Can someone please explain Matthew 22?!?!?!

[oneup_shroom]

I was reading this parable found at Matthew 22:1-14

------------------------------
And Jesus answered a and spoke to them again by parables and said:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4"Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; b my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' 5 "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.6 "And the rest seized his servants, treated them 1 spitefully, and killed them. 7 "But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out c his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not d worthy. 9 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 "So those servants went out into the highways and e gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there fwho did not have on a wedding garment.12"So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was gspeechless.13"Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, 2 take him away, and cast him h into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'14i "For many are called, but few are chosen."
-----------------------------------------

My confusion begins at verse 11 when it talks about the guest who was improperly dressed... If I am tracking properly up to this point the King represents God and the party represents salvation. and the son who is to be married is Jesus who is to die for our sins (since he hasn't done that yet by this point in Matthew)... but what I am not getting is why this man who was simply dressed badly was thrown out and according to my understanding condemned to hell... If the King decided to go out and pick anyone and everyone off the street to come to his party, why would he then condemn this man who could have possibly not owned anything that was "proper" wedding attire, what if the guy was homeless and only had a few pairs of clothes, or maybe just the one pair?! I guess really I am not understanding what the wedding garments are suppose to represent in this parable, it just seems kinda harsh and unloving to throw him in hell for sloppy dress.. u know?

Anyway I appreciate any input on this since it has me quite stumped at the moment.

 

[james1523]

The wedding garment in verse 11 symbolizes the righteousness of the believers. The man without the wedding garment is saved because he was invited to the feast (1 Cor 1:30, Rom 3:26),
but has not lived Christ for righteousness (Phil 3:9). He has been called to salvation but not chosen for participating in the wedding feast as a reward. This is a reward only for faithful believers.
A similar parable is the one about the wise and foolish virgins (Matt 25:1-13).

 

[DHC]

I was reading this parable found at Matthew 22:1-14

------------------------------
And Jesus answered a and spoke to them again by parables and said:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4"Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; b my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' 5 "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.6 "And the rest seized his servants, treated them 1 spitefully, and killed them. 7 "But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out c his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not d worthy. 9 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 "So those servants went out into the highways and e gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there fwho did not have on a wedding garment.12"So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was gspeechless.13"Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, 2 take him away, and cast him h into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'14i "For many are called, but few are chosen."
-----------------------------------------

My confusion begins at verse 11 when it talks about the guest who was improperly dressed... If I am tracking properly up to this point the King represents God and the party represents salvation. and the son who is to be married is Jesus who is to die for our sins (since he hasn't done that yet by this point in Matthew)... but what I am not getting is why this man who was simply dressed badly was thrown out and according to my understanding condemned to hell... If the King decided to go out and pick anyone and everyone off the street to come to his party, why would he then condemn this man who could have possibly not owned anything that was "proper" wedding attire, what if the guy was homeless and only had a few pairs of clothes, or maybe just the one pair?! I guess really I am not understanding what the wedding garments are suppose to represent in this parable, it just seems kinda harsh and unloving to throw him in hell for sloppy dress.. u know?

Anyway I appreciate any input on this since it has me quite stumped at the moment.

Hello oneup_shroom.

Galatians 3:27
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

 

[oneup_shroom]

The wedding garment in verse 11 symbolizes the righteousness of the believers. The man without the wedding garment is saved because he was invited to the feast (1 Cor 1:30, Rom 3:26),
but has not lived Christ for righteousness (Phil 3:9). He has been called to salvation but not chosen for participating in the wedding feast as a reward. This is a reward only for faithful believers.
A similar parable is the one about the wise and foolish virgins (Matt 25:1-13).

Galatians 3:27
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Thanks guys, that makes a lot more sense

 

[amadeus2]

I was reading this parable found at Matthew 22:1-14

My confusion begins at verse 11 when it talks about the guest who was improperly dressed... If I am tracking properly up to this point the King represents God and the party represents salvation. and the son who is to be married is Jesus who is to die for our sins (since he hasn't done that yet by this point in Matthew)... but what I am not getting is why this man who was simply dressed badly was thrown out and according to my understanding condemned to hell... If the King decided to go out and pick anyone and everyone off the street to come to his party, why would he then condemn this man who could have possibly not owned anything that was "proper" wedding attire, what if the guy was homeless and only had a few pairs of clothes, or maybe just the one pair?! I guess really I am not understanding what the wedding garments are suppose to represent in this parable, it just seems kinda harsh and unloving to throw him in hell for sloppy dress.. u know?

