding
banquet. Does it make you uncomfortable that simply anyone is allowed to
come to the feast?
What does it mean to include EVERYONE at the Table?
Do you have excuses for not accepting God’s invitation to
the banquet, or for thinking it’s only reserved for a certain group of people?
Action Item
Draw a table, or just a rectangle. On it write those who you
expect to find around God’s banquet table.
Think about who you may not have thought of including and
add them.
