Precious Pictures: The Parables of Christ, Lesson 7, Weddings and Waiting (Amy Katterson, July 20, 2022)

Parable 1: Matthew 22:1–14 The Parable of the Wedding Guests

1. Context 
   1. Context in Jesus’ ministry: Chief priests and Pharisees offended at parables (Matthew 21:45–46)
      1. Leaders seeking to arrest Jesus 
      2. Crowds held Jesus to be prophet
   2. Context in teaching: Jesus speaks again in a parable (Matthew 22:1–3a)
      1. Kingdom of heaven like a king giving a wedding feast for his son
      2. King sends servants to call those who were invited
2. Crisis 1
   1. Those invited would not come (22:3b)
   2. King sends other servants 
      1. Message: See, come
      2. Response
         1. Some paid no attention, went off to farm/business
         2. Others seized, shamefully treated, killed servants
   3. King responds
      1. To those murderers: anger, destruction, burning
      2. To servants: Those invited  weren’t worthy; gather new guests
   4. Servants gathered all they found, bad and good; wedding hall was filled
3. Crisis 2 
   1. King saw a man with no wedding clothes
   2. King inquires: How did you get in without wedding garment?
   3. Man was speechless
   4. King responds: bind, cast into outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth
4. Conclusion
   1. Jesus’ conclusion: Many are called; few are chosen
   2. Pharisees response: plot to entangle
5. Challenge
   1. What is your response to the call of Christ?
   2. What is your confidence to enter God’s kingdom?

Parable 2: Matthew 25:1–13 The Parable of the Waiting Virgins

1. Context
   1. Context in Jesus’ ministry: days prior to betrayal and crucifixion, teaching disciples about the end
   2. Context in parable: waiting for a wedding … ten virgins meeting the bridegroom
      1. Five were foolish, no oil with their lamps
      2. Five were wise, flasks of oil with their lamps
      3. Delay and sleep for all

1. Cry to Come
   1. Readiness revealed; all trimmed their lamps
      1. Foolish unprepared: lamps going out, presume upon the preparations of others
      2. Wise ready: enough oil for their own lamps but not to share, place responsibility where it belongs
      3. Foolish leave to buy oil; facade of readiness removed
   2. Bridegroom came, those ready went in to feast, door was shut
2. Coming Too Late
   1. Foolish: Open to us
   2. Bridegroom: I do not know you
3. Conclusion: Watch therefore
4. Challenge: As you wait for the King’s return, are you living in readiness?