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gives us a clue. After stating the intense disappointment and possibly impotent rage of
those outside who are shut out ("weeping and gnashing of teeth") we read "FOR many
are invited, but few elected". Election is the key here and decides whether a person shall
be admitted or excluded, and this must be what the wedding garment represents, just as
fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints (overcomers) in Rev. 19: 8.
Whether we like the doctrine of election or not, there can be no doubt that it ramifies
right throughout the purpose of God. It is a great mistake to limit it to salvation as many
Calvinists have done. God has a great plan which will surely be fulfilled, and He has
decreed how it shall be carried out and who will be His instruments in doing so. The
Lord is dealing here with the faithful "remnant according to the election of grace"
(Romans 11: 5).
No.32.
22: 15 - 23: 32.
pp. 113 - 117
Yet again Christ's enemies, the Pharisees and Herodians, attempt to entrap Him.
Although these two groups had little in common, they had united in their opposition to
the Lord. After flattering Him by calling Him a man of integrity, who is not influenced
by others, they say:
"Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?".
The Lord, Who could read their inmost thoughts as well as their outward words and
actions, knew of their evil intent and replied:
" `Show Me the coin used for paying the tax.' They brought Him a denarius, and He
asked them, `whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?' "Caesar's", they replied.
Then He said to them, `Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's'."
(22: 17-21, N.I.V.).
The matchless wisdom of the Lord was too much for His opponents. They were
amazed and could only leave Him and go their way. But the day had not finished before
another group tried to ensnare Him. This time it was the rationalists, the Sadducees, who
denied the resurrection. They presented to Him the hypothetical case of a man who
having six brothers who all in turn married his widow, according to the law of the O.T.
"At the resurrection whose wife will she be?", they asked.
The Lord Jesus replied:
"You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the
resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the
angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God
said to you, `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is
not the God of the dead but of the living. When the crowds heard this, they were
astonished at His teaching" (22: 29-33, N.I.V.).