Paul Email -3July2013- Matthew 22

How you doin? Matthew 22 is some heavy reading. The parable of the wedding feast is tough to understand. I think a lot of the parables are. Today seems to be a "B" side. I mean 2nd parts of verses stood out or following verses.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.
“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matt. 22:11-14) The bottom of my Bible was very helpful with this scripture today. It explained how the tradition of the times was to send 2 invitations to a banquet. 1 to invite people and 1 to inform them that it was ready. There are 3 invitations sent out in this parable symbolizing God's continual invitation. The one person that was thrown into what sounds like Hell, wasn't wearing wedding cloths. The bottom of my Bible explained that it was customary of the times that the person hosting the banquet provided the guest with the proper garments. The dude who refused to wear the proper garments represents arrogance or the lack of desire/willingness to participate in the celebration. I never want to be like that dude. I want to receive and clothe myself in God's righteousness and salvation. See Psalm 132:16, Isaiah 61:10, Zechariah 3:3-5, Revelation 3:4-5 & 19:7-8.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matt. 22:21) The part that stood out to me today was, "and to God what is God's". I always heard this as an example of 2 wrongs don't make it right. If giving taxes to Caesar was unfair, withholding or stealing was wrong as well. So Christians were called to give to Caesar so to stay righteous. Today I heard this verse as separation of worldliness and the Kingdom.

 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:37-40) The bold part made me think of 1 Corinthians 13. Without love for God obedience is worthless. I've said so many times before that my relationship with God and my love for Him has made all the difference in the world... literally. I keep thinking about the revelation that God gave me about loving Him first and foremost. Well, I need to cut this off in the interest of time. I hope this makes sense. I just think we as Christians miss the greatest commandment. God gives us the means to please Him... then rewards us for being pleasing to Him. Whatta great deal! COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!