Matt. xxii. 5. But they made light of it.
WE are apt to condemn the Jews as blind and obstinate, because they rejected Christ in spite of the clearest evidence in his favour. But we ourselves are more guilty than they, because we enjoy much greater advantages for understanding the Gospel than they did, and yet are as regardless of it as they were.
Our blessed Lord illustrated their conduct by a marriage-feast, to which they who were invited re- fused to come. The same invitation is sent to us ; and we, no less than they, " make light of it."
To bring home a conviction of this upon our minds, we shall shew,
I. What are the blessings which we are invited to partake of —
God is here represented as having made a marriage for his Son —
[The figure of a marriage union is often used to represent the connexion that subsists between Christ and his Church^. He is the bridegroom, and the Church is his bride ^. And the connexion is then formed, when the Church gives up herself to Christ as her head and Lord, and by faith becomes so united to him as to be one flesh'', or, to speak more properly, " one spirit with him*^." — ]
The feast prepared on the occasion contains all the blessings of grace and glory —
[There is nothing that can nourish or delight the soul, which God has not prepared for the bride on her union with Christ''. She instantly becomes related to him, and is con- sidered in all things as his daughter, an object of his affections, and a partaker of his inheritance. Let any one inquire. What is there that my soul can desire in time or eternity ? and he shall find it all set before him, that he may freely and richly enjoy it— ]
a Jer. iii. 14. Hos. ii. 19, 20.
i' Isai. liv. 5. Rev. xxi. 9. John iii. 29. <= Epli. v, 30—32.
d 1 Cor. vi. 17. ^ Isai. xxv. 6.