The Parable of the Wedding Feast is both comforting and puzzling to many hearers. We are glad to be invited, glad to attend, and scared by the sudden expulsion of the man in the last several verses. What can it all mean?

One way to understand the parable is to tie it very closely to Matthew 21. Jesus tells a very easy to understand [arable in Matthew 21:33-46. The Jews of Jesus' day will lose their place in God's vineyard (Kingdom), and the vineyard will be given to those who will yield good fruit to their Lord. Jesus tells this parable to warn the Jewish leaders and to invite them to change sides.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14) retells the same story as the parable of the vineyard. It tells us who the kingdom will be given to in verses 8-10: the good and the bad gathered from the street corners. I think this includes us.

But then why throw the fellow out at the end?

I think this is one of the Jewish leaders who comes to the feast, but without an ability to celebrate the wedding. He has no joy.... And so he is removed fro the feast.

What does this mean for us today? Don't try to hedge your bets by having just a little religion. God wants all of you, because he loves you and he wants your life to be full of joyful service.