The parable of the wedding banquet is another reminder that if the Jewish people won’t accept their Messiah, then others will! It reveals that although a general call goes out to everyone, not everyone believes.
1 Corinthians 1:24-30 “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, so that no one can boast in his presence. He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’“
If we are His, it’s not because of our own effort. We need to boast in the Lord!
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”
His parables continue to upset the religious leadership and they seek to trap Him. Taxation was a big issue because people were heavily taxed by Rome. If Jesus sided with Rome He would lose support, but if He sided with the people then the leadership could accuse Him of insurrection. (Are there any parallels to today?!?!?!?) Jesus deftly avoids the issue by showing that He is not trying to establish an earthly kingdom in opposition to Rome. He’s not concerned about money and taxes, they are! This passage is often used to show that Christians have a responsibility to obey civil laws (as long as they are not ungodly) and to pay taxes.
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