A Midrash over Matityahu (Matthew) 22:1-14

[Jacob Ben Avraham]

A midrash on the Parable of the marriage feast  (Matt 22:1-14)  

 

Just need to share this.  It has been on my mind since yesterday.  We all know, and some might not know, this parable that Yeshua told, about a king that gave an invitation to a marriage feast.  

 

We read in Matthew (Matityahu) that a certain king gave a marriage feast.  Doesn't say who was getting married, maybe the king himself. Would like to think that because it would fit the main gist of the story.  He invited many and sent out his servants to tell those who were invited to come.  Yet they didn't come, they weren't interested, they were more involved in their own things and activities.  He even offered them the best of cooking, the fatted calves, a roasted ox, many more.  But we can be sure that the king showed no stinginess.  He went all out and prepared all the tasty foods (no roast pork nor shellfish, nor pepperoni pizza we can be sure of).  

 

Still the guests didn't come, what's more, they even mistreated and even murdered the king's servants.  The king sent out his armies to destroy those murderers, and then, sent more servants out to invite all the riff-raff, hobos, ragamuffins, schlemihls,. Commoners, low-income wage earners, welfare recipients, muggers, bandits, and even good, simple folk.  Well, they all came, ye there was one who came and didn't have a wedding garment.  The king asked the fellow why he didn't have a wedding garment, and the fellow was "speechless" (vs 12).  Couldn't say a word, no excuse.  guilty as charged.  

 

Here comes the sentencing by the king:  "Bind him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."  then it is added;  "Many are called but few are chosen"  

 

Now, the explanation.  A marriage feast was an important feast and the wealthy didn't mind spending a fortune on it.  Even today, the expenses may go into many thousands of dollars.  It was customary that back then, the master of ceremonies would provide the guests with special wedding garments to use, and afterwards, they would return them.  

 

In this parable, the king invited many to come, yet they did not respond, and the kings servants were murdered.  Adonai has sent out his prophets to tell the world about repentance, to "Shoov" back to God (turn back) to forsake their sins and rebellion and accept the forgiveness that God would offer, yet, they "murdered the prophets" and, in a way, "spat on the Torah" Adonai sent judgment, he sent the Babylonians to conquer Israel, and later, Titus of Rome.  Israel would have to answer to their rebellion against Adonai and his precepts.  

 

Today, the invitation is still sent out.  There is a wedding feast awaiting those who have been called by the Lamb.  The bridegroom is awaiting his bride.  The invitation is for many and all who will respond, those who are poor and meek and those who are rich and famous, doesn't matter, we are ALL the same in God's eyes.  

 

Yet to get into the wedding feast we all need a special garment, a wedding garment, and we all need the same garment.  It is the "Beged Yeshuah"  (The Garment of Salvation).  The garment is Yeshua himself who stained it with his own blood.  Those who have accepted the invitation accept Yeshua as their LORD and Savior.  That is the garment that covers them.  

 

But those who try to get into heaven without the "garment of Salvation" can only expect the wrath of the King, of King Yeshua.  What else could this garment (in the parable) mean? if that guy that did not have on this garment, and had no excuse, because it was provided him yet he rejected it.  Those who reject the "Beged Yeshuah" will be cast into "outer darkness" where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  

 

"darkness" is the opposite of "light" the absence of love, the absence of the presence of God.  There will be pain and suffering, the memory of the invitation and the rejection of the "wedding garment" the rejection of Yeshuah by the same King Yeshua (play on words?) who offered it up with his own blood.  Sounds like Sheol, Gehenna, hell, to me.  But how can fire not be seen? if there is outer darkness? is it both literal and spiritual? this outer darkness?  Where in the universe is "outer darkness" yet intense heat at the same time?  Could it be a "black hole?" a neutron star that has imploded and collapsed into itself? so much gravity and heat yet no light.  Could this be the outer darkness?  Time will tell,  time will tell.  

 

The wedding feast is being prepared, the the invitation is being sent out.  We hear it on the radio, the TV, by word of mouth, on the printed pages of His WORD.  Many are called, but many are not interested.  They are only interested in the here-and-now, and not the here-after. 

They don't want the "Beged Yeshuah" they think they can make it on their own.  Get to the wedding feast on their own accord.  "A few are chosen" Yeshua wants a "good few men (and women)" those who will accept the garment of salvation, stained with His blood. The wedding feast is being prepared, the marriage will take place soon.  Soon, all believers will be the "Wife of Yeshua" the Wife of Adonai" what better position could we ask for?  

 

Ben Avraham 

[Starise]

I like the way you tell of this parable.

I am not the most diligent in inviting people to an event I host. One time I invited quite a few people and I falsely assumed at least a few of them, maybe over half would show up. Of course I hoped they could all come. These were not people I knew very well and so I didn't know much about their schedules. To make matters worse I only invited once through email and never followed up on my requests or had any form of RSVP. In short, things were poorly orchestrated and it was my fault. Lesson learned.

 

I ended up being that host who went to a lot of trouble to have all of the best food available. Took me a long time to make all of it and have everything just right.

 

Only one person showed up. As it turned out almost everyone had other things to do on that day. I will never forget the feeling I had when I realized no one was going to show up.

 

So when I read this parable I can feel the same things the author must have felt in going to so much trouble, so much preparation only to sit looking at piles of uneaten food. The next thing you think is to invite someone else so it all doesn't go to waste, but for me it was too late in the day to do this.

 

In our biblical example there were those who never went to the trouble to attend, so there was no hope for them to ever get a wedding garment. By not attending, they forfeited any possibility of getting in. Their door was closed. They were the enemy, and wanted nothing to do with the host, yet they ALL had an opportunity. Instead they chose to kill the host's representatives.

 

The one who tried to enter without a garment must have at least thought he had a chance. Why else would you try? I see these as the ones who say, " Lord haven't we given to the poor and cast out demons in your name?" These would be the tares or those who look like believers on the outside but never made a true commitment to Christ.

Thanks for revealing the garment is the garment of salvation. I had wondered about it before this.