Matthew 22:6-10

Mat 22:6 (KJB)
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

Spitefully - Mistreat, abuse, treat disgracefully

Then the third group of servants had met the remnant which seemed to be much more violent than the previous group. They had taken the servants and treated them disgracefully and even slew them. This is probably a reference to the fact that God had sent prophets among Israel and Judah to bring them back in line but they rejected their own prophets and even killed them. The fact that the servants were treated like this was also an insult to the one who sent them in good faith, namely the King. It was bad enough the invitation was rebuffed but the fact that there was violence heaped upon the servants was the final ignominy.

Mat 22:7 (KJB)
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

If a king in ancient times was rebuffed the way this king was, it was at his discretion that he could have an entire town burned down, even for the smallest offense. The prophecy in verse 7 is speaking of the destruction of Israel in 70 A.D. God will dispatch the armies of Titus to completely raze the city of Jerusalem. It is quite interesting that the Scripture refers to the Roman army as God’s army. This means that God has sovereign rule over all the world and the individual armies of each country are at His disposal. The continued rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ and their war on Christianity was why they were removed from all the countries of the world. Now they would have to live under Gentile rule. No longer would there be any need for a physical temple because it, like the animal sacrifices and offerings, were all looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is by grace and not by animal sacrifices as the book of Hebrews speaks about. God is now dealing with the entire world and not with just one nation anymore. The church universal was now going to be the representative of God on earth until the last day.

Mat 22:8 (KJB)
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Those who were the original privileged guests had refused to come to the eternal wedding and as a result the king has determined them not worthy. They had dishonored the king and as a result, they were so concerned about their businesses and farms, now soon they will not have any farms or businesses to worry about because their country will be taken from them and destroyed. The wedding being ready means the wedding was not canceled because the invited guests rejected the king, it means that despite human defiance, God’s plans will never be thwarted.

Mat 22:9 (KJB)
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

The king then dispatched a whole new group of servants and told them to go out into the highways and bring in as many as they find. In ancient times, the highways connected major cities and normally there was much human traffic on these roads. So this would have been the place to find many who would come to the marriage. This is a foreshadow of world evangelism as many Christians will go to the world and send forth the Gospel and those who are chosen will respond and be saved, thus making them part of the bride of Christ.

Mat 22:10 (KJB)
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.

Along these highways were not only the good people who were traveling for legitimate reasons but there was also thieves and robbers who would prey on those traveling alone. The servants did not discriminate as they had found many people who came into the wedding and the result was that the wedding was furnished full with guests. One must remember that when God originally called Abraham, He told him that he would be a blessing to all the families of the earth and that blessing was the Lord Jesus Christ who has sent His children all over this world with the Gospel message. (Gen 12:2-3 KJV) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: {3} And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Anyone who curses the body of believers or individual Christians will be cursed of God and those who bless them, will be blessed of the Lord. We see God putting this into effect in Israel by destroying the nation in 70 A.D. It is only through Christ that the nations of the world are blessed and not the modern nation of Israel as is preached. If one thinks the modern nation of Israel is a blessing to all the world just ask the Palestinians who have been hurt more than any other people by Israel.

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