Exegesis of Matthew: Parable of the Wedding Feast

-John Dunfee

Part 1: Outline of The book of Matthew
Chapter 1- The genealogy of Jesus from the line of David and from the line of Abraham.
The virgin birth of Christ through Mary. Immanuel which means God with us.
Chapter 2- The Magi visit Jerusalem looking for Christ. Herod heard this and commands that Christ be found and killed in fear of losing his power. Magi visit Bethlehem and give their Gifts. Herod dies and Joseph receives visions to go to Nazareth.
Chapter 3-  Introduces who John the Baptist is and his relation to Jesus. Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist.
Chapter4- Jesus fasts in the desert for forty days. Is tempted by Satan 3 times. Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee. Meets Peter and Andrew.
Chapter5-7- Sermon on the Mount. Marriage and Divorce discussed. Teaching of lust and hate in the heart commits adultery and murder. Teaching about giving to the poor and how to pray. Judge others is addressed as well as the coming of the Kingdom.
Chapter8-9- Jesus starts to bring the kingdom to earth. Heals the leper and heals the centurion’s daughter. Jesus forgives the sins of the paralytic and Pharisees start to see Jesus as a problem.
Chapter 10- Jesus give instructions to his disciples on preaching and spreading the word. If any don’t take you in, then you leave and dust your field from that town. Jesus also takes about the cost of following him and the worth of it.
Chapter 11- John starts to doubt the divinity of Jesus and Jesus gives his reply. Jesus also talks about his divinity and relationship with the father.
Chapter 12- The Sabbath is brought up by the Pharisees and Jesus answer them by saying that he is the lord of the Sabbath. He starts to cast demons out of people and the Pharisees start to get concern.
Chapter 13- Jesus starts talking in style of parables. He teaches on the parable of the Sower. He talks about the purpose of parables. He explains the parable of the Sower. He talks about the parable of weeds and explains the meaning of the parable of weeds. He teaches about the parable of the Mustard Seed and the leaven. The last three parables consist of the hidden treasure, pearl of great value, and the net. Jesus ends up being rejected in his Hometown.
Chapter 14- John the Baptist is Beheaded. Jesus mourns over his death. The crowd comes to Jesus and he feeds over five thousand people. Jesus heals the sick men at the land of Gennesaret.
Chapter 15- The Pharisees challenge Jesus on Tradition and the commandments and responds to them as he usually does. Jesus teaches that what comes out of the mouth of man defiles him. Jesus has mercy on the Canaanite woman for her faith. Jesus heals more people in a crowd of lame and blind. Jesus feeds another crowd of over five thousand people.
Chapter 16- The Pharisees and Sadducees try and test Jesus by asking for signs. Jesus warns the disciples about the way of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Christ asks the disciples who they think he is. Peter confesses that he is the messiah, but mistakes how he will become King. Jesus tells the disciples about his death and resurrection. Jesus tells them to take their Cross along with him.
Chapter 17- The Transfiguration happens when Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus as spirits. This helps establishes his deity even more. Jesus heals the boy with the demon and tells the disciples of their lack of faith. Jesus talks about taxes and tells peter to fish to receive a shekel from the first fish.
Chapter 18- Jesus answers who is the greatest in Heaven by using a child to demonstrate his answer. Jesus talks about how we should get rid of our temptation for sin and to do at any cost.
Jesus teaches the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus talks about what we should do if one of our brother’s sin against us. Jesus teaches the parable of the unforgiving servant.
Chapter 19- Jesus teaches on Divorce and lays the foundations for divorce. Jesus states that Children belong in Heaven. Jesus has the dispute with the young rich man about the cost of following. He tells him to give up all his riches and the young man went away sad.
Chapter 20- The parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard is a parable to describe what the Kingdom is like. Jesus predicts his death a third time. Jesus responds to the woman who requests her sons to be in Heaven. Jesus heals the two blind men who came out of Jericho.
Chapter 21- Jesus gets the donkey to fulfill the prophecy of the messiah riding a donkey into Jerusalem. Jesus cleanses the temple from the tax collectors. Jesus curses the fig tree to demonstrates the power of faith. Jesus authority is challenged by the Pharisees. Two more parables are given. These parables are the two sons and the tenants.
Chapter 22- Pericope- Mathew 22:1-14 Parable of the Wedding Feast. Jesus is challenged about taxes and respond by Saying: give unto God’s which is God’s and give unto Caesar’s which is Caesar’s. Sadducees ask about the resurrection and Jesus shows that their position is wrong. Jesus gives the Greatest Commandment which is to love God and your neighbor as thyself. Jesus asks the Pharisees a question about David and they couldn’t answer.
Chapter 23- Jesus gives the Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees. Jesus morns over Jerusalem.
Chapter 24- Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple since they rejected Jesus. Jesus give the signs of the end times. Jesus talks about the coming of the son of man in the last days. Jesus talks about how nobody knows the time when the son of man will come.
Chapter 25- The parable of the ten virgins and used to represent those prepared for the coming of Christ. The parable of talents is used again to show about those prepared for the end times. Jesus talks about the Final Judgement on Sin and the Devil.
Chapter 26- The Pharisees come up with the plot to kill Jesus. The woman anoints Jesus at Bethany. Judas betrays Jesus to the Pharisees. The final feast takes place during Passover with the disciples. Jesus tells peter that he will deny him three times. Jesus prays at Gethsemane before Judas leads the guards to him. Judas betrays Jesus and the guards arrest him. Jesus is judged by the Caiaphas and the Council. They find him guilty of Blasphemy. Peter denies Jesus three times just how Jesus betrays him.
Chapter 27- Jesus is brought to Pilate and is tested by Pilate. Judas feels guilty for betraying Jesus and hangs himself. Jesus is condemned by the crowd and elect Barabbas to go free from condemnation. Pilate washes his hands and condemns Jesus to be Crucified. The guards mock Jesus by spitting on him and beating him. The crucifixion takes place and Jesus dies on the ninth hour. Jesus is buried by Joseph of Arimathea by request to Pilate. Pilate has guards to defend the tomb from raiders or possibly against the disciples.
Chapter 28- Mary goes to the tomb and is greeted by the angel. The angel tells her that Jesus has risen. Jesus met the disciples and greeted them The disciples fell and knees to worship. The guards give their report to the high priest. The priests give commands to spread a rumor that the disciples stole the body. The great commission is given by Jesus to the disciples to spread the Gospel to all the world.

