Presents
Matthew #2552
If you accept a spirit, which means "wind of doctrine", i.e. teaching, and you have not "received it", which means you have not "assayed" it by checking it out thoroughly in the Word of God, then you are in grave danger of being seduced my friend!
Jesus Christ has just finished giving the chief priests and elders of the people a Bible lesson documenting from the scriptures that the likes of them are going to be ground to powder when the Stone they rejected (Him) becomes the head of the corner, i.e. comes as King of kings and Lord of lords to put down all authority and crush the stones of their idolatrous temple, them! That did not sit very well with them, to say the least, and now they seek to lay hands on Him and kill Him.
Nevertheless, Christ is not finished with His teaching concerning the plan of God and so He continues speaking in parables those things which concern the kingdom of heaven, like who is going to be part of the first resurrection and who isn't. He begins by explaining that there could have been a wedding take place at the first advent had those who were bidden, even those He is addressing, heeded the call and come to the wedding feast! But alas, they would not come and so they themselves are rejected and the wedding will take place at the second advent and "whosoever will" heed the bidding shall take their place!
Remember from our study of the Parable of the Tares in chapter 13 that parables are teaching tools that work to the extreme ends of both understanding and misunderstanding, meaning they both reveal and make things clear to some while at the same time hiding and protecting that which is being taught from others. In other words, if the imagery and symbols used in a parable are understood by the person receiving it, then the picture the parable paints in his or her mind makes clear and simple that which is being taught. However, if the symbology is not understood then the parable becomes an enigma to that person. Such is the difference between those who are wise from studying our Father's Word, those with eyes to see and ears to hear to whom the understanding of the parables is given (Mat. 13:11), and those who are foolish and choose to follow the traditions of men instead of hearing His voice.Matthew 22:1-22
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Here then is another parable, an analogy, a painted picture, an "is like", giving us more insight into the plan of salvation and the kingdom of heaven.
Let us lay a little groundwork for the parable we are about to "hear"! Make no mistake about it, there is going to be a marriage take place... for the king has determined it to be so! Do you remember back a few chapters ago (19) when Christ discussed the reason that God created both male and female and ordained that the "two shall become one flesh"? That flesh union is symbolic of the spiritual union between Christ and His church and when He returns He is expecting to marry a virgin bride all dressed in white linen. Paul talks about this in his second letter to the Corinthians:[2] The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
If Jesus Christ returns and finds that His bride-to-be has been (spiritually) sleeping with another man (the Instead-of-Jesus/Satan) and has even become (spiritually) impregnated by him, it goes without saying that He is not going to be very happy! We will discuss this more a few chapters hence when Christ says "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days (Matthew 24:19)!" Christ is speaking in the spiritual sense, not about women literally having babies!2 Cor. 11:2-4
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Eve was seduced and impregnated in the fig grove by that sleazy lowlife snake (a character description of the very charming and charismatic Satan) and brought forth his child, the very first murderer, Cain! Paul is using that physical ensample (1 Cor. 10:11) to warn us of the spiritual seduction that takes place in these last days as a result of the other Jesus, the traditional one, being taught to the multitudes by the many false preachers and ministers who come in the name of Christ, i.e. as Christian preachers, etc. You "see", they come and deceive our brothers and sisters with their form of praise and worship, churchianity, but do not "feed them" as in educate them in His Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse whereby they can remain as virgins (Mat. 24:4-5).To wit, many are taught that their Jesus is going to come and "rapture" them away before the great tribulation of Satan, the false-christ. Too bad they are spiritually impregnated with that "theory" because is it not scriptural and cannot be documented.[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
In fact, it is a tradition, a wind of doctrine, that is totally contrary to His Word. (For a study on our gathering back to Christ, log unto pamphlets #4147 & #4148.
If you accept a spirit, which means "wind of doctrine", i.e. teaching, and you have not "received it", which means you have not "assayed" it by checking it out thoroughly in the Word of God, then you are in grave danger of being seduced my friend![4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
John warns us all in 1 Jn. 4 to "try every spirit (wind of doctrine)"! Why? Because of all the false teachers that Christ warned about! 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." That is precisely why we insist that you do not believe anyone, including us, without checking out what you are being taught in the Word of God, and in doing so be willing to cast aside the "preconceived" ideas you may already have in your forehead that influence your ability to understand the truth! Else, you have not the desire to sincerely seek the truth, only the desire to confirm what you already believe. "Preconceived" is a compound word made from "pre" meaning "before" and "conceived" meaning "impregnated".
So a marriage is definitely going to take place and you can read about it in Rev. 19.
