This passage starts out with the parable of The Wedding Feast. A couple things stood out to me. One version said people refused to come. Another version says they made light of it. It made me think about reasons people refuse invitation—it’s inconvenient at that time. Or maybe the cost of purchasing a gift is prohibitive. Perhaps they’d rather spend time with their family or friends. The price of not going was severe. I wonder how often God has called me to focus on the kingdom, and I have used some of these same excuses. I always think I will get to it later. My own application is I need to respond to God’s call with a sense of urgency. I don’t know when the grace to respond will be lifted.
Although Jesus had been teaching for a few years at this point, he was attracting attention. People continued to be amazed at his teachings. He had strong warnings about hypocrisy. He spoke about the wickedness of the end times and warned that the love of most would grow cold. Wow! Love of most?!?! Lord, let my heart remain true to you, let me stand firm to the end, whenever that is! I know many Christians believe we are living in the end times, that the return of Jesus is on the horizon. This is exciting and sobering for those who love Jesus.
Let me spend my time preparing for your return!
There must have been an undercurrent of tension because the Pharisees tried to trap him in his words (22:18). But Jesus was on to them and called them hypocrites. This quieted them—for the time being. But they continued to watch and plot. The only way to get rid of their guilt was to get rid of him. How? By infiltrating his trusted inner circle. Judas knew they wanted Jesus killed and he went to them. They didn’t even have to soil their own hands. They paid Judas off, and he promised to deliver Jesus to them, with the intent to kill him. We know the story: Peter denied him three times. He was handed over to be nailed to a cross. Judas hung himself because he had some remorse over his actions (If you have not seen The Passion of the Christ, I highly recommend watching it. It is a moving, convicting, redemptive depiction of the account of Jesus’s final days.).
Our readings for the week end with Jesus dying and being buried. A guard is placed at the tomb, and they all think that is the end of it! Spoiler alert: the story doesn’t end there!
