Season 4 Podcast 178 The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 22:1-14, Pt 1, “The Wedding Guest.”
Season 4 Podcast 178 The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 22:1-14, Pt 1, “The Wedding Guest.”
Last week we talked of the Wedding Guest as found in Matthew 22: 1-10. This week I should like to continue the theme, for it is such an important one in the teachings of Christ. Remember that the parable began with
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Christ often speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven. In John 14, Christ taught:
“2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
We learn from the above that his Father’s House is vast, and mansions cover an incomprehensible real estate. I suppose we could get some idea if we simply looked up at own Milky Way. We also learn that that there is a separation. Above Christ is focusing on where he will live, and he promises to prepare mansions for those who follow him in the same kingdom where he dwells. Paul expands the theme of many mansions in First Corinthians 15, showing three distinct divisions, using light and glory as the dividing factor.
“40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.”
Clearly Christ will live in the Celestial Glory or the glory compared to the brightness of the sun. In Second Corinthians 12, Paul speaks of being caught up in the third heaven
“2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth; 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”
We can only assume that the Third Heaven, or highest, compared to the glory of the sun, is referring to the Celestial Kingdom also spoken of by Paul. The Second Heaven, or Kingdom of Heaven, compared to the glory of the moon, Paul Calls the Terrestrial Kingdom. The first, or lowest, Kingdom, which Paul does not name, is compared to the glory of the stars. It appears that the kingdoms compared to the glory of the stars are seemingly infinite in number, “for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.”
If we closely examine the scriptures relating to the wedding guests, we find a natural correlation to the three kingdoms spoken of by Paul. They define who enters each kingdom. Using Paul’s language, let’s define Group One as those who inherit the kingdoms relating the glory of the stars. Group Two as those who inherit the kingdom relating the glory of the moon, called the Terrestrial Kingdom. And Group Three as those who inherit the glory of the Sun, called the Celestial Kingdom.
Let’s first examine GROUP THREE, those who inherit mansions compared to the glory of the sun, or those who inherit the Celestial Kingdom.
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