Anyway I appreciate any input on this since it has me quite stumped at the moment.

You are presuming that the man had taken no thought at all about what he was to wear. If we cared, we would certainly strive to put on the very best that we have. When our earnings only amount to a minimum wage, it is unlikely that we will own or have access to a thousand dollar suit to wear to a church service, but shouldn't we wish to wear the best that we have? God certainly knows what we have and what we can afford.

But... aside from natural clothing consider the deeper meanings here. What has God given us? Isn't it easier to say what He has not given us? On this consider David's words:

"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." I Chron 29:14

Do we not always owe God our best? Do we not owe God everything?

Clothing? Man tries to clothe himself, but fails to cover himself as he ought. They recognized a need for clothing, but were unable to properly cover themselves:

"And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." Gen 3:7

"Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Gen 3:21

Perhaps when we are invited to a wedding feast, rather than presuming that 'come as you are' is OK, we should ask of God: What should we wear?

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Eph 6:13

 

[Itz Me]

I was reading this parable found at Matthew 22:1-14

------------------------------
And Jesus answered a and spoke to them again by parables and said:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4"Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; b my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' 5 "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.6 "And the rest seized his servants, treated them 1 spitefully, and killed them. 7 "But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out c his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not d worthy. 9 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 "So those servants went out into the highways and e gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there fwho did not have on a wedding garment.12"So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was gspeechless.13"Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, 2 take him away, and cast him h into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'14i "For many are called, but few are chosen."
-----------------------------------------

My confusion begins at verse 11 when it talks about the guest who was improperly dressed... If I am tracking properly up to this point the King represents God and the party represents salvation. and the son who is to be married is Jesus who is to die for our sins (since he hasn't done that yet by this point in Matthew)... but what I am not getting is why this man who was simply dressed badly was thrown out and according to my understanding condemned to hell... If the King decided to go out and pick anyone and everyone off the street to come to his party, why would he then condemn this man who could have possibly not owned anything that was "proper" wedding attire, what if the guy was homeless and only had a few pairs of clothes, or maybe just the one pair?! I guess really I am not understanding what the wedding garments are suppose to represent in this parable, it just seems kinda harsh and unloving to throw him in hell for sloppy dress.. u know?

Anyway I appreciate any input on this since it has me quite stumped at the moment.

To properly understand the meaning of the verse: "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment", (Matt 22:11), you first need to comprehend that Christians simultaneously exist in two worlds; meaning to say: we have been "raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus", (Eph 2:6), [note the past tense "raised us up"]. We have a visible existence on the visible earth, (natural world) as well as an invisible existence in the spiritual world. ("heavenly places"). This is what it means to be "resurrected to newness of life"

Secondly, you need to comprehend that Christians possess both a natural body and also a spiritual body. "it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body", (1Cor 15:44). Again, we note the verb tense,
In both worlds, to be found 'naked' is a shameful matter.

In the garden of Eden the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed, Their absence of covering was something near a parable or image concerning the condition of their inner being. Adam and Eve earned no consciousness of guilt and therefore possessed no sense of shame. They had nothing to hide from God nor from each other.

Sin severed the initial contact Adam and Eve had with God which caused their inner being to become covered with guilt. This guilt can be compared with the murky residue that a chemical vapor can oftentimes leave on metal.
In the same way, our guilt is compared with 'a soiled garment'; or, as the KJV states it: "Thou shalt cast them away as a menstrual cloth". For the law forbade a man to have intercourse with a woman in her menstrual period. Thus God was unable to have fellowship with man whose 'heart' was covered with the cloth of iniquity.

We do not want to be found naked but clothed. Our good works on earth form the garments for our invisible spiritual body. We, therefore, pursue not only the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit but also the good works which are the outworking of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit in the visible world.

A butterfly will never return to being a caterpillar. Thus Christians lay aside the first stage of their existence, (natural), just as a caterpillar leaves its cocoon. Then, as our spiritual body continues to develop in God's Kingdom, we grow from a child into a son, from a son into a father and thus reach perfection and maturity.

