Grace that offends
The Wedding Feast
Also called The Wedding Banquet, The Man Without a Garment
A king invites guests to his son wedding. They refuse, so he opens it to everyone.
What it turns on
Matthew version is darker than Luke, and it does not end when the hall fills up.
1Jesus answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying,
2“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding feast for his son,
3and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
4Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast!” ’
5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise,
6and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.
7When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
8“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren’t worthy.
9Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the wedding feast.’
10Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.
11But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing,
12and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless.
13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’
14For many are called, but few chosen.”
World English Bible, public domain. Read the whole chapter →
More on grace that offends
The Workers in the VineyardWorkers hired at dawn and workers hired an hour before quitting time are paid the same.The Great BanquetInvited guests all make excuses, so the host fills the table with strangers off the street.The Two SonsA father asks two sons to work. One says no and goes. One says yes and does not.The Wicked TenantsTenants beat the servants sent to collect rent, then kill the owner son.