What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "What message does the parable of Matthew 22:1-14 convey?"
Answer
The parable of the wedding feast (Mt 22:1-14) illustrates God's invitation of the gospel: First, the king (God) calls the invited guests (the Jewish people), but they reject him indifferently or hostilely and even kill his servants. Then the king destroys their city and sends his servants into the streets to invite everyone—"both bad and good." Decisive is the wedding garment: It represents the righteousness of Christ, offered freely to every guest. Whoever accepts the invitation but refuses the garment (the flawless character righteousness wrought by Christ) and insists on his own righteousness is found speechless at the king's examination and is cast out. The message: Many are called, but few are chosen—those who, in faith, accept Christ's righteousness and allow their character to be permeated by it.
The Wedding Garment as Christ's Righteousness
»Through the marriage, the union of humanity with divinity is depicted; the wedding garment represents the character that all must possess who are to be counted as worthy guests at the wedding. In this parable, as in that of the great supper, the invitation of the gospel, its rejection by the Jewish people, and the call of mercy to the Gentiles are illustrated.«
Self-Righteousness versus Christ's Garment
»The wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ and represents the character of those who are accepted as guests at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Those who have transgressed the law, who have sinned, find no saving quality in the law that condemns them; but Christ has become the sin-bearer for the whole world. … There are many who are represented by this man. They have accepted the invitation to the wedding feast, but have not fulfilled the conditions for admission to the feast. They are unwilling to lay aside the garments of their own self-righteousness and put on the garment that was prepared for them at an infinite price.«
The King Examines the Guests
»How clearly is the picture drawn in the Word of God of His dealing with the man who accepted His invitation to the wedding but did not put on the wedding garment that had been purchased for him—the garment of Christ's righteousness! He considered his own defiled garments good enough to come into the presence of Christ, but was thrust out as one who has insulted his master and abused His kind favor. My brother, your righteousness will not suffice. You must put on the garment of Christ's righteousness. You must be like Christ.«
Rejection of the Invitation and Judgment
»Again he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."' But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business." The great King Himself has prepared a wedding for His Son. He has sent out His servants for hundreds of years with the call: "Come, for all things are now ready." But how few the people of the world heed this invitation! They pay no attention and go after their earthly business and pleasures … But the king sends his armies, has those murderers killed, and burns their city.«
The Calling of the Gentiles after the Rejection by the Jews
»We find that the promised Messiah, the Son of God, came into the world, and His own people, yes, His own nation, the Jews, would not receive Him and did not receive Him. As we are told in the first chapter of John: "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." … Then He says to His servants: The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go out therefore into the highways and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.«
Many Called, Few Chosen
»The work of Christ is illustrated by the parable of the wedding of the king's son. All guests, both bad and good, are gathered to the wedding; but when the king comes in to examine the guests, all are thrust out except those who are clothed with the wedding garment of Christ's righteousness. "Many are called, but few are chosen.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
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