THIS is one of the most impressive of Christ’s parables. Behold a royal marriage feast provided, and gracious invitations given, but, alas! the invitations rejected, the grace and kindness undervalued and despised. Still more, as the close of the parable shows, even some of those who are taken from “the highways,” and profess to sit as sincere guests, are found unfit and unworthy, and cast into “the outer darkness.” What a solemn, searching warning is here! I shall now proceed, as the Lord may help, to observe the details of the parable.
I.—The Marriage Supper.
1. Who Made the Supper?
The King—God, the Father. Whose marriage is it? The marriage of His Son, Jesus Christ. Who is the bride? The Church. Is Christ the only Husband of the Church? Yes. Do some people say that pastors of congregations are married to the Church, or to the particular congregations over which they are ordained? Yes. Are they correct in saying that? No. I shall give the following reasons. (1) In Scripture there is none spoken of as the husband of the Church but Christ. “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom” (John iii. 29); “Thy Maker is thy husband” (Isaiah liv. 5). (2) It would be unlawful for a wife to have more than one husband. (3) Pastors are at the same time members of the Church, which is the bride of Christ, and it would be absurd to say that the wife was her own husband, or a joint-husband with Christ. (4) If pastors were married to the Church, then she would have as many husbands as there are pastors. Are some good people in the habit of saying that when a minister is ordained over a congregation he is married to the Church or to that particular congregation? What is the reason of this? That saying was handed down from Popery, which usurps the prerogative of Christ in relation to His Church; and these good people, although they believe that Christ is the only Husband of the Church, speak of it as a matter of habit, without inquiring whether it is scriptural or not. It is not scriptural; it is not true. May it not, however, be a fact that some pastors claim to be married to what is called a church? Yes; but such pastors are not Christ’s pastors, and their so-called church is not His Church. For Christ will not allow any man to usurp His own place as the Husband of His Church, and His Church is taught to keep her own place in relation to Christ as her Husband, and made faithful so as not to accept of any other husband than Him. Christ has been pleased to accept of her as His only bride, and she has been made willing—very willing—to accept of Him as her only husband. Let her keep the marriage covenant faithfully in heart, speech, and behaviour. Christ will keep His own part of it.
2. What is the Supper?
The Gospel provision. Why is it called a supper? (1) Because of the richness of the provision. It is the richest provision that was ever made for men or angels. In the East it is said that supper was the best meal of the day. So is the Gospel provision. (2) Because, as supper is the last meal of the day, the New Testament dispensation is the last that will be given. These are the last days in which God speaks to us, and He speaks to us now through His Son.
II.—The Invitation.
Who sends the invitation? God, the King. Who are sent by Him to invite? His servants. Who are these? (1) John the Baptist; (2) Christ, the Bridegroom; (3) the Apostles; and (4) Gospel ministers to the end of time. Did these servants go on their errand? Yes, they all obeyed the command of the King.
Who Were Invited?
Who were invited? (1) The Jews; (2) the Gentiles. Was this the first time the Jews were invited to the marriage supper? No, for it is said that the servants were sent “to call them that were bidden.” They were bidden before by the prophets, and now are bidden once more, but it will be the last time. When sinners who have been often called are again called to come to Christ, may it not be the last call? It may, and it is so with some. What was the result of the invitation? The Jews refused to comply with the invitation sent to them by the first messengers. “And they would not come” (verse 3). Other servants were sent to them with the same message, urging upon them to come, and adding that “all things are now ready” (verse 4). But they made light of it, and went their ways—one to his farm, another to his merchandise (verse 5). Others, who were persecutors, entreated the servants spitefully and slew them. The former were more civil; they did not say any bad word to the servants. Perhaps they spoke well of the marriage which was to be celebrated, but they were too busy with their lawful callings to leave them at present for going to a marriage—even a royal marriage. The latter were determined enemies of the King and His Son, and so they slew them. Who were the servants that were slain by these ruffians? John the Baptist was beheaded, Christ was crucified, some of the Apostles were put to death in other ways, and many of Christ’s ministers since were put to death in a most barbarous manner. People would not deal in this cruel way with servants sent forth by an earthly king to invite them to the marriage of his son. They would consider it a great honour to be invited. But when the Lord of hosts sends His servants—His own Beloved among them—to invite sinners to come to the Saviour, this is the treatment they often meet with at the hands of some whom they invite!
How Did the King Take This Insult?
