What did the king in the parable say to his slaves in regard to those who refused his invitation and mistreated and killed those whom he sent to call them? See Mat 22:8. Again, what did it mean at the time Jesus first told this parable that the wedding was ready? Cf. Isa 2:2, Jer 31:31-34, 1Co 10:11, Gal 4:4-5, Eph 1:10, Heb 1:1-2, 9:26, 1Pe 1:5,20. Although the wedding was ready, were they ready? Why not? See again Mat 22:5. Where did Jesus also speak in another parable about a wedding and some who were likewise were not ready? See Mat 25:1-12. Why were the foolish virgins in that parable not ready, and in what way was the reason they were not ready similar to the reason these in this parable were not ready? Cf. Mat 25:3,10 and recall in Mat 22:5 that “paid no attention” = made light of it, were indifferent or careless about it. Consider too: what does the oil that the foolish virgins neglected to bring represent? Can those who walk after the world and the things in the world be full of that oil of the Holy Spirit that lights the lamp of God’s word? I.e., without the oil of God’s Holy Spirit can one taste the richness of the feast God has prepared for them in His word? Cf. 1Jo 2:15-17, Rom 8:5-14, Gal 5:16-17. Besides the example of the Jews who were first invited to the wedding but were not ready, what additional warning did Jesus give His followers so that we as Christians would be ready? See Mat 24:42-44. Do you suppose Jesus gave this warning because it will be for us at His second coming just like it was for the Jews at His first coming?
Because those who were invited were not ready, with what two words does the king in Mat 22:8 describe them? Consider that those Jews who were originally invited to the wedding festivities that had been prepared for them were not worthy because they refused to come: they were not alert to the significance of the event and did not keep watch because they were too caught up in their own worldly concerns; they were not ready because they were being led by the spirit of the world rather than the Holy Spirit of God who always leads us into holiness; cf. Heb 12:14, Mat 24:37-39. Are we as Christians different from them? Consider that those in the parable who were not worthy represented primarily the religious leaders who were the most orthodox, the most faithful to attend synagogue and tithe, the most respectable in the community, and had the most outward appearance of righteousness and piety; are we any more worthy? Cf. Mat 5:20. Although our ultimate worthiness is found only in God’s grace to us through Christ, does that mean that there is absolutely nothing that we can or must do to be found worthy of that grace? Cf. Mat 3:8 (lit. “fruit worthy of repentance”), Mat 10:11-13,37-38, Luk 7:4, 20:35, Act 26:20 (lit. “deeds worthy of repentance”), Rev 3:4. What does this parable indicate is the one thing that summarizes what a person must do to be found worthy of sharing in the joys of heaven that we understand are represented by the wedding feast? Contrast Act 13:46, 2Th 2:10. So are we really willing to come, or are we like the religious leaders who talked the talk while something else had their hearts? What does it mean practically in our day-to-day lives to come to the wedding feast and so be counted worthy of dining with the King at the wedding feast of His Son? See Jos 1:8, Psa 1:1-3, 119:11,15,97-99, Pro 2:1-5, 3:1-3, 4:20-22, 6:20-22, 7:1-5, Col 3:16; see also 1Co 1:9, 1Jo 1:3,6, Joh 17:3. Consider too that Jesus’ teaching ministry was an integral part of His healing ministry that we associate with the blessings of heaven represented by being invited to the wedding feast; See Mat 4:23, 9:35, 10:7-8, 13:15, and cf. Exo 15:26, Psa 107:17-20.