Quote:
Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah
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11But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: 12and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 14For many are called, but few chosen. (Matt 22:11-13)
It is also very difficult to interpret one who was invited to the marriage of the Lamb and came to the marriage feast as anything other than a believer. Not having a wedding garment does not indicate an unbeliever but rather a believer whose works are not worthy of the Lord.
30And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Of all the cases the Lord uses this is the most difficult to interpret as being anything but a believer. The person is a servant of the Lord who has received a Gold talent. His issue is that he buried the treasure and was lazy.
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Let me say, I agree completely with all these response posts. I agree with obeying the Lord in all things, and being faithful to Him, and I really appreciate everyone's input. I don't dispute any of your encouraging responses. I was worried I was being misinterpreted which is why I left off this thread. My reason for wondering if there is actually 1,000 years outer darkness for believers was not some reasoning inside where I would like to live in sin and 'get away' with it by showing there is no punishment for Christian's. I want to be obedient to Him in all ways AND simultaneously I don't believe there is any such a punishment for regenerated believers. I think is is a lie from the devil......1,000 years outer darkness. I think it is important to figure these things out, not to give us license to sin, nor live in our own private rebellion against God.
I realize ZNP may not be around for this response to his post, but I wanted to more respond to the interpretation of this passage as I am learning this year about rightly dividing the word and that method gives me fresh insight, and I am interpreting this passage so very differently than ZNP and for that matter completely differently than I would have myself a year ago.
Matthew 22 King James Version (KJV)
22 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
The kingdom of heaven is the gospel Jesus preached to the Jews, Gods' chosen people.
The ones bidden to the wedding, who would not come=the jews.
The king, (God), sent more of His servants to bid them come and the remnant(the jews) treated the servants spiteful, even slew them. (This was Gods people, the Jews, reaction to the gospel brought by Jesus)
Vs 7 God punished His chosen...as history bears. He said they were not worthy of the invitation to the wedding, and sent His servants out to the highways...anywhere else, with the wedding invitation (the gospel of Christ comes to the gentiles everywhere....all are invited)
Both bad and good were found and brought to the wedding....it was furnished with guests.
The king, God, found guests without wedding garments on(these are the tares, they are unregenerate, they do not have Christ put on as their spotless garment) these without Christ as their wedding garment were cast out into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth=hell. This is the same way hell is described elsewhere in scripture. This is not where regenerated believers will ever go.
There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ROM 8:1
Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be SAVED FROM WRATH through Him. ROM 5:9
I have more but I would like to take it in chunks. I am learning to rightly divide the word from Pastor Gene Kim. Honestly, every apparent so called 'contradiction' in Gods word is not confusing anymore through discerning who He is speaking to. I am excited to learn more and more of Gods word applying this method and I welcome input! Iron sharpens iron! Let everything with breath praise the Lord!