We are destined to possess a body just like the Lord after His Resurrection when He could eat and drink with His spiritual body but could also withdraw completely into the unseen world. Our spiritual body will rule over the dust of the earth, in the same way as when the Creator, merely by His Word, ordered the dust to become matter. Then we too, with our glorified body, will be able to command the dust to take on a form or to decompose. Therefore, we eagerly look to the moment coming when death will be swallowed up in victory, (1Cor 15: 54). In a moment of time the mortal will put on immortality; the physical will become spiritual and full of spiritual power.

Those who see the possibilities open to man once he has undergone such a metamorphosis are no longer able to look back to the past but become more and more drawn to "no eye has seen and no ear has heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him", (1Cor 2:9). "Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has passed a way behold the new has come", (2Cor 5:17). "And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord are being changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the lord who is spirit", (2Cor 3:18).

 

[Chad]

Hi @oneup_shroom

This is a lengthy explanation of the wedding feast parable.
http://www.talkjesus.com/parables-of-jesus/28219-wedding-feast.html

INTRODUCTION

1. We come to the third of three parables Jesus told when challenged by the religious leaders in the temple during His last week...

a. "The Two Sons" was told in regards to their rejection of John the Baptist - Mt 21:28-32
b. "The Wicked Vinedressers" described how God would reject them because they had rejected His prophets, and ultimately His own Son! - Mt 21:33-46
c. In "The Wedding Feast", the wickedness and rebelliousness of the religious leaders is even more vividly described - Mt 22:1-14​

2. In "The Wedding Feast", the Lord is revealing Himself and the nature of their rejection more clearly than He did in the previous parable...

a. There He was indeed the son; but here He is a royal son
b. There they were rejecting what they rightfully owed by way of contract; but here they are rejecting kindness which had been graciously offered to them!​

3. In this parable, we also see an expansion of the element of Divine Judgment...

a. The previous parable described judgment upon Israel for rejecting God's Son
b. So does this parable, but it also describes judgment upon those who have accepted the King's invitation, yet not in the way it was intended to be received!​

[Let's read the parable beginning in Mt 22:1 (READ). Now let's spend a few moments taking a closer look...]

I. THE PARABLE ANALYZED

A. AN INVITATION SPURNED (1-10)

1. The kingdom of heaven is likened to a wedding feast - Mt 22:1-2

a. Isaiah had used the figure of a feast to prophecy of the Messianic age - Is 25:6
b. The Book of Revelation describes a future marriage of the Lamb and His Bride - Re 19:7​

2. And yet the invitation is spurned...

a. By those indifferent - Mt 22:3-5
b. By those rebellious - Mt 22:6
-- Jesus may have reference here to the Jewish nation, as He did in the parable of "The Wicked Vinedressers" - Mt 21:33-46​

3. The King's furious reaction - Mt 22:7

a. Those who had so callously rejected His invitation, abused His servants, are themselves destroyed
b. Many understand this to be a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in 70 A. D. - Lk 19:41-44​

4. The invitation is extended to others - Mt 22:8-10

a. As in the parable of "The Wicked Vinedressers", the opportunity to enjoy the blessings of the kingdom of God is extended to others - Mt 21:43
b. This has reference to the offer of the gospel and the kingdom to the Gentiles - cf. also Mt 8:5-12​

B. A GUEST IMPROPERLY ATTIRED (11-14)

1. Without a wedding garment - Mt 22:11-12

a. It was customary for the hosts to provide their guests suitable apparel
b. To not wear the provided garment showed a lack of respect and appreciation
c. No real excuse could be offered for not wearing one ("he was speechless")​

2. The King's furious reaction - Mt 22:13

a. The seriousness of the insult is seen in the reaction of the king
b. The punishment described is similar to that found in other parables - Mt 13:42,50​

3. Jesus' conclusion - Mt 22:14

a. This summarizes the main point of the entire parable
b. The invitation (call) of God is extended to many, but few receive it in such a way to be among the "chosen"​

[This parable was clearly told in response to the rejection of the King's Son and His Kingdom by the Jewish nation. However, elements of the parable apply to us as well, for the invitation to attend "The Wedding Feast" is still being offered through the call of the Gospel!

With that in mind, consider a few more thoughts on...]

