Tag: weeping and gnashing of teeth
No wedding garment!
Scripture reading for August 16th: Isaiah 1-3, Psalm 9, Matthew 22
Matthew 22: 11-14 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Jesus told the parable of the great king’s wedding feast. This parable was a parable of the kingdom of heaven. The king sent out his servants to invite the guests to his son’s wedding. The guests made excuses so the king sent the servants to gather up any who would willingly attend. As the king viewed the wedding guests, a man without proper wedding garments stood out and he questioned how he was admitted. The man had no excuse as he knew it was the king’s son’s wedding. The consequences were dire–cast out into outer darkness with much weeping and gnashing of teeth. This indicated remorse and an eternally missed opportunity. God sees each person and their heart and will judge with justice!
Psalm 9:7-8 “But the Lord sits enthroned forever; He has established His throne for justice, and He judges the world with righteousness; He judges the people with uprightness.”
Prayer: Father God, we love you and thank You for the invitation to the wedding of Your Son, Jesus Christ! I have put on the wedding garment You provided–the righteousness of Christ Himself through His total obedience and sacrifice. As Your betrothed, use me to invite all nations to this great event and to receive the gift of Christ’s righteousness as their wedding garment.
Isaiah 1:18-20 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
“Strive to enter the narrow door!”
Scripture reading for March 29th: Deuteronomy 32-34, Psalm 13, Luke 13
Luke 13:23-27 “And someone said to Him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord open to us,’ then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from Me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, . . .”
Jesus was ministering to His own people, the Jews. He warned them that they all must repent or perish. (Luke 13:5) He told them a parable about a barren fig tree. (Luke 13:6-9) The fig tree represented national Israel in Scripture. Jesus spoke plainly to them and healed sick people but their response was to get upset because He healed on the Sabbath. So then, in response to a question on how many would be saved, Jesus admonished the people to enter by the ‘narrow door!’ He would later emphasize that He was the “Door” to the sheepfold and the only way to enter the Kingdom. He also warned that the window of opportunity would not last forever. There would be many surprises and great loss at the judgment.
Deuteronomy 32:46-47 “. . .he (Moses) said to them, “Take to heart all the Words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the Words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by the Word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for caring for Your people by speaking straight to them. Thank You for Your grace through Jesus Christ that takes away fear of being shut out of Your kingdom. Help me to enter through the ‘narrow Door’ of faith in Jesus and lead others to that eternal rest of salvation and inheritance.
Psalm 13:5-6 “But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Will only a few be saved?
Scripture reading for March 20th: Luke 13
Jesus was asked some direct questions and gave some revealing answers! On His way to Jerusalem for His last Passover, a man came and asked Him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” “He said to them, “Make every effort to enter the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But He will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.'” (Luke 13:23-25)
Jesus didn’t answer the question about a few being saved, but He did emphasize that many who wanted to enter would not be able to. It was important to enter through the narrow door. Jesus had proclaimed that He alone was the door or gate that men could enter. (John 10:7) He alone was the way, truth, and life. (John 14:6) He emphasized that many would knock on the door after it was closed and the door would not be opened to them because the Master did not know them.
“Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from Me you evildoers!’ There will be weeping there and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.” (Luke 13:26-28) Many religious people expected to enter the kingdom, but because they rejected Jesus Christ, they would be thrown out! Knowing about Jesus and even observing Him would not get them in! Only a few will be saved through the ‘Narrow Door’!