Matthew 22:1-10
“Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.” vs. 10
A couple of things catch our attention in Jesus’ parable of the wedding banquet as remembered by Matthew. The first is the reluctance of the invited guests to come to the dinner. It seems strange to think that anyone would turn down a chance to celebrate—but–that’s exactly how it is. What Jesus offers is amazing: the complete forgiveness of all of our sins, the hope of eternal life, and the indwelling presence of the Spirit of peace. And many say “no thanks” and refuse the invitation. We see it all the time. But the parable has still another surprise. When the slaves go out to find other guests they are remarkably undiscerning and gather both good and bad. The king is determined. One way or another, the wedding hall is going to be full! For many, this is the most amazing good news. Just think, there’s room at the banquet table for the worst of us, and ultimately even the jerks will find a place with their name on it. The sheer grace of this good news is almost beyond comprehension. Can it really be true that our inclusion doesn’t depend on our worthiness or reputation? Will we have a place even if our name wasn’t on the original guest list? The answer of the parable is a resounding “yes”…we can count on it…and we’ll likely be surprised to see who is across the table!
Thought for the Day: Who doesn’t have a place at the table?
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