II. THE PARABLE APPLIED

A. HAVE YOU SPURNED THE FATHER'S INVITATION?

1. Through indifference?

a. Many people do not know God because of a lack of interest
b. Yet God has so ordered the affairs of life to encourage faith and interest in Him - Ac 17:26-27; Ro 1:20; 1 Ti 2:3-4
c. For this reason, even those who through indifference do not know God and obey the gospel will be condemned - 2 Th 1:7-10​

2. Through rebelliousness?

a. There are many who know full well the Father's invitation
b. But for whatever reason they rebel against it c. In so doing, they despise riches of God's grace and store up for themselves God's righteous indignation - Ro 2:4-11​

[Certainly all should respond to the Father's invitation if they desire to enjoy the spiritual blessings of the kingdom of heaven. But as we learn from the parable, there is more...]

B. ARE YOU ATTIRED FOR THE WEDDING?

1. Many seek to attend the "wedding" in apparel of their own choosing

a. Some, not knowing the righteousness of God, have sought to establish their own - Ro 10:1-3
b. People do this today, when they expect salvation on terms different than those taught in the gospel

1) E.g., trying to obtain salvation based upon their own good works
2) E.g., trying to obtain salvation on faith without repentance and obedience​

2. We must be willing to put on the "apparel" that God gives us:

a. We must "put on" Jesus Christ!

1) First and foremost this involves clothing ourselves with Christ
2) Which Paul explains takes place in baptism - Ga 3:26-27 -- Have you put Christ on in baptism?​

b. We must "put on" the new man!

1) Paul applies the figure of putting on a garment to the development of Christian conduct and character - Col 3:5-14
2) Do we wish to be found at the wedding feast adorned with the apparel of the "old man with his deeds"?
-- Are you putting off the "old man", and putting on the "new man"?​

c. We must "put on" righteous deeds!

1) John described the preparation for glorious wedding of the Lamb and His bride - Re 19:6-9
2) We understand that the "righteous acts of the saints" are not done to merit salvation - Tit 3:4-5
3) They are done to bring honor to God, and therefore we are to be ever ready and zealous to do good works - cf. Mt 5:16; Tit 3:1,8,14
-- Are you doing what you can to "beautify" the wedding garment of the bride?​

CONCLUSION

1. We have truly been blessed to be given the opportunity to receive the Father's invitation to the wedding feast of His Son!

2. But we learn from Jesus and His parables that the "kingdom of heaven" is for those who thankfully and properly receive the grace that God has to offer

3. The example of the nation of Israel should serve as a warning to all, both Jew and Gentile, that while God's call of the gospel is open to all, the saying of Jesus still remains true...

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

You have been called, but will you be chosen?

article source: ccel.org

 

[oneup_shroom]

@Chad

B. A GUEST IMPROPERLY ATTIRED (11-14)

1. Without a wedding garment

a. It was customary for the hosts to provide their guests suitable apparel
b. To not wear the provided garment showed a lack of respect and appreciation
c. No real excuse could be offered for not wearing one ("he was speechless")​

Thanks! that one point right there ^^ blew my understanding wide open on this parable.

I didn't know that it was customary for the host to provide suitable apparel for the party. That makes so much more sense because then I can see it connecting to the Good News a lot easier. Its not come with what you have, its accept and walk in what has been given. I think my main gotcha in this whole section of Matthew was not understanding that one point. That Jesus was not trying to say he threw a poor man in jail because he could not afford the proper clothes, but because for some reason this man refused to wear what was open and freely offered.

Thanks again!

 

[NetChaplain]

guess really I am not understanding what the wedding garments are suppose to represent in this parable, it just seems kinda harsh and unloving to throw him in hell for sloppy dress.. u know?
I guess really I am not understanding what the wedding garments are suppose to represent in this parable, it just seems kinda harsh and unloving to throw him in hell for sloppy dress.. u know? Anyway I appreciate any input on this since it has me quite stumped at the moment.

Hi OS - Good inquiry! The wedding garment as previously mentioned does represent the "righteousness of Christ," which is apart from the works of a believer, for only by His imputed righteousness (1 Cor 1:30) can we enter faith for salvation, thus having already inherited the "New Heaven."

John Gill: "This man had not on this garment, this robe of righteousness; it was not imputed to him; he had no knowledge of it; or if he had any, it was only a speculative one; he had no true faith in it; he had never put on Christ, as the Lord his righteousness; he had got into a church state without it, though there is no entrance into the kingdom of heaven but by it."

