The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 365

apostles and evangelists sent forth to preach after the great Day of Pentecost. Now tho Sa.orifice had been offered, the Victim had been slain. The eternal purp<1ee of God had been fulfilled in that one sufficient Sacrifice, Oblation, and Satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. All things were now ready. These other servants preached first to the Jews; but still, as a people, they would not come. They made light of the gracious invitation; some, heedless and thoughtless, went their ways, caring only for the present life, its business or its pleasures. One went to his field: he wae a man of landed property; he had all that he wanted. Another went to his merchandise: he was absorbed in the pursuit of gain; he had no tim~, no thoughts for other things. Both neglected the King's invitation : they had no dr,sire for tho royal banquet. Others, more zealous and more violent, because they were zealous for their own exclusive privileges, not for the honour and glory of God, persecuted and slew the servants of the King-the holy Martyr Stephen, the Apostle St. James, and many other saints of God. 3. The wrath of the King. The King marked these wicked deeds. There was no need that others should repeat them to him (the words, "when he heard thereof," seem not to be genuine); he knoweth all things. He was wroth. Those wicked men had despised his grace and bounty; they had slain his messengers. He bore with them in his long-suffering mercy till their iniquity was full. Then he sent forth his armies; he destroyed those marderers, and burned ap their city. The Lord saw again in prophetic vision that awful visitation over which he had wept when he looked upon Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives: "They shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee." Then he spoke in Divine pity and sorrow, now in the tones of awful justice. It must be so; they are hardened in their wilful unbelief; they will add sin to sin; the dreadful day must come. The wrath of the King is fearful exceedingly; the terror of the Lord is over- whelming. Let us listen to the gentle calling of his grace while there is time. II. THE SECOND INVITATION, 1. The message. Again the King sent forth his servants. The marriage feast was ready ; the fountain was opened for sin and for uncleanness; the living Bread which came down from heaven was offered to men; all were invited to take of the water of life freely. They which had been bidden were not worthy. They judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life (Acts xiii. 46). The King bade his servants go into the highways, and call oil, without distinction, as many as they should find : " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 2. The obedience of the servants. They did according to the bidding of the King; they went into the high ways, and gathered together as many as they found. The apostles o.nd evangelists preached everywhere, whithersoever they could go; they gathered together a gr~t company from all parts of the world. And now the wedding was furnished with guests, the halls of the palace were filled. For the messengers had worked hard, and had brought all who would come, without distinction of race, or social position, or education, or even of moral character; bad and good alike were invited, not only the righteous, but publicans an<l sinners also. The good (in the human sense of the word) would become better; the bad might, by the gift of grace, be cleansed and converted and saved. All alike were called to the dinner; that is, to the blessings o.nd privileges of the gospel, which are :m antepast of the full joy of heaven. lll. THE WEDDING GARMENT. 1. The King's question. The King's house was full; the guests were already at the festal board (-rol,s l,.,,a.1wµl11011S), The King came in to see them. His eye ranged through tho.t great assembly. He saw all--every one. There was one who had not on a wedding garment. He had been brought from the highways; he had come just as he was; with clothes, perhaps, worn and ragged, soiled and filthy. How wo.s it? The other guests were all suitably attired. They too had been gathered from the highways; there were high and low, good and bad, among them. But whatever they were when they were bidden, whatever was their condition then, all had wedding garments now. This one alone was "clothed with filthy garments," like Joshua the high priest when he stood before the angel (Zech. iii. 3); but he was not now, like Joshua, clothed with change of raiment. The King's eye found him out. Ue could not be hid, though, we may well believe, he sought to escape that piercing look. "Friend," the King said (the word does not imply intimacy and affection, but only knowledgo and acquaintance; it is used in the rebuke of the MATTHEW-XL 2D 370 TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [cH, xxn, 1-46.