Does this sound like you? How can I be a part of an ongoing conversation about the Bible? I love the idea of the Book of Faith Initiative, but my schedule makes it difficult to attend the class on Wednesday at noon or the Adult Forum on Sunday. If this sounds like you, I want to invite you to participate by joining my blog on the Gospel of Luke. For the past couple of months, I have been wondering what to do with my blog. Is it another thought for the day, like a newsletter article? Is it a diary of my adventures as a pastor, like my experience in Orlando? Or can it be a means to explore the Bible together with a much larger audience than a weekly class? This idea popped up at this week's Book of Faith class. Every Wednesday, we have such a great discussion. We wondered, "Why not let others in on the conversation?" And so, this new adventure begins. Each blog I write will focus on a passage from the Bible that we are using in the Wednesday class. At the present, we are studying the gospel of Luke. The blog will lift up our discussion at class and invite others to make comments, raise questions, and offer insights. In other words, join the conversation. To get started, click on Summer Views on our website. Read the passage and blog. Make your comments. Let's get the discussion going!
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet - Luke 14:16-24 (Matthew 22: 1-14)
This week, we wandered away from our usual course in studying Luke. A question was raised about the gospel for this past Sunday, the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, as recorded by Matthew. Matthew differs from Luke by including the second part of the parable, where the man without a wedding garment is thrown out of the banquet. What does that mean? Is there some requirement to be at the banquet? What is the role of grace? Many interpreters, recognizing the difficulty, suggest that the second part of the parable is best left as a warning without an explanation. As a class, we were not deterred. In was suggested that the passage was a lesson. One needs to be prepared. We're not talking about a simple garment, but an attitude and way of life. A similar parable was offered by the rabbis of Jesus' time. There was a king who told people to be ready for a wedding banquet. The time was unknown, but they were to be prepared. The wise made provisions and were ready when the king announced the banquet. The foolish were not prepared, and were not able to join the celebration. The class appreciated this insight.
Setting the parable in the context of the larger story, this account was told during the last week of Jesus' life. During this time, we see Jesus challenging the religious authorities, the Pharisees and Scribes, again and again. He is forcing them to make a decision about him. Jesus is not the innocent victim who happens to wander into Jerusalem and is arrested. He is in the Temple every day forcing the issue. The parable is for the authorities. Jesus is being descriptive. Those who were first invited by the king said no and so the door to the banquet has been opened to the most unexpected of people. People who the Pharisees and Scribes would never have included at the wedding banquet. As far as the man who was tossed out, again the message is for those in authority. How can you be invited by the king to the wedding banquet of his son and not wear a garment of joy? Again, Jesus is being descriptive. He looks at those who have been invited, who are sitting at the banquet table, and there is no joy, no grace, no thanksgiving. How can that be? There is a disconnect. They don't have to be thrown out, they are already stand outside the banquet. For us, in the living of our lives, we are invited every week by the King to the banquet of His Son. How can we not be adorned in a garment (life) of joy? People should be able to look at us and say they have been to the King's banquet. You can tell by the way they live their lives.
One final note, this parable, along with may others during that last week, have a real sense of judgement. However, they are all offered this side of the cross. If the parable tells the truth about us that we often to not accept the invitation of the King or dress for the occasion, the cross tells us that we are forgiven. The King would have the right to cast us out, but the surprising response from God is that, through the cross, the King takes us in. That's the Good News.
Well, what do you think? Let me know. Join the conversation. My hope and prayer is that we have opened the door for many of you to participate in the Book of Faith as a part of your faith journey and devotions.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
5 comments:
As always, this was a great Book of Faith discussion. The end of the lesson in Matthew is a tough one for those of us who believe in a God of grace. I'm still working through how to deal with it! Interested to hear what others think...
Here is my struggle with Verses 12-14 in Matthew 22. In the Luke version, I could never understand the reluctance of the original invitees to attend a banquet/royal wedding. However, after reading Matthew, I wonder whether those original guests knew of the host's/king's extremely harsh punishment for violations of his rigorous dress and comportment requirements and were simply too fearful of making an error to attend. If these people represent the Pharisees and Scribes (who I associate with people like me who attend church and try to follow the rules to be "good Christians"), I am much more empathetic with them in Matthew than in Luke. How can a person possibly leap all the hurdles (wearing the right clothes, having the proper attitude, not making excuses) standing in the way of leading a joy-filled, ethically and morally upstanding, God-filled life, if condemnation is the only possible judgment to expect? That is a frightening thought to me. Now, hearing that this story comes shortly before the cross, I have to put my faith in the New Testament God of grace rather than the Old Testament God of judgment. For me, that is the Good News.
Try #6
If Leah got her comment to post, I should be able to!
If I recall what I tried to write this morning, I like the new take on the parable of viewing it from "both sides" of the cross. Grace is our only hope, because, looking in our closet, we're just always going to chose the wrong "outfit" to wear to the feast!
comment keeps disappearing :)
It was a good duscussion on Wednesday and I liked the summary given at Vespers. I appreciated the clarification on wearing the wedding robe a descriptive rather than prescriptive. I know that Luther agreed with Paul that there should be no entry requirements to being a Christian. I'm pondering this fine line and not sure if it has been crossed. I've been thinking of the picture of Jesus knocking at the door. IN that artwork, there is no handle on the outside. We alll receive the invitation, but we must open the door to let Jesus in. "Descriptive" or "prescriptive"?
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