R.A. Torrey expounds on the Parable of the Marriage Feast, illustrating how God's invitation to His kingdom is often disregarded and despised by many. He emphasizes the importance of accepting God's invitation and being prepared for the feast, highlighting the consequences of neglecting this call. The parable serves as a reminder that while God's grace extends to all, true acceptance requires preparation and a genuine response to His invitation. Torrey warns against the dangers of complacency and the fate of those who appear to accept the invitation but lack the necessary readiness. Ultimately, he underscores the significance of being chosen and the reality of the consequences for the unprepared.

1. God’s Invitation Disregarded and Despised, vv. 1–7 Who is the speaker in this lesson? To whom was He speaking? What was their state of mind? (21:46.) In what form does He put His teaching? Why did He choose this method of teaching at this time? How is this parable like the one which immediately precedes? How does it differ? Why is it said “Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables”? To what is the kingdom compared? What are the central truths about the kingdom which Jesus wishes to bring out by comparing it to a marriage feast? Is this idea of marriage as expressing Christ’s relation to His people found elsewhere in the Bible? (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:24–32; John 3:29, etc.) What is the king represented as doing in v. 3? Who were those who had been bidden? By whom had they been bidden? Who were the servants whom the king sent forth to call them? (c. 3:1, 2; 10:6, 7.) Was it customary to send a call to those already invited? What would naturally be expected when this call came? Are the people of the East as likely to accept a call of this kind as we are? Was the invitation accepted in this case? Why were these people shut out of the feast? Why did not the Jews find life and joy in Christ? (John 5:40.) Why are there any today who do not find pardon, peace and life in Jesus? Do all men want to go to God’s heaven? Have men usually been ready to accept God’s invitation of mercy? (Prov. 1:24; Is. 65:2, 12; 66:4; Jer. 6:16; Ps. 81:10, 11; Ro. 10:21; Matt. 23:37.) Why is it men thus treat God’s invitation? (Jer. 17:9; 2 Cor. 4:4.) Did the king stop at this first invitation? To what in the preceding parable does this repetition of the invitation correspond? (21:36.) Which sets forth the forbearance of God in the more wonderful light, that He repeats the neglected demand for His fruits, or that He repeats the neglected invitation to His feast? Which refusal involves the greater guilt, that of the demands of justice or that of the offers of mercy? Is the sin of rejection since the cross and resurrection as great as that of His contemporaries before the cross and resurrection? To whom was the invitation? Is it worth considering? (Rev. 19:9.) How was this second invitation received? Is the invitation ever so received now? Why did they make light of it? Why do men today leave the invitation unheeded? (c. 13:22.) How would such treatment of a royal invitation have been regarded by a king? How does God regard this treatment of His invitation? (Heb. 10:28, 29.) Did any go further than simply neglecting the invitation? Was this historically true of the Jewish treatment of God’s servants who came to invite them to His feast? (Acts 4:1–3; 7:54, 59.) Is God’s invitation ever received that way nowadays? Why this extraordinary treatment of an invitation of mercy? What were the king’s feelings? What does that teach us about God? How did the king display his anger? Of what historical event is this a prediction? (Luke 19:42–44; 21:20–22.) What then was the cause of the destruction of Jerusalem? Had this been predicted in the Old Testament? (Dan. 9:26; Micah 3:12.) 2. God’s Invitation Accepted, vv. 8–10 What was the next step on the part of the king? What was the king’s judgment in regard to those first called? What makes one worthy? (Luke 18:14, 15; Rev. 22:14.) When one rejects the invitation what does he in effect do? (Acts 13:46.) Were the servants merely to bid those in the highways to come? What duty does this lay on the church? How many were they to bid? To whom are we to give the gospel invitation? (Mark 16:15.) To whom is the Gospel invitation? (Rev. 22:17.) What did the servants do? How many were gathered together? Who are mentioned first? If the church in its work puts either good or bad first, which should it be? Have Christ’s servants always been as true to their commission as they are represented as being here? Is there room in the kingdom for those who have been very bad? (1 Cor. 6:10, 11.) Shall God’s marriage feast be unprovided with guests? Of whom will they be composed? (Rev. 7:13, 14.) 3. The Unprepared Guests, vv. 11–14 When the guests had arrived what is the next step in the story? What does the Revised Version in v. 11 substitute for “see”? Why this change? What strange sight greeted his eyes? Of what is the wedding garment a figure? (Is. 61:10; Rev. 19:7, 8; Ps. 132:9; Eph. 4:24; Rom. 13:14.) Is it our own righteousness we are to appear in? (Is. 64:6; Zech. 3:3, 4; Phil: 3:9.) From whom does this robe come? (Luke 15:22.) How do we get it? (Ro. 3:22.) When have we it on? (Ro. 13:12–14; 2 Cor. 13:5.) How many is the king mentioned as seeing without a wedding garment? Why only one mentioned? Had this one in his heart really accepted the invitation to the wedding feast? If one really accepts God’s invitation to heaven what will he do? What really was his neglect to make ready? If we outwardly accept God’s invitation and do not make ready what do we do? How was this foolish guest brought to his senses? How will all those who are unprepared for the marriage supper be brought to their senses? Had he any excuse to offer? Have we any excuse for going to God’s feast without preparation? What became of this unprepared guest? What lesson in that for us? On what ground was he cast out? Does this outer darkness stand for anything real? What is Jesus’ summing up of the teaching of the whole parable? Does he really mean it? Who are the called? Who are the chosen? CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS 1. The Kingdom of Heaven (1). Its character: A place of festal joy—a marriage feast, 2, R. V.; a full place—“filled with guests,” 10, R. V. (2). The invitation: First to the Jew, 3–6; afterward the Gentile, 9; to bad and good, 10; to all, 9; disregarded by some, 3; treated with contempt by others, 5; hated by others, 6; accepted by a multitude, 10. (3). The necessary preparation: Accepting the invitation, 4–6; putting on the wedding garment, 11–13. (4). Worthiness: Consists of a hearty acceptance of the invitation, 8, 11–13. (5). What is outside the kingdom: Darkness, 13; weeping, 13; gnashing of teeth, 13; bondage, 13. 2. God (1). His Grace: Makes a marriage feast for His Son, 2; bids guests, 3; calls those who were bidden, 3; will have a full table though many refuse, 9; extends His invitation to all, 9. (2). His long-suffering mercy: Repeats invitation of love even to those who refuse it, 4. (3). His watchfulness: Carefully observes guests who come, 11. (4). His severity: Is wroth with those who despise His long-suffering and misuse His messengers, 7; calls unprepared guest to account, 12; orders unprepared guest be cast into outer darkness, 13; destroys murderers of His messengers, 7. (5). His command to His servants: “Go ye therefore to the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast,” 9, R. V. 3. The Man Who Had Not on the Wedding Garment Was invited, 9; heard the invitation, 11; outwardly and seemingly accepted invitation, 11; neglected necessary preparation, 11–13; unpreparedness seen by God, 11, 12; was called to account, 12; was speechless, 12; was cast out “into the outer darkness,” 13. 4. Man Refuses God’s invitations, 4, 5; makes light of God’s long-suffering grace, 6; misuses God’s messengers, 6; will not come, 3; compare Jer. 17:9; 2 Cor. 4:4; Ro. 8:7.