[ Christ's Wedding Parable ]

Christ's Wedding Parable
©copyright 2007 Bonita M Quesinberry, R.C.


All professing Christians recognize Christ as the bridegroom and His small flocks of sheep, the church/people, as His collective Bride. It should be noted: becoming the bride has nothing to do with organized religions and myriad denominations; these latter directly relating only to God's final call, in this last church age, to "Come out of her, my people."

This is about only those people who were called, which is to say invited, to the wedding and, ultimately, those who actually are chosen to attend. It is wise to recall: God has provided similitudes on earth of everything in heaven, which aids in understanding Christ's various parables. And, as the Bible confirms, "On earth, as it is in heaven."

Matthew 22:1-14 and 25:1-13 are parables Christ taught regarding this great wedding day, of which His flocks eagerly await; the first passage speaks of the invitation issued to prospective guests, both chapters describing those who are called to attend versus those who actually attend: the parable ends with Christ's enlightening statement in verse 14.

v.2-6: Jesus compares the operations of heaven's kingdom to that of an earthly kingdom, or nation as it were, where its king has a first son of marriageable age: the king's prince heir apparent to his throne. As customary, the king chooses a suitable bride for his son, then sends out invitations to a select group of people under his domain; while making all the wedding arrangements. This invitation directly relates to the fact that Christ first witnessed to the Jews, God's chosen people of old, and instructed His Apostles to do the same while they walked with Him.

Unfortunately, the majority of Jews would not come; but, not willing to give up on them, the king sent more of his servants to announce that the wedding feast had been prepared and, again, bid them to attend. It mentions the menu, quite a feast as it were, which directly relates to Christ's sacrifice upon the cross for the past sins of those invited and alludes to the great supper to follow the wedding. Alas, many people scoffed and went their way to fulfill their own desires of worldly profit. Still, some of Jews lingered to treat the king's servants badly, eventually killing them. This relates to the Pharisees' treatment of both Christ and His Apostles as well as the eventual death of minister Stephen; which latter event marked the prophetic beginning of "Time of the Gentiles."

v.7-10: The king was enraged when he heard of his servants' deaths and sent out his armies to destroy the murderers and burned up their city; which refers to Jerusalem ultimately having been destroyed in 70 A.D. The king sent out more servants to out of the way places to gather up as many people who agreed to attend his son's wedding. Finally, the wedding was furnished with willing guests. This, too, directly relates to the prophecy known as "Time of the Gentiles;" for it was at Stephen's death in 34 A.D. that Saul-called-Paul was chosen to replace minister Stephen. Paul then was directed to minister to the Gentiles: those idolatrous heathens, also Biblically referred to as strangers and pagans, who had not known God or Jesus.

v.11-13: Alas, among the various guests to arrive, some were not properly dressed in wedding garments. This is to be a very formal affair of great significance and it would be an insult to God that anyone would arrive inappropriately attired. The king had those guests bound hand and foot and carried into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth; for they clearly understand why they are not included while looking forward only to a second death. (see also Matthew 13:41-42) This scene also refers to the fact that "men came in secretly among the church to learn of their teachings, then left to begin their own form of teaching." Paul said of them that the only good thing they do is preach Jesus; which is not enough: it must be the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Luke 13:27-29 describes these who are not properly attired as "workers of iniquity" and those who were properly dressed as having come from all over the world for this great event. Matthew 13:50 describes that "outer darkness" as a furnace of fire; which may logically be concluded as the pit of fire and brimstone into which all the wicked and filthy ultimately will be utterly destroyed.

The guests who rejected the wedding invitation as well as those who join in the wedding festivities also are described in Christ's Parable of the Sower found in Matthew 13:3-8 as well as interpreted in v.19-23. The last verse states that those who do attend the wedding are accepted because they both received God's Truth and live and teach it as instructed.

The above verses beg a crucial question, "What is the proper wedding attire?" Christ's sheep have been instructed to "take on the whole armour of God." It is logical that this armour is our wedding attire. Some people might assume all professing Christians are wearing God's armour; however, scriptures reveal that the majority are not.

As with any formal wear, there are various components to completing the attire: such as a man's tuxedo must have the appropriate shirt and cuff links, tie and tie tack, cummerbund to gird the waist, appropriate socks and dress shoes and, finally, an appropriate dressy head covering such as a top hat. So it is with God's Armour; every component must be upon the guests or they are not properly attired for the great wedding soon to begin. Also, wedding guests normally bring a gift for this joyous occasion.

