View Single Post
  #95  
Old 03-18-2009, 10:36 PM
Biblestudent's Avatar
Biblestudent Biblestudent is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Philippines
Posts: 662
Default

I don't have time yet to go deeper into this or to consult commentaries, but reading it as written, here is what I can say about what it's saying:

Matthew 22:2 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.


Interpretation: God offered the kingdom ("marriage") to Israel but "they would not".

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.


Interpretation: "The kingdom of heaven" was at hand ("all things are ready"), but Israel killed the prophets and the apostles; so God "burned up their city" (fulfilled in A.D. 70?)

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.


Interpretation:
During the Gospels and Acts period, the "wedding" (kingdom) "is ready" (is at hand), but "they which are bidden" (Jews during that period) "were not worthy".
In the Tribulation period, the gospel of "the kingdom of heaven" will once again be proclaimed. At the second coming, both "good and bad" will be present. (Compare this with Matthew 25, "sheep and goats" -judgment of the nations, as well as Matthew 13 parables where angels were sent to gather the "tares and the wheat", the children of the kingdom and the children of the wicked one).
At the Second Coming (which starts the "wedding", the Millennium), those who have no "wedding garment" ("righteousness of the saints", Rev. 19) will be gathered by the angels ("servants", Mat. 13, 22) and cast into the lake of fire. This fits Revelation 19 and 20.