How did the King take this insult to His gracious invitation, and cruel treatment of His servants? “He was wroth” (verse 7). How did He manifest His righteous displeasure at them? “He sent forth his armies, and destroyed these murderers and burned their city” (verse 7). Who were the armies employed to execute this judgment upon them? The Romans. Did the Romans know that they were actuated by God to do this work? No; they had no thoughts of it. They had their own selfish ends in view, but God accomplished His purpose through them towards His enemies. What does the King call those that slew His servants? “Murderers.” Are those who persecute and slay God’s servants and people murderers? Yes, the worst kind of murderers. What will God do with such men? He will destroy them. According to law the murderer must be hanged. May not these murderers flee to some hiding-place and thus escape the punishment they deserve? No; for God will find them out and bring them to trial. There can be no possible escape. When shall they be so dealt with? (1) Sometimes in this world, as in the case of the Jews whom God destroyed by the Romans, and burnt their city; (2) at death, when their souls shall be cast into hell; and (3) at the day of judgment, when their bodies, re-united to their souls, shall be punished in the place of everlasting torment. The day of judgment will be a day of awful revelations. All secret sins, which lay hid from the eye of other men, shall be disclosed and made bare before the eyes of all men and angels, and those who committed them shall be dealt with according to their desert, if they die unpardoned. All murderers—and those, especially, who murdered God’s people—shall be punished according to the aggravation of their sins. Many a neck shall, so to speak, be stretched on that day of final reckoning; many a body shall swing before the gaze of an innumerable assemblage of spectators.
Were There Any Guests Found for the Wedding?
Were there any guests found for the wedding? Yes. Where were they found? “In the highways.” Who are meant by those in the highways? The Gentiles. When the Jews refused, the King sent His servants to invite the Gentiles. “Go ye,” he said, “into the highways, and bid them to the marriage.” Before the invitation came to the Gentiles, did they expect to be honoured with a call to the royal marriage? No. How did they treat the invitation? Not like the Jews; they readily complied with it. They came in great multitudes, “and the wedding was furnished with guests.” Nothing will gather so many people as the Gospel.
Were All Who Came Good People?
Were all who came good people? No; they were a mixed company—some were good, others bad. Does this mean that some are good by nature and others bad that are invited to come to Christ? No, for all are bad by nature—”there is no difference”—and they are, as such, invited to the Saviour, that they may be made good. What, then, is meant? That of the many who are gathered into the visible Church, and make a profession of religion, many shall be found to be hypocrites when God shall bring them to judgment.
The King’s Inspection.
When they were all gathered who came in to see them? The King. Did He notice that there were some among them who were hypocrites? Yes. By what mark were they distinguished from the rest? By their garment. Is it the outward garment of the body that is meant? No. What, then? The garment of the soul. What is that garment we require that we may be approved of God? The righteousness of Christ. Yes, that is the garment that can make us acceptable to Him. Is there any other garment needed in order to be prepared for heaven? Yes; the garment of holiness (Psalm xlv. 13). The one is to be had by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness; the other by the sanctifying work of the Spirit in us. “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.”
The Guest Without the Wedding Garment.
Was there only one of the guests without the wedding garment? Yes. Why, then, is only one mentioned? As a specimen of many others who were in a similar condition. Why was that man without the necessary apparel while others had it? He thought his own was good enough, and therefore he did not apply for a better. He was honest in his dealings with his fellow-creatures, was outwardly decent, and was a regular attendant at church, and he imagined that that was sufficient. How did the King deal with this man? He spoke to him. What did He say to him? (1) He called him “friend.” Why did He call him “friend”? Not because he was really so, but because he pretended or feigned to be a friend—just as Christ called Judas by that name. What did He say to him after this? “How camest thou in hither?” Why did He ask him “How,” and not “Why”? To remind him that it was not by the door—the only lawful way of entrance—he came in. Who is the door? Christ. He says, “I am the door.” As the poor sinner did not come in by that door, no wonder although he was without the wedding garment. Had the man anything to say in his own defence? No; he had no plea at the bar of God. His mouth was shut. Could he not have pled that he was earnest in religion, and acted according to the light he had? No, for if he could, he would have done it. Could he not have pled that he was not elected, and that if he had been he would have the necessary preparation, like others? No, for if he could, he would have done it. Could he not have pled that he could not convert himself, that this was God’s work, and therefore cast the blame upon God? No, for if he could, he would have done it. Could he not have pled that if he got one more chance he would make sure of being prepared? No, for if he could, he would have done it in so critical a position. His mouth was shut; he had nothing to plead at God’s bar in his own defence.
Do sinners under the Gospel bring forward the excuses I have mentioned, and many others, when they are pressed to come to Christ? Yes. Will they be able to adduce these when God shall bring them to account? No; their mouth shall be shut, as that man’s mouth was. Do many blame God, their fellow-creatures, and Satan now for their not being in Christ—for their not being converted to God? Yes. What shall become of all these excuses—for they are only excuses—when they shall appear before the judgment-seat of Christ? They shall all vanish away like smoke. Their mouth shall be closed, as the mouth of that man was. Probably that man had many excuses to plead in his own defence till the King came in and brought him to trial, but then his mouth was closed. O my soul, take warning; O fellow-sinner, take warning! Cast away all your vain excuses; come to Christ now. This may be the last call to you. Fall down on your knees; cry for mercy; for God still waits to be gracious. Christ says, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.”
The King’s Further Proceedings.
Did the King take further proceedings against this man? Yes. He gave orders about him. To whom did He give these orders? To His servants. What were the servants ordered to do with him?
(1) To Bind Him Hand and Foot.
