Daily Writing

Saturday, 22 August 2026

Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 22:13

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Then, the king, he said to the servants, ‘Having bound his feet and hands, you take him, and you cast into the ‘darkness, the outer’. There, it will be the weeping and the ‘gnash, the teeth’.’” (CG)

In the previous verse, the king asked the man how he came into the nuptial without a wedding garment. When asked, he was speechless. It next says, “Then, the king, he said to the servants.”

A different word is used here. In verse 3, it was doulos, a bondservant. Here it is diakonos, an attendant, such as a waiter at a table.  It would be best not to read too much into this. Paul calls himself both in his epistles. However, the distinction may be that because the wedding ceremony is readied, the designation of the attendant is in line with voluntary service rather than that of compulsion. Of these servants, the king says, “Having bound his feet and hands.”

Things are not looking good for this fellow. As he is representative of anyone who is not properly attired, meaning covered by the righteousness of Christ, there will be many who will find out what it means to reject Him and His offer of peace with God.

As suggested in previous commentaries, the man is being used as a representative of not having Christ’s righteousness. It is not that any will somehow creep into the gathering of the saints who are not worthy, but that this is what those who are not worthy can expect. Of them, the command continues, “you take him, and you cast into the ‘darkness, the outer’.”

Some manuscripts leave off the words “you take him.” So either a scribe missed that in the original (something that is very easy to do), or maybe it was added to relieve the abrupt nature of the command without that inclusion.

Either way, the ultimate end of the man remains unchanged. He is cast into outer darkness, a thought repeated from Matthew 8:13, which followed the thought, “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:12).

In both, the idea of Israel not getting a free pass is seen. They must come to God in the same manner that is set for all people. There is one way to be deemed right before God, and it centers on the Person and Work of Jesus. Understanding that, the parable continues with, “There, it will be the weeping and the ‘gnash, the teeth’.”

Again, the words follow what is said in Matthew 8:13. There will be joy and blessing for those who receive the gospel. There will be sadness and misery for those who do not. The parable details this fact. Faith in Jesus is the difference between the two.

Life application: The account of Matthew 8 detailed the faith of the centurion, a gentile who understood Jesus’ authority and capabilities. His faith exceeded that of all others in Israel (Matthew 8:10). This is what prompted Jesus’ words concerning those who would sit and dine with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom.

The parable of the wedding feast parallels that thought. Though it doesn’t mention faith, it does note the unworthiness of some and the worthiness of others. Determining what makes one worthy, faith, makes the parable understandable.

It is not uncommon to hear people say that they have lost their faith because of a calamity, difficulty, or major trial in their lives. Is that a reason to lose faith? If so, it means that we are conditioning our faith on our circumstances, not on the object of proper faith, meaning Jesus.

If anything, our hope in Christ should strengthen when we face such catastrophes. If this world (not God) is weighing us down, we should want to be out of here and with God all the more, not less. Take time to evaluate why you believe what you believe. God does not promise us easy lives, freedom from pain or trial, wealth, or any such thing during this life.

He does, however, promise us a new and far better existence in His presence someday. That is what we should be focusing on. Be sure to fix your eyes on Jesus. Anything else will lead to unhappiness as you walk through this fallen, troubling world.

Lord God, it is certain that difficulties, trials, and tribulations can be expected in this life. Help us to navigate through them with our faith only increasing as we await the day when we are forever in Your presence. Give us the wisdom to stand fast on Your promises which lie ahead. Amen.

Friday, 21 August 2026

So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Matthew 22:12

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And he says to him, ‘Shammer! How – you entered here, not having ‘apparel, nuptial’?’ The ‘also’, he muzzled.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus, still relaying the details of the parable, said that when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man who did not have on a wedding garment. Seeing him, Jesus notes, “And he says to him, ‘Shammer!’”

This is the second of three uses of the word hetairos. HELPS Word Studies defines it, saying, “properly, a companion (normally an imposter), posing to be a comrade but in reality only has his own interests in mind.” They also note he is acting for self-gain.

The man is seen to be unqualified to be at the wedding. Therefore, the king continues, “How – you entered here, not having ‘apparel, nuptial’?”

