False prophets and unawares spying false brethren in Christianity
All are invited. Few come.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who
arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who
were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent
out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared
my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come
to the wedding.”*’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own
farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them
spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious.
And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited
were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite
to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered
together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled
with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a
man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how
did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the
king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him
into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Mt 22:2–15
...And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw
there a man which had not on a wedding garment [Matt. 22:11].
"What is that wedding garment? The King’s invitation
is for everyone, but there is a danger of coming without meeting the demands of
the King. That wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ which is
absolutely essential for salvation, and it is supplied to all who believe. The
apostle Paul speaks of this imputed righteousness: “But now the righteousness of
God without the law [that is, apart from the law] is manifested, being witnessed
by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of [from] God which is by
faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all [it comes down upon all] them that
believe: for there is no difference” (Rom. 3:21–22). All have to have a wedding
garment." McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (Matthew
14-28) (electronic ed., Vol. 35, p. 106). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
False
prophets and unawares spying false brethren in Christianity