Ephesians 6:11-18 describes God's Armour as: 1) Loins girded with truth equates to a cummerbund; 2) breastplate of righteousness compares to the dress shirt, cuff links, tie and tack; 3) feet shod with peace is like the proper socks and dress shoes; 4) shield of faith then resembles the tuxedo; and, 5) the helmet of salvation is the dressy top hat. Still, we must have a gift for the happy occasion; therefore, 6) the sword is the Bible, the word by which we live and teach and die. And, finally 7) the guests speak good wishes upon the bride and groom thus always praying for each other. Amazing, isn't it: God's perfect number seven that comes forth in so many of His teachings.

The practices in all of corporate Christendom's denominations, and those who follow them, reveals an apparent piece missing from their armour. Alas, it is Truth, which according to the Bible is God's Doctrine of Ten Commandments beginning with the two royal laws of love: missing because they promote that we either do not have to worry about obeying God's Law and/or they are teaching man's commandments in God's name. One has only to study the Ten Commandments in Exodus c.20 and Deuteronomy c.5 to determine where these evicted guests went wrong.

By not obeying all of God's Ten Precepts, they also wear a flawed breastplate; for His Law is the Law of Righteousness and they failed to become "more righteous than the Pharisees" and, certainly, not as "righteous as the Father," both of which directives Christ said we must do or we would neither enter heaven nor reside on New Earth. If this were not enough to get those guests removed, their shield therefore is defiled thus they continue to live in sin. Alas, the helmet too is flawed, and they didn't bring the gift of having lived God's Word; instead they had chosen to follow man's "commandments and traditions," which lack the power of God, instead of living only God's Word.

Matthew 25:1-13 finds Jesus comparing the various invited guests as virgins, of which five were wise and five were foolish; in short, those who profess with their mouth and those who profess by the way they live. Since no one knows and cannot know the exact wedding date, all invited guests are expected to be fully prepared and properly dressed. Christ compares being prepared to having plenty of oil for our lanterns, just in case night sets in and the Bridegroom is not yet there to admit His guests into the wedding chamber.

The foolish virgins are those who have heard God's Truth but hold steadfastly to "man's commandments and traditions," thinking that having heard the truth is sufficient but not required. Revelation refers to them as lukewarm. They run out of oil and their light does not shine. When they realize they haven't enough oil, they leave to buy more. Alas, that is precisely when the Groom arrives and, once the wedding chamber door is closed, they will not be admitted: for only those who were wise will attend heaven's great wedding.

Who are the guests likened to wise virgins? They are anyone who embraces ALL of God's Word, believes it and lives it and teaches it to others: despite persecution by those only professing to be Christians. The wise virgins might previously have been defiled by man's commandments and traditions, i.e. denominational teachings, but they were quick to repent and follow only God's Commandments and traditions when they heard or read it; therefore, they now can be presented as chaste virgins to the Bridegroom. Does anyone recall that before Princess Diana could marry Prince Charles, she had to be certified a virgin? The kingdom's bride must be as virtuous as the Prince who will claim its throne. On earth, as it is in heaven.

In Matthew 22:14, Christ concludes the rudiments of this great wedding soon to begin by saying, "Many are invited, but few are chosen to attend," and He reiterated it in Matthew 20:16. To not be chosen is a death sentence, the second death as it were; death of both the flesh and the spirit being who was inhabiting the body.

Are you a wise virgin who is both properly attired and have plenty of extra oil for your lantern, in case the Groom does not arrive as soon as expected; or, are you a foolish virgin improperly dressed and lacking plenty of oil?

All prophetic signs indicate that Jesus is about to open the door to admit guests into the wedding chapel, His Bride as it were. When He does, it will be too late to get the proper garments and extra oil for lanterns. His guests are "taken up" to heaven for the wedding and where the feast following takes place. What a glorious day this will be! And, soon it shall be.

To be left behind is to experience earth's furnace, for "fire precedes Christ as He crosses our skies from east to west." Other scripture states they will "die at the brightness of His coming;" yet, another adds that they will "lay dead from one end of earth to the other end and will be neither mourned nor buried." Revelation then reveals the seventh plague following in Christ's wake as He takes up His "small flocks."

Where will you be when our Groom comes for His Bride?

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