COME, THE WEDDING IS READY (ARE YOU?)

07-17-16 This message may be viewed live streaming video at www.tabernacleofmoses.org commencing today Sunday at 11:00 am, and repeated 24/7 for one week; thereafter, the video and notes are archived.

The height of our revelations depends upon the correctness of our doctrines (our building blocks)

 

Mat 22:1  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, Mat 22:2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, Mat 22:3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Mat 22:4  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. Mat 22:5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: Mat 22:6  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. Mat 22:7  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Mat 22:8  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Mat 22:9  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Mat 22:10  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. Mat 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: Mat 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Mat 22:13  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. Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

 

Mat 25:1  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Mat 25:2  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Mat 25:3  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil [symbol of the Holy Spirit] with them: Mat 25:4  But the wise took oil [symbol of the Holy Spirit] in their vessels with their lamps. Mat 25:5  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

 

THE OLD TESTAMENT

(Mat 22:1-3)  And Jesus answered and spake unto them [the multitude] again by parables [“comparisons, stories used to illustrate and explain” Amplif.], and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king [Father God], which made a marriage for his son [Jesus Christ], And sent forth his servants [the prophets] to call them that were bidden [Gk: called] to the wedding: and they would not come.

1.     (Mat 13:34)  All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them [the multitude]:

2.     (Mark) 4:34  But without a parable spake he not unto them [the multitude]: and when they were alone, he expounded [Gk: to solve further, explained] all things to his disciples.

 

(Mat 22:4-7)  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden [Gk: called], Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings [Gk: grained, that is, fatted] are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it [Gk: be careless of: be negligent, not regard], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant [Gk: remaining ones] took his servants, and entreated them spitefully [Gk: exercised violence, abused: used despitefully, shamefully], and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth [Gk: provoked, enraged: (very) angry]: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city [this prophecy was “first” fulfilled by the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. under Titus].

 

THE NEW TESTAMENT

(Mat 22:8-10)  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden [Gk: called] were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find [a type and shadow of John the Baptist’s ministry], bid [Gk: call] to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good [i.e., both professing Christians and confessing Christians]: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

 

 

(Mat 22:11,12)  And when the king [Father God] came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment [Gk: apparel (especially the outer robe)]: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless [i.e., not understanding the “tongue” of God, i.e., not having the resident Holy Spirit to interpret].

1.     The Living Bible: “a wedding garment” = It was customary for wedding guests to be given a garment to wear to the banquet. It was unthinkable to refuse to wear the garment. This would insult the host, who could only assume the guest did not want to take part in the wedding celebration. Jesus is speaking here of the garment of righteousness needed to enter God’s banquet in the Kingdom. The robe is a picture of the total acceptance in God’s eyes given to every believer [the garment of salvation] by Christ [Gk: anointed, the Messiah]. Christ has provided this garment for everyone, but each person must choose to put it on in order to enter the king’s banquet (eternal life). 

2.     The Full Life Study Bible: “a wedding garment” = Many within the visible manifestation of the kingdom of heaven will not be wearing a wedding garment and hence are not of the chosen. The “wedding garment” symbolizes a condition of readiness – present possession of true faith in Christ and continued obedience made possible through the grace of Christ. Christ refers to the man who was not wearing wedding clothes in order to make all of us examine ourselves and ask, “Lord, is it I?

a.     (Eph 6:15)  And [having] your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

b.     (Rev 21:2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared [Gk: made ready] as a bride adorned for her husband.

c.      (Mat 26:19-22)  And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

3.     (Isa 61:10)  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

4.     (Isa 64:6)  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities [Heb: perversity, evil: sins], like the wind, have taken us away.

5.     (Rev 3:4,5)  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled [Gk: soiled /// blackened] their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh [Gk: subdue: prevail, get the victory], the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6.     (Rev 19:7-9)  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready [Gk: prepared]. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb [which inaugurates the millennial age]. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

 

JUDGMENT

(Mat 22:13,14)  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. For many are called, but few are chosen.

1.     The Nelson Study Bible: “Bind him hand and foot” = is a vivid picture of the man’s inability to participate in Christ’s kingdom. Someone claiming to belong at the wedding while refusing to wear the correct garment was similar to the Israelites who claimed to be God’s people while refusing to obey Him. This man was an imposter, and when he was discovered (as all imposters will be), he was cast… into outer darkness, referring to the judgment.

2.     The Full Life Study Bible: “few are chosen” = The call to salvation goes out to the many. However, the few who are chosen to inherit the kingdom of heaven are only those who respond to God’s call, repent of their sins, and believe in Christ. Responding to God’s grace by the free exercise of our will brings us into the chosen people of God.

 

 

Amen