Matthew 22:2

‘The kingly rule of heaven can be likened to a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,'

The parable is to be an illustration of the Kingly Rule of Heaven. Compare for this Matthew 13:24; Matthew 18:23; Matthew 25:1; and see also Matthew 13:31; Matthew 13:33; Matthew 13:44; Matthew 13:47; Matthew 13:52; Matthew 20:1. Like those parables it will indicate present activity in the Kingly Rule of Heaven, leading up to the final everlasting Kingly Rule. It refers to God's doings and God's offer and men's response to them. They are being called to come under His Son's Kingly Rule.

In this case the parable is of a King Who makes a marriage for His Son. On such an occasion a king would often, in honour of the occasion, promote his son to a position of authority over a part of his realm. That would seem to be the case here. Thus those who are bidden to the wedding were to be future subjects of His Son.

We must beware of just attributing this to what is called ‘the Messianic Banquet (as in Matthew 8:11). That is never described as a marriage feast. The marriage feast indicates rather a celebration of joy and gladness, a feast of ‘good things', pertaining to this life (compare John 4:10; John 6:35; John 7:37; Ephesians 5:25). It was portrayed at Cana as offering the wine of the new age that Jesus had bought (John 2:1). It was such ‘good things' that Jesus had come to bring men so that they might be immediately enjoyed (John 5:3; John 7:11; compare John 9:15 where the wedding is on the point of taking place but is interrupted by Jesus' death, although that sadness will not last for long). This was not an invitation to some distant eschatological event as in Matthew 25:10; Revelation 19:6, but to present rejoicing along with the King's Son Who was soon to be enthroned, and with Whom they would feast at His table, as some had already done (John 14:13; John 15:27; John 16:32), and then faithfully serve Him. The whole point is that the Chief Priests and Pharisees were turning down the present offer to eat at His table.

For to feast at His table was to believe on Him Whom God had sent and to partake of Him (John 6:32). It was an invitation which could be refused on the very verge of the wedding resulting in the earthly consequences that followed for those who did refuse (which was not the same as the later final judgement - Matthew 22:13). Others would then come later to enjoy the same feast, and at least one of these would be ejected because he had come improperly prepared. Thus it is not the heavenly banquet of Matthew 8:11 where all was final and all were secure. It is the time of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit which are basic elements of being under the Kingly Rule of God now (Romans 14:17). It is the current Messianic Banquet, currently enjoyed by Messiah's people, as they receive good things from Him. It was to this Banquet that Jesus was calling men and women, to the music and dancing enjoyed by the returned prodigal (Luke 15:25). They were being called to eat and drink with their Lord.