Wisdom's Corner
The Double InvitationIn some parts of the Bible lands there was a custom of double invitations. When a great feast or a celebration was planned, the host would send out invitations to all those he wanted to attend. This was so that those invited would know to plan for the appointed time.
When the time came for the actual feast or celebration the host would send out a servant to go back to all of those who had been invited. The servant would tell them that the time had come and they were now to come to the wonderful event. To not come would be considered a serious offense.
In Matthew 22:1-10, Jesus tells a parable about a king who had planned a wedding feast for his son. When he sent out the servant with the second invitation the servant was rejected and no one came. The king even sent a third invitation in this instance but it was rejected as well. Then the king sent out his army and destroyed those who rejected the invitation. Then the servant was sent out to invite others to the feast.
This parable is saying that the Jews had been invited to the wedding feast of Christ and his church. But most of them had rejected the invitation. So the gospel was taken to the Gentiles.
Luke 14:15-24 gives a similar parable. In this instance, all that had been bidden with the first invitation made excuses for not coming at the second invitation. So the man sent his servants out to many others to come to the feast. Again this parable teaches that those who ignore the first invitation and then reject the second will not feast with the man hosting the feast.
I know you want to feast with the King of Kings. Study His word. Learn what you must do to be ready for the invitation. Learn what you must do to attend the feast. Do not be like those who rejected Jesus in the first century. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you. Until next time, keep reading your Bible and getting the wisdom of God.
Mark McWhorter
Copyright 2001
Published by The Old Paths Bible School
(http://www.oldpaths.org)