The king prepared a sumptuous feast for his son’s wedding, but his offering as king was not accepted. Neglectful, unworthy, and rebellious guests were, in turn, not accepted by the king.
Privilege and Command
A parable, by its nature, can be examined from different perspectives and interpreted with different applications and results. This consideration will focus on types of guests who received invitations—anticipated or unanticipated.
Invitations can be considered a nuisance to be brushed aside, a chance to enjoy a little free luxury, or an opportunity to rebel and turn the occasion to one’s own terms. These guests, though they may be seated, are not accepted. For only a few, this wedding feast was a joyful occasion shared and a life-changing opportunity.
The celebration of a wedding was a highly anticipated and symbolic event in Christ’s time. A week or two would be set aside, and guests were informed long before the celebration time. Elder David A. Bednar emphasized that for a king to invite his subjects was “essentially considered a command.”
The feast was for the king’s only beloved son, who would honor his name and carry out his life’s work.
Nuisance People
But when, according to custom, reminders were sent the morning of the feast, the king’s command was not accepted. To his assurance “All things are ready: come unto the marriage,” invitees “made light of it, and went their way, one to his farm, another to his merchandise” (Matthew 22:3-5). Refusals were a serious insult to both the king and his son. The daily life endeavors were more important to these subjects than those who would determine their lives and their futures.
When a missionary asked President Nelson what he should say to someone who claimed to be “too busy” to listen (definitely a nuisance person), the Prophet’s response was classic:
I would ask if they were too busy to eat lunch that day and then teach them that they have both a body and a spirit, and just as their body will die if not nourished, so will their spirit if not nourished by the good word of God.
We all recognize how badly guests who are now invited to the Savior’s table need to get our values and choices straight. Nuisance mentality may include these decisions.
- Spending hours on social media, leaving little or no time to study the scriptures and words of today’s prophets.
- Refusing to miss the next episode of that exciting TV show, ignoring someone who badly needs a listening ear.
- “Hanging out” with someone you enjoy talking to, putting off your children and grandchildren who need your attention.
- indulging in your favorite leisure, ignoring opportunities for service.
Surprised Acceptors
Some of the unworthy nuisance people abused and even killed servants the king sent to gather them. The angry king wanted wedding guests, so he instructed his servants, “Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.” The servants brought all they found, “both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests” (Matthew 22: 9-10).
Regardless of their lifestyles and behavior, they were all served a king’s feast. And they didn’t refuse it, and most did not insult the king. Apparently some were worthy and some were not. Some lived or would live their faith; some probably lacked faith regardless of where they ended up at the table, these would be among those not accepted.
Elder David A. Buckner gave us a memorable image: ” My father often reminded me that simply sitting in a pew on Sunday [or a chair in the King’s feast] doesn’t make you a good Christian any more than sleeping in a garage makes you a car.”
Own-Terms Rebels
At wealthy weddings, appropriate wedding garments were furnished to invited guests. Although the guests at this wedding were rather rushed in, the king did provide garments, and everyone who came in by the designated entrance received one and wore it. One of those sitting at a table during the feast was determined to do things on his own terms. He did not come in by the designated entrance, so avoided the required garment.
The king approached and asked, “Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment.” The man’s rebellion was obvious and there was nothing he could say. He was immediately escorted out, hands and feet bound, and on his way into “outer darkness.” Persons who have no standards, interests, or desires beyond their own terms, have no place at the king’s feast or in God’s kingdom.
Though many have been invited to God’s feast, Jesus explained that few of them have chosen to enter His kingdom. His voice on earth today, President Nelson, explained what can determine whether we accept or do not accept. “The best is yet to come as we fully turn our hearts and our lives to Jesus Christ.” He asks of us “a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” As one of His prophets today, Elder Quentin L. Cook. explained, “To receive the blessings of the Savior’s Atonement, we must affirmatively exercise our moral agency to choose Christ and obey His commandments.”
To re-examine popular word choice, many may be called, but few make the right choices.
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