Pericope Location- Matthew 22:1-14
Context/Parallel Chapter 21 and rest of Chapter 22
Parallel Pericope: Luke 14:15-24
 
Part 2: Outline of the Passage/Pericope
Matthew 22: 1-14

1. Jesus spoke to them in parables and said,
2. The kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king giving a feast for his sons.
3. The king sent his servants to call those who invited to the wedding feast, but they refused to come.
4. He sent the servants out to tell those invited that he has prepared the feast with his calves and everything is ready.
5. They paid no attention and went to a farm and another to his business.
6. The rest seized the servants and killed them.
7. The king was angry and sent his troops to destroy the town where his servants were killed.
8. The king said to his servants that the feast was ready, but the ones invited were not worthy.
9. Go to the main roads and invite as many as you find there.
10. The servants went to the worlds and gather as many as they could. Both bad and good. The wedding hall was filled with Guests.
11. The king came out and saw a man with no wedding garment.
12. He said friend how did you get in here with no wedding garment and the guest was shocked.
13. The king had his servants tied up hands and feet. Then thrown into the outer darkness. The place is filled with weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14. For many are called, but few are chosen. 

Part 3: Context
Historical Background:
Took place during the last weeks of Jesus.
Geographically took place in Jerusalem.
Year could roughly be either 33AD or 34AD
Parable is directed toward the historical group of the Pharisees.
Is part of a series of parables in the last weeks of Jesus ministry.
 
Context of pericope (Audience)
It’s for the people listening to the past parables.
This is his crowd and it includes the Pharisees who tested him previously.
It can still be applied to people nowadays.
It’s in context to his ministry in Jerusalem.
The message of the parable represents the kingdom reaching out to sinners.
 
Points of reference:
The punchline of this parable is to demonstrate the invitation Christ.
The Pharisees are the first guests to be invited but reject because of the law.
The other guests invited are the world being invited to be in communion with God.
The man without wedding garments are the ones who were not the ones who were prepared final judgement.
The main point is that many are called, but few are chosen.
 
The catch:
The catchphrase is many are called by the kingdom of God, but few of chosen.
God calls, those who chose him and accept his invitation no matter good or bad.
 
Key words:
Wedding Feast- Communion with God through Christ
Servants- Christi’s followers and disciples
Original guests- Jews and the Pharisees
Servants killed- Persecution of Christians
Second round of guests invited- Those the disciples have evangelized to
Guest without wedding garment- Those who reject God
Invitation- Gospel, call to repentance
Outer Darkness- Hell
Part 4: The Point
My interpretation: The king who sets up the wedding feast is God himself. He had specific invitation for the original guests, but they rejected for reasons for daily life. This represents the Jews who Christ came for, but they rejected for the law. The dinner prepared for the feast represents Christ dying for his people or ones invited. The servants are his disciples who go to spread the invitations to the guests. Of course they reject him, and even kill some of his servants. This seems to indicate the persecution of the church.  The king sending out the army I believe represents the Romans destroying Jerusalem, since they rejected Christ as the messiah. When the king sends his servants to the highway they are to invite as many people as possible. They invite bad and good people to the wedding feast. This would represent sinners and even righteous people. God chose to invite everyone including Jews and Gentiles. Many accept the invitation and come to the feast. The king comes out and notices a man without proper garments. The man is speechless and is put into the outer darkness. I believe this represents the final judgement of man and the man represents one who has not repented. The final line is many are called, but few are chosen. This means that God calls all, but he chooses those who repent and put their faith in him.
 
In Comparison with the Interpreters Commentary: My view has many similarities with the commentary. The first invites were for the Jews, but the Jews rejected this. Both I and the commentary agreed with this point. The commentary agreed upon the idea of the King Being God and the second invites being the gentiles and Jews who turn to Christ. The servants seem to be the disciples according to the commentary and the persecution of the church represents the servants being killed when inviting the first guests. The good and bad represents the judgment of God according to the commentary. I differ from the point of view, but agree with the rest of the commentary.
 
Sources:
Bibles: ESV, NIV, NASB
How to read the Bible for all it’s worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart
The Interpreters Bible Volume 7
Videos:
The Bible Project: Scripture Reading of Matthew
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dv4-n6OYGI
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGCF3OPWN14
 
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