As noted in the previous commentary, this is an example of the care that will be given to the matter of the feast. It’s not that a person who is not qualified to be there will be mistakenly taken at the rapture. Rather, it is a way of demonstrating limitation. Only those who are properly attired will be able to attend.

God knows, in advance, who is His and who is not. In a good church with good doctrine and a right heart for the Lord, there may be some who are only there for a selfish reason. They will be excluded.

In a bad church with few who care about the Lord, there may be some who still hold to the truth and have faith in the Lord and His word. They will be included while the others are excluded. As it says in 2 Timothy 2:19, “The Lord knows those who are His.” Finishing up the thought, Jesus says, “The ‘also’, he muzzled.”

Considering that Jesus’ parable points to those of the law who have rejected the grace of God in Christ, Paul’s words of Romans 3 fit these words well –

“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19, 20

Life application: For those who insist on law observance, it is good to be reminded for whom the law is designed. Is this how you want to be perceived by God? Paul says –

“But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, ¹⁰ for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” 1 Timothy 1:8-11

Is that how you want to be considered in God’s eyes? If so, keep up with your law observance! When you are evaluated in accord with the standard you have chosen, you will find yourself removed from God’s presence because of your unfaithful stand.

You have willingly continued to place yourself at enmity with God, because it is by law that we have the knowledge of sin. When sin is committed under the law, judgment must be meted out. However, in Christ, because of trusting in His fulfillment of the law, Paul says we are not under law but grace.

As we are not under law, there is no judgment leading to condemnation. Sin cannot be imputed where law does not exist. This is what it means to be “in Christ.” As Jesus has met God’s standard, and because we have trusted in the imputation of His righteousness to us by faith, we are a part of Him, set aside from any chance of condemnation.

Why would anyone want to set that aside and live under law? And yet, it is as common as mosquitoes in Florida in the summertime. People need to think clearly about the consequences of their prideful actions. By placing oneself under law, he is bound to the consequences of violating that law.

People understand this in other areas of life. In the US, there is an enormous exodus of people from liberal states where laws are passed to punish the people with high taxes, removal of personal freedoms, and the imposition of nutty restrictions. They want to be freed from those things, understanding that the move will take them to a place where those laws don’t exist.

Law is the problem! And yet, in our spiritual lives, so many keep going back to the source of penalties instead of the freedom in Christ. Think things through. Trust in God’s grace. Rest contentedly in the full, final, finished, and forever work of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord God Almighty, help us to think clearly about where we will hang our proverbial hat in matters related to salvation. May we never consider hanging it anywhere but on Jesus’ completed work. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Thursday, 20 August 2026

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. Matthew 22:11

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Having entered, also, the king, to view those reclining, he beheld there – man, not ‘having been donned, apparel, nuptial’.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus continued the parable, noting that the king’s servants went to the roads and gathered as many as they found, both evil and good, filling the nuptial. He next says, “Having entered, also, the king, to view those reclining.”

The verb theaomai, to look closely at, is used. It is as if gazing at a spectacle. As seen previously, it is the root of théatron, a spectacle in a theater, something one carefully sees and contemplates. The king is pleased to look upon his guests and see them all acceptably ready for the event.  However, it next says, “he beheld there – man, not ‘having been donned, apparel, nuptial’.”

The eye of the king, while looking over the theater of humanity who have been invited from all areas, lights upon a single man who is not appropriately attired. Many commentators refer to ancient customs where those attending weddings were given special garments by the one inviting in order to identify them as members of the wedding party.

A list of verses from the Bible is given, none of which prove this was a universal custom. Despite that, it seems logical that this is the case here, not because it was standard custom, but because of who was invited, meaning everyone they could find, including both evil and good.

It would be unlikely that the poor would have a particular garment identifiable to a king at a wedding. Hence, as the invitation was accepted, for the sake of the parable, a garment identifiable to him would be issued. That is referred to by Jesus in Revelation –

“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5

Although referring to a different group in Revelation 19, the same metaphor is clearly explained there –

“And it was given to her that she should be clothed – ‘fine linen, pure, and radiant’. The ‘because’ fine linen: the ‘righteousnesses, the saints’ it is.” Revelation 19:8 (CG).

Although one might ask, “How could someone get into the wedding banquet if this is referring to a time after the rapture?” Such a supposition would mean that God made a mistake in rapturing someone who wasn’t worthy.

