Matthew 22:8 says, “Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.”

As a minister I performed many wedding ceremonies. It was not my favorite thing to do, mainly because everything had to be said just right and in perfect order. I don’t think I ever did one perfectly. One of my worst disasters was at a large wedding. Just before the ceremony was to begin, I was asked if I could lead a worship hymn because the song leader didn’t show up. I had never heard of the hymn, so I looked at the music and tried to catch the melody and timing. They had me hooked up to a lapel mic. I totally butchered the song. They didn’t turn the mic off. By the end of the hymn I was beet red. I certainly was not worthy to do the ceremony. 

The wedding Jesus was talking about in our text was in a parable. It was aimed at the Pharisees. Matthew 21:45 says, “And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.” In the time of Jesus there were at least five groups of people in Israel: Herodians, Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, and Essenes. While I was on a trip in Israel, our teacher, Ray VanderLaan, told us that of these groups, most of us would probably identify with the Pharisees. Before we take offense, let’s see if we can learn something from the text.

Jesus loved the Pharisees or He would not have taken time to answer their questions and preach to them. The fact is they were lost. They were not worthy to be a part of the kingdom of God. They were the religious leaders of the time. Being a religious leader does not make us worthy, nor does being a church member or board member. The problem was even greater because they couldn’t see they were lost. 

The parable is the third of three parables Jesus spoke to the Pharisees after His triumphal entry and before they had Him crucified (Matthew 21 and 22). Then in chapter 23 Jesus said seven times, “Woe unto you , scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.” In verse 33 He says to them, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Jesus had dealt with the Pharisees many times in His ministry. These parables and woes were their last chance to listen. Instead of repenting, they sought how they might kill the messenger. Jesus’ last plea for them was to point out their lostness.

There is nothing worse than to die in sin and face the damnation of Hell. The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). Jesus is able to save Pharisees. I ask myself, and you should too, is there any Pharisee in me? I would rather search my soul now than find myself unworthy when Christ comes for His bride.

In Revelation 5 we see one sitting on the throne with a book with seven seals. No man in Heaven or earth or under the earth was found worthy to open the book and read. The Lamb who was slain was found worthy to open the book. In verses 8-9 the four beasts and 24 elders sing a new song, “…Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Praise God, let us repent and be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, lest we be found unworthy and eternally LOST!

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