Note: Those who fully understand "election", those who were "chosen before the foundation of the world" (Eph. 1:4) whom we discussed back in chapter 20, understand the wife of Christ, i.e. the one He already has. If you do not understand that, just give it a rest for awhile and if you continue to study His Word, it will one day return with clarity.Rev. 19:7-9
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
The fine linen, clean and white, which makes up the righteousness of the saints is the works of the saints, their equitable deeds, or you could even say the fruit they produced while laboring in the vineyard, i.e. their righteous acts.[8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Have you been called unto the wedding feast of the Lamb? That is what the parable Christ is teaching us here in Matthew 22 is all about. There is going to be a wedding for the son and the king has prepared a wedding feast to find a bride.righteousness, dikaioma, dik-ah'-yo-mah, Greek 1345; from Greek 1344 (dikaioo); an equitable deed; by implication a statute or decision :- judgment, justification, ordinance, righteousness.[9] And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Those who received the bidding to the wedding feast would not come when His servants called them.Matthew 22:3
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
What does one do at a wedding feast? He or she eats! In other words, the "feasting", the wedding feast, must take place before the marriage can take place. Have you done any feasting lately? What is it that we are to feast on? The Bread of Life, His Word, of course! And His table is filled up in Christ, even all the feast days if you have understanding of the "shadows", and therefore "all things are ready"! You "see", the marriage could have taken place at the first advent, but "they that were bidden to the wedding were not worthy" (vs. 8).[4] Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
There were just too many other things that took priority in their lives. One had his own farm he was plowing and didn't have time to work in the householder's farm or vineyard! The other was too busy with his own business to "be about His Father's business". Then too, when one applies this same analogy of the "farm and merchandise" to "men of the cloth", those who say they go labor in His field, the motive becomes not that of mere neglect but that of rejection. Dr. Luke gives us a more detailed look at the excuses:[5] But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Though business and technology are subject to change, the excuse is exactly the same today as it was yesterday.Do you have an excuse for not feasting at the table the Lord has prepared?Luke 14:18-20
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.[19] And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
Hey, this one was already married and couldn't come! How about that![20] And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
The remnant are the murderers (next verse) of the house of Cain who took his servants and slew them.Matthew 22:6
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Who are the murderers? They are the tares we learned about in chapter 13 and you know what happens to them... they are burned up! Their city is not our city! Their temple is not our temple! For nothing they build is established upon the Rock of our salvation, which is Jesus Christ, the Word of God.[7] But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
The wedding was ready but it did not take place at the first advent because those who were bidden were not worthy. Luke 14:24 "For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper." In other words, the "feast" was right there and available to those who were bidden but they did not come partake of that feast. No feast, no wedding! The point is, one can go to church every Sunday and cry "Lord, Lord" all he wants all day long, but if one does not "feast", on His Word that one is not getting married! In fact, he or she is going to show up at the wedding completely naked and ashamed (Rev. 16:15)![8] Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
The wedding to take place is yet future so this looks forward to our day, the time just before the second advent, the time when many shall be eating and drinking (feasting) and marrying and giving in marriage to another Jesus (Mat. 24:38), the false messiah, the one we read about in 2 Cor. 11. You can read more concerning the blind, lame, etc., who are bid to the marriage in a similar parable in Luke 14, but let us suffice it to say that salvation is now open to "whosoever will" heed the call, as in "hear His voice", i.e. believe in Him (John 3:15-16)![9] Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Christ died on the cross and now salvation is open to all peoples of all races, colors, and creed. This is what Christianity is all about. The publicans and the harlots and even the kenites can repent and heed the call and say "Yes Father, I will now go labor in the vineyard" and put on some righteous garments! Thus they are bad no more! But alas, some will try to enter in without a wedding garment and here is what happens to them:Matthew 22:10
So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Remember from Rev. 19:8 what the fine linen, clean and white, is symbolic of... the righteousness or righteous acts of the saints. If one comes in who claims he or she has labored for Him and yet has not on a wedding garment, it will be spiritually obvious that that person has not done his Father's will as He asked and he or she is in for a big surprise! This should bring to mind that which we learned in chapter 7 concerning those who claim to have done wonderful works which they think are righteous acts and pleasing to God, but they did not do according to His will.[11] And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
They followed the iniquitous traditions of men they were fed week after week but never feasted with the Son to get to know Him. Do you think Christ is going to marry a complete stranger! Would you?Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23]And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
No wedding garment... then no attending the marriage, Friend! He came without any righteous acts and when asked why, he was simply speechless, dumb! In other words, he was without excuse as to why he was spiritually naked for there was no one to blame but himself. Not only that, his preacher wasn't there to help him and therefore he had to give direct answer to the king! So you see, while it is true that all are born innocent and naked into this flesh age, such will not be the case in the spiritual birth. Some will have on clean white linen garments and the others shall be spiritually naked.Matthew 22:12
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Here is what shall happen to those who do not make it to the wedding with a wedding garment on, which means that they will not be chosen to participate in the first resurrection when Christ returns and ushers in the Millennium.
To be bound hand and foot means they will no longer be able to carry on the iniquitous works that got them cast into darkness (i.e. cast with the rest of those in whom there is found no light of truth) in the first place.You see, the Millennium will not be a bed of roses for those who did not heed the call to the wedding feast. There shall be weeping and gnashing (grinding) of teeth, i.e. spiritual shame and pain as they are spiritually squeezed and crushed in His winepress so that hopefully they will get their act together before the great white throne judgment at the end of the Millennium when the real death (the perishing of the soul) takes place for those who refuse to believe in Him. As it is written, the Millennial reign of Christ shall be with a rod of iron , which means with firm discipline in adhering to His Word, and the just ones, the Zadok, i.e. God's elect, shall be the disciplinarians (enforcers) thereof.[13] Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Ezek-i-el (God is Strong) gives us the details of how His people shall be taught by "they" (the Zadok) the difference between the two Jesus', the Holy One and the profane one, and cause them to be "discern" between the unclean and the clean. It is sure obvious that the majority cannot do so, i.e. discern between the clean and unclean, in the generation in which we now live.Rev. 2:26-27
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: [27] And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.Rev. 19:14-15
And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Many who are called and claim to follow Jesus Christ in these last days are going to have a rough time in the Millennium. Take heed to the call to the wedding feast while it is still today for when the cup of His wrath is filled up, i.e. He has had it up to here with the idolatry of His people, then its over and too late to fill your lamp with oil and put on clean white linen garments.Ezekiel 44:23-24
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. [24] And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
How will you appear at the wedding? You can start feasting right now, you know, for His table is ready and filled to the full and there is never a want, never a famine, for those who heed the call![14] For many are called, but few are chosen.
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to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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