Bible Commentaries
Luke 14

Verses 16-24

The Marriage Feast (Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:16-24)

The two versions of this story in Matthew and in Luke reveal a common basis the invitation to the feast, the refusal of those invited, the invitation issued then to all who came until the room was full. But the differences are striking and show that we are confronted by two differing traditions taking their rise from the same story. Luke includes some traits which are very lifelike those invited are too busy; the master of the house invites "the poor and maimed and blind and lame"; then, in a second sending he enlarges yet further the circle of those invited and declares that none of those who were originally invited shall taste of the banquet. We find here a well-known theme, a faithful image of what has happened during Jesus’ ministry the allusion to the Messianic banquet is evident to those who are initiated, but remains veiled from the others.

The story of Matthew strongly accentuates the Messianic character of the parable. The one who issues the invitation is a king, and the occasion is a marriage feast. Those who are invited are not content to decline the invitation; they assassinate the messengers (vs. 6). The king decides to burn the city (vs. 7). It is difficult not to see in this feature an allusion to the burning of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 an interpretation of the parable in the light of events. The king sends his servants to invite all whom he meets "both bad and good" The new community which Jesus comes to found does not include only the pure!

To this first parable is linked that of the man without the wedding garment who is cast out (vss. 11-14). What is its meaning? Some interpreters call upon an oriental custom according to which a garment required for the occasion was delivered to the invited guests (Genesis 45:22; Judges 14:12-13). Hence, no one was excusable for not having been clothed with it. But the garment here likely has a symbolic meaning. God "clothes" us with his righteousness and his salvation (see Isaiah 61:10; Psalms 132:9; Psalms 132:16; Zechariah 3:3-5; Revelation 3:4-5; Revelation 3:18; Revelation 19:7-8). The wedding garment shows that one is a participant in the feast. All ugliness, all sadness, all impurity, is 1 a discordant intrusion in the wedding chamber. Thus the children of the Kingdom are known by the joy which radiates from them. If they do not participate in the feast, they will be only intruders.

Jesus opens wide the doors of the Kingdom. He calls, he urges the crowd to enter. But how few respond to the invitation! "For many are called, but few are chosen."