We are fully aware of the danger of building a doctrine upon so figurative a discourse as a parable, but we are

also fully aware, that a parable, spoken by the Lord, would be no idle story. The parables of the Tares and of the

Leaven, teach positive truth even though couched in highly figurative terms, and so the parable of the Marriage of

the King's Son has a right to be heard. This parable pairs with the parable of the Vineyard given in Matthew 21,

which concludes with the very dreadful prophetic utterance:

`This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. ... He will miserably destroy those

wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their

seasons' (Matt. 21:38-41).

These words were spoken consequent upon the Saviour's rejection (Matt. 21:42). He spake again by parables,

and gave the parable of the Marriage, to clinch His tragic forecast.

The First call. `They would not come'.

In Matthew 23:37 the Saviour said:

`How often would I ... and ye would not'

`Your house is left unto you desolate' (Matt. 22:7; 23:38).

Matthew 24:1-3 shows that this reference to the house and city is no figure of speech, but referred to the literal

destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. Not only did those who were bidden not come, but they `slew' those who

invited them, as they did Him. This Matthew had already said (21:39). Instead, however, of visiting Israel with

wrath and judgment for the murder of the Son of God, the prayer `Father forgive them' was answered:

`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' (Matt. 22:4).

The apostles were commanded to remain in Jerusalem and to preach to those who had `killed the Prince of life',

and could now say `All things are ready ... But they (Israel) made light of it' (Matt. 22:4,5). The word used here is

found in Hebrews 2:3 where this same people are warned of the danger of `neglecting' or `making light' of so great

salvation, an evident reference back to Matthew 22.

`His merchandise' (v. 5) Gk. emporion. This word is significant, and is used in John 2:16 `Make not My Father's

house an house of merchandise'.

`Entreated them spitefully' (v. 6). This was historically true. In Acts 14:5 we find the apostles at Iconium being

used `despitefully', and Paul refers to this in 1 Thessalonians 2:2, and in verses 14-16 says in plain language, what

the Lord said in a parable.

`For ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: who both killed the

Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all

men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is

come upon them to the uttermost'.

THIS `UTTERMOST WRATH' REFERS TO THE DESTRUCTION OF A.D. 70.

They `slew them' (Matt. 22:6).

`Behold, I send unto you prophets ... some of them ye shall kill ... Verily I say unto you, All these things shall

come upon this generation ... Behold, your house is left unto you desolate' (Matt. 23:34-38, see also Acts

To return to the parable, we read:

`But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and

burned up their city' (Matt. 22:7).