“Bind him hand and foot.” Why were his hands to be bound? It is by their hands men work, and God says, “I know thy works.” But there is nothing laid to his charge but that he wanted the wedding garment. But all he did, however good as to the matter of it, was sinful, because it was not done from the right principle and from the right motive. It did not spring from the principle of grace in his soul, and it was not done from the motive of glorifying God; and therefore his hands must be bound. At death the hands of sinners shall be bound so that they cannot do the evil works which they did in their lifetime. Why were his feet to be bound? It is by their feet men walk, and this man walked in his own self-righteous way and despised the righteousness of Christ; and therefore his feet must be bound. Sinners who walk in their own evil ways and trample upon God’s commandments shall have their feet bound at death, so that they will be no longer able to walk in the ways in which they had formerly walked. They cannot trample upon God’s holy law any more in the world. Is there anything more to be understood by his being bound hand and foot? Yes; for when a man is so bound he is unable to do anything for himself; he is powerless. Will that be the case of sinners at death? Yes; they shall be quite powerless to help themselves. Besides, when a man is bound hand and foot he is absolutely in the power of him that bound him. He can deal with him as he pleases. And in like manner, sinners at death are absolutely in the power of God. Many say now, “Our mouth is our own, our hands and feet are our own, and we may do with them as we please. We may speak what we like; we may do what we think ourselves, and not what God commands us to do; and we can walk out on the Sabbath, seeking our own pleasure, although God says, ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.'” But when their mouth is shut and their hands and feet are bound they cannot act in that way. O Sabbath-breaker, take warning! You got many warnings already, but if you turn your feet now—even now—from profaning the Lord’s day, it may not be too late. “Turn at my reproof,” God says. “Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?”
(2) To Take Him Away.
They were commanded to take him away. The King said, “Take him away.” Hitherto he was in the company of God’s people, but now he must part company with them for ever. Is it thus how it shall be at death with those who are not true professors of religion? Yes. They are now in the company of the Lord’s people; they are with them in the same church, under the same Gospel ministry, sitting with them at the Lord’s table, and thus making the same public profession of being the disciples of Christ. But as they want the wedding garment they shall be taken away from the good company in which they had so long been, and with whom they had no sympathy or real likeness. “The ungodly shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous” (Psalm i. 5). O, the solemn parting—never, never to meet again! O, seek not only to be in the company of the Lord’s people, seek to be of the blessed number, or you shall be taken away from their company at death, as that man was by the order of the King.
(3) To Cast Him Into Outer Darkness.
They were ordered to cast him into outer darkness. Why is that place called “outer darkness”? Because there is not the least ray of light in it. Are not sinners in a state of nature in darkness? Yes, and on that account they are called “darkness” itself. “Ye who were once darkness are now made light in the Lord.” But although sinners are in that darkness in this world, yet it is not “outer darkness,” because the light of the Gospel has shined upon this sinful world. That light shines about them, though the darkness comprehends it not. There is hope for sinners as long as they are within the call of the Gospel. This is a great privilege. But those who go to the other world refusing the Saviour are cast into “outer darkness,” where the light of the Gospel never shines. There is nothing there but utter and everlasting despair, and therefore it is called “outer darkness.” The darkness in which sinners are now in Gospel lands is but inner darkness.” That is an “outer darkness”—there is no darker darkness beyond it. It is the “blackness of darkness.” O, fellow-sinner, flee from the works of darkness; flee to Christ, the “Light of the world,” “the Sun of righteousness.” Seek to be made light in the Lord. It may not yet be too late. The Gospel call is to you as long as you are within the bounds of time. If you die refusing the Saviour, there is nothing else awaiting you in eternity but to be cast into “outer darkness”!
Why Weeping?
Why are those in that place said to be weeping? Because of their great suffering and misery. They rejoiced on earth while they ought to have been weeping and bemoaning themselves, like Ephraim when he repented; but now they weep bitterly, and for ever. God’s people wept in the world, and the world—the wicked—rejoiced. But now the tables are turned. God’s people rejoice in heaven, and never weep again; the wicked weep in hell, and never rejoice any more. They endure the greatest conceivable sufferings, and are in the depth of the greatest misery, and therefore they are said to weep.
Why Gnash Their Teeth?
Why are they said to gnash their teeth? (1) Because of their great suffering, as when people are in extreme pain they gnash their teeth. (2) It is a manifestation of their heart’s enmity against God. Like a furious dog that is chained, when he cannot get at you to tear your flesh, he gnashes his teeth at you. The wicked in this world hate God, and they show their hatred in disobedience, transgression of His law, and in neglecting the great salvation and rejecting Christ. And as they are, in eternity, bound hand and foot, they manifest their enmity to God by gnashing their teeth at Him. But by so doing they only increase their own misery.
O, sinner, seek that your heart’s enmity against God may be slain by the death of Christ, and that the love of God may be shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Ghost, so that you may be enabled to say, “I love the Lord”; or that enmity shall be a scourge, tormenting you for ever in the “outer darkness.” “He that sinneth against me,” Christ says, “wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (Prov. viii. 36). But so long as you are in the land of the living you are invited to Christ. “All things are ready; come unto the marriage.” This may be the last call to you.