Thursday April 11

Matthew 22:1-14

Pastor Rolf Olson

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

We attended a wedding at Heidelberg castle in Germany last summer. Our German foreign exchange student from 2003 got married. Nancy, Sarah, and I certainly dressed for the occasion. We were told the dress code.

Matthew’s story is about expectations. Luke tells the same parable but applies it to responding to the invitation (Luke 14:15-24). Matthew adds the part about the man coming without proper dress. It was not a happy scene!

Matthew places this parable in a series of texts highlighting Jesus’ escalating tensions with the Jewish leadership. It will soon end with crucifixion. Matthew wants us to see God’s continuing invitation to us.  How many times did those servants go out to invite wedding guests? But he also wants to convey the seriousness of living in the Kingdom. It’s about giving proper honor to our host. To those Jewish leaders in Palestine, and to us, there is no taking our invitation for granted, no sense of entitlement. Its core message is grace, but not without expectations.

Last summer’s wedding experience had a happier ending than Matthew’s story. We can trust that with our gracious God, so will ours.

Questions for reflection:

• How do I respond to God’s invitation?

• Do I give proper honor to the One who invited me and sustains me each day?

Prayer:

Lord, keep me mindful of Your invitation to me, that I might reflect my gratitude in all that I do. Amen.