That is not the point. A single man is identified out of the seemingly endless number of people there. Thus, the point is one of limitation. Not a single person who does not possess the righteousnesses of Christ will be accepted. Thus, the meaning is that one will not be accepted because of wealth, status, culture, intelligence, or any other reason than the imputation of righteousness from Jesus to the individual.

Therefore, the “man, not ‘having been donned, apparel, nuptial’,” is an advanced warning that if one has not called on Christ, he is not worthy of participating in His wedding feast. As the parable is spoken to the people of Israel who are under the law, Jesus is telling them, quite plainly, that they will no longer be what God is doing.

The burning of the city, the rejection of their supposed worthiness, and the calling of all others is the highlight of this verse, summed up in the man’s not wearing the appropriate attire. It is a truth that extends to all in the future, but the focus is on Israel and the law at this time. Only in coming to Christ is one acceptable before the Father.

Life application: Those in Israel who were determined to hang their proverbial salvation hat on Moses would never the righteousness of Christ. Original sin blocked them from being qualified, and sinning under the law marked them as incapable of overriding the fallen nature of Adam.

This is what law does. It puts up a barrier between God and man. And more, in pursuing the law instead of resting in Christ’s righteousness, pride is revealed. That only puts a greater barrier between the two. It is a barrier that cannot be breached but which must be removed entirely.

In Romans 8, Paul writes of the law of the Spirit (trust in Christ) being opposed to the law of sin and death (living under the Law of Moses). He sums up that thought, saying, “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8).

If you are trusting in adherence to the Law of Moses, you are not pleasing to God. You are an affront to Him. He has given us the way of righteousness by sending His Son to do what deeds of the law could never do. Trust in Christ, give up your arrogance of law observance, and be reconciled to God before it is too late.

O God, how foolish we are if we think we can do better than what You have done in the sending of Jesus. May we trust in His merits alone to obtain our garments of righteousness. Thank You that they are attainable through what He did for us! Amen.

Wednesday, 19 August 2026

So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. Matthew 22:10

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And having departed, the ‘servants, those’ into the roads, they gathered all, as many as they found, evil, both, and good. And it filled, the nuptial – reclinings.” (CG)

The previous verse noted that the king said to his servants to go through the through-departures and as many people as they found, to call them to the nuptials. He next says, “And having departed, the ‘servants, those’ into the roads, they gathered all.”

Out they went, dutifully looking for people to attend the wedding ceremony. One can imagine the apostles and early disciples, once finding that Gentiles were to be a part of the kingdom, actively going out and sharing the good news.

Those who heard this parable would remember it and consider that the plan was set and all they needed to do was engage their feet and get going. What they had no idea about was the scope of the task, either in expansion or in time –

“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ ⁷ And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’” Acts 1:6-8

When Jesus was departing, these disciples were still thinking of the promised earthly kingdom, not realizing that two-thousand years would pass, and that every nation on the planet was to be evangelized. Nations that didn’t exist at the time would participate in the process.

As the world has evolved, the priority has remained unchanged in the lives of those who have accepted the call to continue inviting others to the coming event. That is in fulfillment of the words of the parable, saying, “as many as they found, evil, both, and good.”

A new word is seen here, te, a primary particle of connection or addition. Generally, it is translated as both or also. HELPS Word Studies says it “occurs 204 times in the NT and unfortunately is often not translated.” They rightfully rue over the fact that translators do not include such articles, as if they are unnecessary.

Of the words of this clause, Cambridge says, “bad and good] Who will always co-exist in the Church on earth.” Other commentators repeat the same thought. That misses the point and incorrectly explains the parable. This is not referring to bad people who remain bad in the church, as if they will or will not participate in the event. This is referring to the state of those who are called, when they are called.

No person is to be excluded from hearing the gospel. The “good” people who are honest, responsible with their lives, pay their bills by working decently, etc., need Jesus. The “bad” people like drug addicts, prostitutes, swindlers, and politicians(!) need Jesus too. All are invited to respond favorably to the good news. Someday, the last person to be evangelized will hear and respond. At that time, the rapture will take place, “And it filled, the nuptial – reclinings.”

