Matthew 22:13 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Matthew 22:13

Comments

The king acts decisively. He is willing to invite all sorts of people from all walks of life to the wedding feast, but he will not tolerate any who imagine they deserve to be there and refuse to recognise the gracious invitation that has been extended to them. Night has fallen. Inside is the warm light of the celebrations; outside the palace all is inky darkness. This man without a wedding garment and all those who remained outside must be cast into outer darkness. Why? Because at this point the parable represents the reality that the only alternative to a free salvation and an eternal inheritance in heaven, is eternal condemnation. We are all sinners. The parable must do justice to the plight facing mankind if he will not come to Christ for grace and mercy. There are no other terms on which God will deal with man. The whole human race has turned away from God, and therefore to refuse this invitation, which represents all God’s gracious purposes towards us, leaves us shut out of heaven and liable for all our disobedience to God. ‘Bind him hand and foot’ is therefore not an overreaction on the part of the king, but represents the necessary consequence of our rejection of the gospel.

Application

‘There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Those shut out will know that there will never again be an opportunity for them to enter in. Christ who is full of infinite love speaks of these fearful things with complete openness to warn men and women. There are two categories of people here – those who were invited and refused, and those who came in but did not accept the terms. Both are shut out and are consumed by self-pity and regret. Maybe God will show them every opportunity they had. They will never cease to feel the effect of what they have lost. The terrible weight of eternity to come will crush all hope within them. Every escape will be blocked in their minds, for the implacable decision of the Son of God is against them. He whose word cannot be broken has pronounced their eternal judgment.

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Matthew 22:13 Commentary and Bible Study