 

[james1523]

I was reading this parable found at Matthew 22:1-14

------------------------------
And Jesus answered a and spoke to them again by parables and said:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4"Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; b my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' 5 "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.6 "And the rest seized his servants, treated them 1 spitefully, and killed them. 7 "But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out c his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not d worthy. 9 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 "So those servants went out into the highways and e gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there fwho did not have on a wedding garment.12"So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was gspeechless.13"Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, 2 take him away, and cast him h into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'14i "For many are called, but few are chosen."
-----------------------------------------

My confusion begins at verse 11 when it talks about the guest who was improperly dressed... If I am tracking properly up to this point the King represents God and the party represents salvation. and the son who is to be married is Jesus who is to die for our sins (since he hasn't done that yet by this point in Matthew)... but what I am not getting is why this man who was simply dressed badly was thrown out and according to my understanding condemned to hell... If the King decided to go out and pick anyone and everyone off the street to come to his party, why would he then condemn this man who could have possibly not owned anything that was "proper" wedding attire, what if the guy was homeless and only had a few pairs of clothes, or maybe just the one pair?! I guess really I am not understanding what the wedding garments are suppose to represent in this parable, it just seems kinda harsh and unloving to throw him in hell for sloppy dress.. u know?

Anyway I appreciate any input on this since it has me quite stumped at the moment.

At the end of the age is a big wedding feast. The wedding celebrations and feasting will take place at Christ's return. "Many are called but few are chosen" is referring to participation in this feast. The celebration is referred to by Rev 19:9, Matt 8:11; Luke 12:36, Luke 14:15, Luke 22:16, Luke 13:28-29, Matt 22; Matt 25:10. It is also known as the marriage supper of the lamb, or the last Passover. The Bible reveals that the destiny of all Christians is to participate in the great wedding feast. All Christians as the Church, except the foolish ones (foolish virgins) or those without wedding garments, who miss out on the wedding feast, will participate as the bride or wife of Christ. The Bride of Christ and Wife of Christ means essentially the same thing. The Bride is the status of the church during the millennial reign of Christ. The wife is the ongoing relationship between Christ and the Church for all eternity (Rev 20:2-7).

 

[NetChaplain]

All Christians as the Church, except the foolish ones (foolish virgins) or those without wedding garments

Hi James - There are some who consider the "foolish virgins" (Mat 25:2) to represent neglectful Christians (not sure if your comment does but I wanted to address this issue), but they are representative of those who only profess Christianity but have never possessed Christianity, same as James' example, "Yea, a man may say" (Jam 2:18).

Trusting all is well with your Family!

 

[B-A-C]

those who only profess Christianity but have never possessed Christianity,

I am curious, what exactly is "possessing Christianity"? What is the different between it an "Professing Christianity"?
Obviously those who profess are believers.

Matt 7:22; "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Matt 7:23; "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

I am curious, did the people above have the power to cast out demons and do miracles on their own?

Matt 18:12; "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?
Matt 18:13; "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.

Sheep do have the ability to stray. Not all sheep find their way back.

Mat 13:18; "Hear then the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19; "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.

It seems what has already been sown in your heart can be taken away.

Luke 8:13; "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.

It seems some believers only "believe for a while" and then are able to fall away.

1 Tim 4:1; But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

You can only fall away from the faith, if you have the faith to begin with. If you never were a believer, there is nothing to fall away from.

Heb 6:4; For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:5; and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Heb 6:6; and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

The Bible says there are people who have tasted the heavenly gift, They have even partaken of the Holy Spirit. They have tasted the Word of God. But then they still
fell away. (Notice they can't come back to salvation if this happens).

Luke 10:1; Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.
Luke 10:17; The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
Luke 10:19; "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
Luke 10:20; "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."

The seventy (some Bibles say 72) returned saying they had power to cast out demons, Their names are even recorded in heaven. However...

John 6:66; As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
John 6:67; So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?"

Deut 9:14; 'Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.'
Deut 29:20; "The LORD shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven.
Exod 32:33; The LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.

Many of the seventy chose not to continue following Jesus. Even though he wanted them to.
Your name can be blotted out from heaven apparently.

2 Pet 2:20; For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
2 Pet 2:21; For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
2 Pet 2:22; It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."

Some people after they have escaped the defilement of the world, and known the Savior, are able to turn away from it. So their last state is worse than before they became a Christian. It says they knew the ways of righteousness (they eve practiced them for a little while) but then turned away from it. (Like a dog returns to it's vomit).

