Bride of Christ – Post #11

From my handwritten journal, dated 3/8/2025 Parable of the marriage supper, with the Holy Spirit.

I am grateful for Your strengthening!

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 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.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 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.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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.

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Matthew 22:1-14

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
 

John 15:16 NKJV

Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew

7:20 NKJV

Me: Good day, Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit: Good day, Jon!

Me: The parable of the marriage feast that Jesus related in Jerusalem after His “triumphal entry” seems to be addressing the religious leaders questioning of His authority.

Holy Spirit: It is an abomination (for) kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness. Proverbs 12:12

[Note: Proverbs 16:12 from Bible Hub
HEB: תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת מְ֭לָכִים עֲשׂ֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע (mə·lā·ḵîm) highlighted, masculine noun plural, kings
NAS: It is an abomination for kings to commit
KJV: [It is] an abomination to kings to commit
INT: is an abomination kings to commit wicked

The original does not contain either of the indicated prepositions as they are an artifact of translation into English. If “to”, then the sense would be that kings would consider it an abomination for anyone (else) to commit wickedness, an affront to their rule. If “for” then a king committing wickedness would be violating the God-given purpose of their rule. Let the situation determine the application.]

Jesus is righteous. The religious leaders are enamored of their legalist traditions and do not know God as He wants to be known. (I speak in the present tense, for you can not tell me this has entirely changed.) Though the religious leaders on that day were questioning Jesus’ authority, they were really asserting their own (usurped) authority. Jesus was saddened they were missing the point: who God is, and what God wants of each one.

Jesus’ parable of the king inviting to the wedding (representing the Father calling to the marriage of the Son) highlights that all are called.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

The first called were the children of Abraham. But they thought other things more important. The second invitation foreshadowed the calling of gentiles. Note they were gathered, “both good and bad”.

Me: What about the man who was ejected for not wearing “wedding garments”?

Holy Spirit: All the guests were provided with a wedding garment by the host. Remember, these were brought in directly from the highways.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10 NKJV

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Revelation 19:8 NKJV

To be welcomed at the marriage of the Lamb, the righteousness of Christ must be put on, by both the good and the bad. The “good and bad” are according to man’s judgments (Psalm 53:1, Mark 10:18, Romans 3:12).

Many expect to justify themselves. Consider the man without a wedding garment was speechless.  And this:

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.

Revelation 1:17a

This was the response of the Apostle John, who leaned on the breast of Jesus in affection at the the last supper before His crucifixion (John 13:23). What do you think will be the response of those who thought other things were more important than the invitation to the wedding feast?

Me: Thank You Holy Spirit! I love You!

Holy Spirit: You are welcome! I love you!

Dear Reader,
In reading along, I hope you have found a fraction of the benefit that I have received in pursuing a better understanding of this call to all who will accept the invitation of the Bridegroom.
– Jon