Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Setting and Overview
Matthew 22 begins in the middle of a larger section that details controversies between Jesus and the religious officials over his identity and authority. The larger section will see challenges from various groups, but the first three parables are in response to the challenge from the chief priests and elders. Chapter 22 begins with the third and final parable in which he turns their question into a rebuke of their rejection of him.

Exposition
Although the first two parables of the section also dealt with the kingdom of heaven, it isn’t until the third that we see the familiar refrain: “The kingdom of heaven is like.” The situation of the story that follows will help them understand some element of the kingdom. This story is about a king sending out invitations for a wedding banquet for his son, likely here the heir to the throne. This would have been great occasion, and the king wanted the time to be a large and festive celebration. It would be unheard of to reject such an invitation, not only because it would offend the king, but also because this would be a great honor to be invited to. The first surprise is that the invitees refuse to attend, but that is not the last surprise. Instead of responding in anger, the king sends more servants back out to try to entice them to come with promises of how great the feast will be. The response is again negative. Some of the invitees just have other things to do, although nothing that would be a valid reason to miss such an occasion. Others are remarkably hostile, going so far as to demean and kill the king’s servants. The king’s previous patience is not an aversion to judgment, and the king follows their response by killing the murders and destroying their city.
The story is not over, however. Verse 8 begins a new scene where the king continues to take action. He needs to find new guests, but instead of looking for more of high society, instead he sends his servants out to the public areas with instructions to bring anyone in. This may have included some wealthy or important people, but predominantly this would have been the poor and rejected. The parallel parable in Luke even specifies the poor, crippled, blind, and lame (Luke 14:21.) By specifying that even some of those were “bad,” Jesus eliminates any chance of seeing these as moral elites. They are not invited by any merit of their own, but only at the wishes of the king.
Luke’s parallel ends here, but Matthew continues with another twist. There is a man who doesn’t have proper wedding clothes on. We don’t know what he is wearing or why he doesn’t have the proper clothes, but verse 12 makes clear that the expectation was understood, that the king had expected him to be compliant, and that he had no excuse for his failure. The king’s response is the second swift execution of justice, and echoes Matthew 8:12, 13:42, and 13:50 with the description of being thrown out into wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus’ final comments differentiate between those who are called (being used more in the sense of a broad invitation (Romans 1:18-21) rather than the effectual calling referenced elsewhere in the New Testament (Jude 1:1, Romans 1:1, 6-7, Revelation 17:14, Romans 8:28-33) and those who are chosen. The last word identifies those who are admitted to and remain in the banquet, showing that the distinction is in the king’s selection of them, not in any inherent worth of the invitees (Romans 9:11-20, John 6:37-65, 10:25-30.)

Examination and Application
Jesus’ story is not only dramatic, but it is a powerful description of God and man. Mankind is prone to foolishly rebel and those who reject Christ are fully responsible for their decision. At the same time, God in his grace and mercy nonetheless calls some and draws them to him, revealing his mercy, patience, justice and sovereignty. For those who haven’t accepted Jesus, this is a powerful call to respond. For those who have responded, it is a reminder of human depravity and a call to vigilance (I Corinthians 9:27) and humility (James 3:2.) Further, it is an encouraging reminder to share the Gospel boldly, trusting to a positive response by all those who God has chosen (Acts 13:48) and to praise God for his graciousness despite our rebellion (John 1:9-11.)