QT 29/12/2024 Sun. Christmas Message 10. Wedding Feast. 婚宴。
QT 29/12/2024 Sun. Christmas Message 10. Wedding Feast. 婚宴。
READ http://www.esvbible.org/matt22:1-14
Matthew 22:1–14 The Parable of the Wedding Feast
[1] And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, [2] “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, [3] and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. [4] Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ [5] But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, [6] while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. [7] The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. [8] Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. [9] Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ [10] And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
[11] “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. [12] And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ [14] For many are called, but few are chosen.” (ESV)
The parable of the king who prepared a wedding banquet points firstly to the invitation of the expected guests (22:5). The message was likely given to religious leaders of Jesus' time. This conclusion is supported by the extreme response of the invitees—they not only ignored the invitation that was "couriered" by the messengers or slaves (22:5), they also killed its messengers/slaves that bore that message.
The seriousness of their rejection is mirrored by the response of the king, sending an army to burn their city. On the other hand, the parable also displayed the other part of Jesus' teaching, those who come must be dressed properly in wedding clothes. This might be interpreted as coming to the kingdom of God with good deeds done in their life, i.e., "fruits".
REFLECTION: Does your life exhibit the fruit of "obedience" and being faithful to God?
We thank God for the invitation to those expected as well as the unexpected guests (be they Jews or Gentiles). That being said, those who accept His invitation and turn up must exhibit their preparedness of the wedding (i.e., eternal life with God) with the life that had exhibited doing good deeds in God's eyes, by God's standards.
Accept God's gift, a privilege, and also the responsibility that comes with that gift, wedding clothes of good deeds.
QT 29/12/2024 星期日. 圣诞信息 10: 婚宴
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/matt/22
马太福音 22:1 耶稣又用比喻对他们说，2 天国好比一个王，为他儿子摆设娶亲的筵席。3 就打发仆人去请那些被召的人来赴席。他们却不肯来。4 王又打发别的仆人说，你们告诉那被召的人，我的筵席已经预备好了，牛和肥畜已经宰了，各样都齐备。请你们来赴席。5 那些人不理就走了。一个到自己田里去。一个作买卖去。6 其余的拿住仆人，凌辱他们，把他们杀了。 7 王就大怒，发兵除灭那些凶手，烧毁他们的城。8 于是对仆人说，喜筵已经齐备，只是所召的人不配。 9 所以你们要往岔路口上去，凡遇见的，都召来赴席。10 那些仆人就出去到大路上，凡遇见的，不论善恶都召聚了来。筵席上就坐满了客。
11 王进来观看宾客，见那里有一个没有穿礼服的。12 就对他说，朋友，你到这里来，怎么不穿礼服呢？那人无言可答。13 于是王对使唤的人说，捆起他的手脚来，把他丢在外边的黑暗里。在那里必要哀哭切齿了。14 因为被召的人多，选上的人少。
准备婚宴的王的比喻首先指向了对预期客人的邀请（22:5）。这个信息很可能是给耶稣时代的宗教领袖的。受邀者的极端反应支持了这一结论--他们不仅无视使者或奴隶送来的邀请函（22：5），还杀死了传递邀请函的使者或奴隶。
国王的反应也反映了他们拒绝的严重性，他派出军队烧毁了他们的城市。另一方面，这个寓言也展示了耶稣教导的另一部分：来的人必须穿上合适的婚服。这可以解释为带着他们生命中的善行（即 “果子”）来到神的国度。
反思：你的生活是否展现了 “顺服 ”和忠于上帝的果实？
感谢上帝邀请了意料之中和意料之外的客人 （无论是犹太人或外邦人）。尽管如此，那些接受神的邀请并出席的人，必须用他们在神眼中按照神的标准行善的生活来证明他们已经为婚礼（即与神永生）做好了准备。
接受上帝的厚礼，这是一种特权，同时也要承担随这厚礼而来的责任，即善行的礼服。
