Few Are Chosen
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables. “The kingdom of heaven,” he said, “may be compared to a king who gave a banquet in honor of his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the banquet, but they were unwilling to come. A second time he sent some servants, with orders to say to those who had been invited ‘I have prepared my meal, my cattle and fat beasts are killed and everything is ready; come to the banquet.’ They, however, took no notice, but went off, one to their farm, another to their business; while the rest, seizing his servants, ill-treated them and killed them. The king, in anger, sent his troops, put those murderers to death, and set their city on fire. Then he said to his servants ‘The banquet is prepared, but those who were invited were not worthy. So go to the cross-roads, and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ The servants went out into the roads and collected all the people whom they found, whether bad or good; and the bridal-hall was filled with guests. But, when the king went in to see his guests, he noticed there a man who had not put on a wedding-robe. So he said to him ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding-robe?’ The man was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants ‘Tie him hand and foot, and put him out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’ For many are called, but few chosen.”
Matthew 22:1-14
This parable is one that I have always found difficult to understand. It doesn't mesh well with my understanding of Jesus's radical acceptance of outsiders and love for all. I find people being welcomed in to the banquet and then kicked out for not being dressed properly deeply offensive and not in line with my understanding of God's character.
This week, I drove past a mega-church wannabe and finally have an understanding of what Jesus was saying with this parable. (As it relates to today. I still don't fully understand it in the context that it was first told.)
Jesus used this parable to describe the hollow soul of religion.
With this realization, however, I find I am at a loss to explain the parable through that lens. Now that I see what Jesus was saying, it all seems so obvious and lacking any need of explanation.
I think the best I can do is restate the parable in my own words.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a King who gave a banquet to honor his son's union. The King's prophets called the King's chosen people to the banquet. The King's chosen people rejected their invitation, citing other obligations. Angry and frustrated, the King rejected those whom he had chosen and instead opened his doors to any who would come. Many unfamiliar with Kingly banquets came, but when it was discovered that they were unfamiliar with His ways, the King rejected them as well.
For many are called, but few understand the ways of the King.The Parable of the Banquet (Evan's Paraphrase)
This, I feel, still doesn't capture what I'm trying to convey. However, in the practice of using my own words, I may now be able to find the ones needed to point beyond the parable.
Jesus is criticizing the religious institution of His day for rejecting the Kingdom of God for the sake of their traditions. Jesus is also criticizing the religious institution to come for coming into the Kingdom of God, but having no idea what it is actually about.
I live where there is a church building on nearly every corner, but so many call themselves followers of Christ while having no notion of the message He proclaimed.
The religious leaders of Jesus's day had a wall of religion around them that kept them from the Kingdom. Jesus tore that wall down, but many were too blind to that the wall was no longer there. Jesus's message then made its way to the people it wasn't originally intended for, and they used it to rebuild the wall of religion that Jesus came to tear down.
I came to this understanding of the parable while driving past a mega-church because they embody the religious institution of today. They claim to be the King's banquet, welcoming all who will come, but have not shown their guests the ways of the King.
It'd be nice if this critique was only meant for mega-churches. Sadly, it applies to all churches.
Many attend, but few know the way of Christ.
You are Love.