What Does Wedding Feast Mean?
And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, The rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find. And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. “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.
Key Facts
Term Name
Wedding Feast
Primary Meaning
Symbolizes God’s invitation to covenantal union, salvation, and the celebration of His kingdom.
Old Testament Reference
Isaiah 25:6-8, envisioning a future banquet where God erases death and sorrow.
New Testament Fulfillment
Revelation 19:7-9, where the Church is portrayed as Christ’s bride, awaiting His return.
Key Takeaways
- The wedding feast symbolizes God’s invitation to His kingdom and covenantal union with humanity.
- Jesus’ parable in Matthew 22:1-14 illustrates the consequences of rejecting God’s salvation offer.
- The wedding feast underscores the Church’s role as Christ’s bride, awaiting His return (Revelation 19:7-9).
The Wedding Feast in the Old Testament
The wedding feast in the Old Testament symbolizes covenantal union and divine provision, rooted in Israelite cultural practices and prophetic visions.
In Genesis 29:22-28, Jacob’s marriage to Leah and Rachel is marked by a communal feast, reflecting how marriage in ancient Israel often celebrated covenantal bonds between families. Prophetic texts like Isaiah 25:6-8 envision a future banquet where God hosts all peoples, erasing death and sorrow - a metaphor for His ultimate redemption of creation. These feasts signified not only joyous human relationships but also God’s promises of restoration and fellowship. The communal nature of such events underscored themes of inclusion, divine generosity, and the anticipation of a perfected world.
This imagery laid the foundation for New Testament metaphors of God’s kingdom as a wedding banquet, while preserving the Old Testament’s emphasis on covenantal faithfulness and shared celebration.
Jesus and the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14)
Jesus reimagines the wedding feast as a parable of divine invitation and human response, building on Old Testament covenantal imagery.
In Matthew 22:1-14, the king’s invitation to a wedding feast symbolizes God’s call to His kingdom, but the guests’ rejection and violence mirror Israel’s historical resistance to God’s messengers. The king’s fury and subsequent call to ‘both good and evil’ (Matthew 22:10) signal a radical shift: the Kingdom of Heaven will now embrace all peoples, including those not chosen, reflecting both God’s grace and the urgency of repentance.
Theologically, the parable underscores that the Kingdom’s invitation is universal but not guaranteed. The king’s instruction to fill the banquet with ‘both good and evil’ (Matthew 22:10) highlights inclusion over exclusion, yet Matthew 22:11-14 introduces a criterion for participation - the need to wear a wedding garment, symbolizing readiness through faith and repentance. This duality suggests that while God’s offer is open to all, it demands a transformative response. The feast thus becomes a metaphor for the Church, where diversity coexists with a call to holiness.
By reinterpreting the wedding feast, Jesus positions the Kingdom of Heaven as both a gift and a summons, bridging Israel’s covenantal legacy with the new covenant’s inclusivity. This parable invites readers to consider how they might respond to such an invitation.
The Wedding Feast and the Church Today
The wedding feast symbol continues to shape Christian life through its call to joyful participation and readiness in God’s redemptive plan.
In Revelation 19:7-9, the Church is portrayed as the bride of Christ, eagerly awaiting His return - a vision of union and celebration that underscores the intimacy of God’s covenant. Matthew 25:1-13 warns of the need for vigilance, as the ten virgins’ readiness (or lack thereof) mirrors the Church’s responsibility to prepare for the bridegroom’s unexpected arrival. Luke 14:15-24 expands this imagery to emphasize divine hospitality, as the banquet welcomes marginalized guests, reflecting God’s desire to include all peoples in His kingdom.
Believers are thus invited to respond with gratitude and humility, recognizing both the grace and the seriousness of God’s invitation. The feast reveals a God who is both generous in His welcome and faithful to His promises, urging the Church to embody these values in its life and mission.
Going Deeper
The wedding feast's symbolism intertwines with other biblical meals that foreshadow or fulfill God's covenantal promises.
The Passover meal (Exodus 12:1-14) prefigures God’s deliverance, while the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-29) institutes a new covenant, both inviting reflection on our preparedness to embrace God’s redemptive work.
Further Reading
Key Scripture Mentions
Genesis 29:22-28
Jacob’s marriage to Leah and Rachel, marked by a communal feast symbolizing covenantal bonds.
Isaiah 25:6-8
A prophetic vision of God’s future banquet erasing death and sorrow, symbolizing redemption.
Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast illustrating God’s universal invitation and the need for readiness.
Revelation 19:7-9
The Church as the bride of Christ, celebrating His return as the ultimate wedding feast.
Related Concepts
Covenant (Theological Concepts)
Central to the wedding feast’s symbolism, representing God’s binding promises to humanity.
Wedding Garment (Symbols)
In Matthew 22:11-14, symbolizes faith and repentance required for participation in God’s kingdom.
The Last Supper (Events)
A covenantal meal foreshadowing the wedding feast, linking salvation to Jesus’ sacrifice.