Mat t25:1; "Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Notice all 10 virgins were expecting to meet the "bridegroom" (I think we can agree on who the bridegroom is here).

Matt 25:11; "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.'
Matt 25:12; "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'

Why would they call Him Lord if they weren't believers? Why would they be expecting to meet the bridegroom (Jesus) if they weren't believers?
Somewhere along the way, they ran out of oil. What do you think the oil represents here? It doesn't say they never had oil, it doesn't say their
oil was different from the other virgins, it simply says they ran out.

In Matt 25:14-30; we see the parable of the 10 talents. All of the servants were given talents by the master. These weren't strangers that never knew the master.
These were servants already included in his household. In fact we see two of the servants were called good and faithful, and told "well done". What about the
third servant?

Matt 25:30; "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

He is thrown out of house.

Some Christians talked about being "sealed". (Eph 4:30 Now there is only one verse in the Bible that uses this phrase.
It talks about not grieving the Holy Spirit. However what is the purpose of a sealon a l letter? All it does is prove that the letter is from
who it says it is from (it has the right stamp embedded in the wax) and that no one else has opened it before you received it.
(Otherwise the wax would already be broken before you received it). But the wax seal does not prevent you from opening it any time you
want to. We have the ability to "un-seal" ourselves if we really want to.

Rom 8:35; Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36; Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
Rom 8:37; But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

What are verses above talking about? Jesus love for them, or their love for Jesus? Even though they have gone through these things they continue to love Jesus.

Rom 8:38; For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
Rom 8:39; nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These verses on the other hand, appear to be talking Jesus love for us. He loves us all (even sinners - Rom 5:8 However the love of Jesus is not the
salvation of Jesus. He loves us even if we aren't saved.

 

[NetChaplain]

I am curious, what exactly is "possessing Christianity"? What is the different between it an "Professing Christianity"? Obviously those who profess are believers.

These are those who "draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me" (Mat 5:18).

Same as the example in James 2:18, "A man may say," e.g. one may profess to have faith but is not confirmed so do to lack of the works of God, which is a false profession of faith. Likewise, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him" (Tit 1:16).

 

[RJ]

That's right, many are called but few are chosen based on their true belief. Only true believers are clothed in Christ's righteousness and allowed to particiapate in the Wedding Feast.

 

[james1523]

Hi James - There are some who consider the "foolish virgins" (Mat 25:2) to represent neglectful Christians (not sure if your comment does but I wanted to address this issue), but they are representative of those who only profess Christianity but have never possessed Christianity, same as James' example, "Yea, a man may say" (Jam 2:18).

Trusting all is well with your Family!

Hi NetChaplain, I believe the parable applies mainly to the genuinely saved, as virgins represent (2 Cor 11:2). All of the virgins were diligent enough to take their lamps to meet the bridegroom, and arise and trim their lamps. Trimming their lamps represents preparation to meet the Lord, such as making a thorough confession of sin and consecration. Profession-only Christians may not even prepare themselves to meet the Lord, so I believe the focus is more upon genuine believers who are lacking in spiritual riches (Rev 3:17-18) than name-only Christians who will have their part with the unbelievers.

I believe the foolish virgins are still saved, because they are believers in Christ and they have lamps (the regenerated human spirit), however they do not get to participate in the enjoyment and feasting of the wedding feast (Matt 25:11), which is a reward to the faithful and wise believers. The same situation is found in 1 Cor 3:14-15 - those who build carefully gain a reward (participation in the great wedding feast), and those who don't build carefully lose the reward, yet are still saved (1 Cor 3:15).

 

[NetChaplain]

That's right, many are called but few are chosen based on their true belief. Only true believers are clothed in Christ's righteousness and allowed to particiapate in the Wedding Feast.

Amen RJ - One believes are not. There are those who are "called" (the entire world), then there are those who are "the called" (Rom 1:6, 7; 8:28, 30; 9:24, etc.), and "the called" (particular calling) will be few in comparison (Mat 7:13, 14) to the general calling (the world--John 3:16)
This is the reason why the majority of all nations will always be unconcerned with being right with God.

 

[riverhooks]

The guy without the wedding dress was not ready. Jesus said Abide in Me, by maintaining a personal relationship a walk with God, You'll be ready. Memorize 1 John 1:7 and 1 John 1:9 By walking in the light you'll be ready. The guy was not one of those " these are they who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Be Ready