1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the weddiug ; and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other ser- vants, saying. Tell them which are bidden, JBehold, I have prepared my dinner : my oxen and iny fallings are killed, and all things are ready : come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of «Y, and wont their ways, one to his farm, an- other to his merehiiudise :
6 And the remnant took his ser- vants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew tliem.
7 But when the king heard thereof^ he was wroth : and he sent forth liis armies, and destroyed those murder- ers, aud burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the high- ways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as "many as they found, both bad and good : and the wedding was fur- nished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment ;
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment ? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the ser- vants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast Mm into outer darkness ; there shall be weep- ing and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
The parable related in these verses is one of very wide signification. In its first application it unquestionably points to the Jews. But we may not confine it to them. It contains heart-searchino; lessons for all amon-Tj w^hom the Gospel is preached. It is a sj)iritual picture which speaks to us this day, if we have an ear to hear. The remark of Olshausen is wise and true, " parables are like