9.
His wife has made herself ready. Rev. 19:7c Being ready, prepared for the most glorious marriage of time and eternity is vital. The attitudes displayed in the parable of the kingdom of heaven and the marriage prepared by the king for his son, illustrate for us attitudes found in the church of today. Mt. 22:2 A parable is a story told to demonstrate a fact. This is a kingdom parable and it is apparent that the people involved are citizens belonging to that kingdom. It is also obvious that the Lord Jesus is referring to Himself as the Bridegroom.
At the time of the wedding the King sent forth His servants (an anointed ministry) calling those who had already been invited, for they had been bidden. They were well aware of the impending wedding. To further alert them, the servants made personal contact with them as representatives of the King. Mt. 22:3 Their response was complete rejection and refusal to attend the wedding. They were neither concerned nor interested in the actions of the ruling family. They were not interested. Rather a dangerous attitude when dealing with a king. A second call is then issued with a considerably urgent call for the animals had been slain and the dinner was prepared. Everything is ready, all is prepared. This is a story of Israel rejecting the prophets whom the Lord had sent to them. Most unfortunately, the same is repeated in the modern day church. They verbally ridiculed the wedding and its participants. At the same time, they went their own ways, doing their own thing, self centered, while seeking the riches of this world. Others, mistreated the servants even to a point of death. Mt. 22:3-4.
Such uncouth and evil actions against a king can only produce a strong retribution. Because of their actions they were visited by an army controlled by the king. The sentence of death was pronounced upon them in response to their having killed the kings servants. Their city was destroyed by fire. This does not sound unlike the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD. Even though we live in a different time and a different age, the attitudes of mankind, even in the church have not changed. Many disregard the voice of the Spirit and the Word by continuing to go their own way. Too often the Lord is treated as a fire escape to whom we turn in times of dire need. He is made to be simply a help in times of great need.