Well, we don’t need to worry about what the seating arrangements will be like. The idea of “reclinings” is the Middle-Eastern style of sitting at a low table. Of this style of dining, the Topical Lexicon says it –

“…portrays the first-century practice of reclining on a couch while partaking of a meal. In Scripture it frames scenes of fellowship, invitation, judgment, and eschatological promise. The posture itself is never incidental; it locates the participants within covenantal meals that anticipate the Messianic banquet and reveal the heart of Christ for sinners and saints alike.

Cultural Background of Reclining

By the early Roman period Jewish and Gentile diners adopted the Greco-Roman triclinium. Guests lay on the left side, feet extended outward, right hand free for eating. Reclining indicated belonging, honor, and enjoyment. Servants moved among the couches; hosts signaled welcome through seating order.”

Life application: As noted above, those who are in the church and who do not believe will not be a part of this event. The rapture will take those who are sealed with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13,14). Our job is to tell others about Jesus. Their job is to believe.

Those who join a church and don’t believe, for whatever reason, will not be taken. It is the sealing of the Spirit, something known by God, that will bring about our being taken to the feast that is coming. This gives good reason why the strong delusion Paul refers to in 2 Thessalonians 2 will be possible.

Although we don’t know who is or who is not sealed with the Spirit, it is rather certain that the Pope has no personal relationship with Jesus. This unbelief permeates much of the Roman Catholic church, along with leaders and adherents of many major denominations.

When the rapture happens, and they are not taken, it will be easy to dismiss the event. They sit smugly in their religiosity, thinking they are the center of God’s plans and purposes. The world, too, looks at them as the representatives of “true” Christianity. As such, their being left behind will provide a simple means of beginning this strong delusion.

Lord God, help us to diligently tell those around us about the prospect of eternal life in Your presence, paid for solely by the merits of Jesus Christ. May we never water down the gospel. There are no works of our own that will bring us any closer to You. Our faith in His works is the ticket. Thank You for this wonderful gesture of love and reconciliation. Amen.

Tuesday, 18 August 2026

Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ Matthew 22:9

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“You go, therefore, upon the ‘through-departures, the roads’, and as many, if you should find, you call to the nuptials.” (CG)

The previous verse noted that the king said to his servants that the nuptial was ready, but that those who had been invited weren’t worthy. Because of this, Jesus continues, saying, “You go, therefore, upon the ‘through-departures, the roads’.”

This is a word found only here in Scripture, diexodos. It is derived from dia, through, and exodos, a departure (sometimes figuratively, as in death). The word signifies a way out through, such as an outlet. One could think of a modern indoor shopping mall where one goes through it to come to a way out. Thus, you traverse a distance in order to exit.

In the case of what is being conveyed, the focus has been transferred away from Jerusalem and, indeed, all of Israel. The city has been burned (verse 7), those who had been called were not worthy (verse 8), and so the gospel is now going into foreign lands. Where there are gatherings of people, be it on a country road, a small town, or a bustling city, one must go through in order to continue on, as if the whole world is a giant shopping mall of human souls.

Following the travels of Paul and those with him in the book of Acts will show this process. As he arrived in a city, he would begin the process, usually starting at the synagogue. They would normally quickly harass him, be found unworthy, and then he would press on with the saving message of the gospel to the Gentiles he encountered –

“Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us:
“I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.”’
⁴⁸ Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:46-48

This process of going to the through-departures has continued on for over two thousand years as people walk, bike, take cars, trains, ships, and airplanes in order to go from one place to the next. Airports are like their own through-departures as a person gets off one plane coming in from Sarasota, Florida, through-departures in Atlanta, through-departures again in Detroit to Japan, and through-departures again to Iligan City in the Philippines.

As people traverse these airports, if they are industrious, they will blanket the airport with tracts about Jesus (be sure to give one to the lady at the coffee stand!). And why is this done? Because it is the commission of sharing the gospel, reflected in Jesus’ next words, “and as many, if you should find, you call to the nuptials.”

The word has gone out. There is a Redeemer, and He has come to bring people from all languages, cultures, races, and locations to Himself through the sharing of the good news.

Life application: Why is it so important that you share the gospel? The reason is that if you don’t, the people you come in contact with may never hear the saving message of Jesus. John 3:18 tells us that all people are “condemned already.” We don’t need to do a thing to wind up in the Lake of Fire. That is our default position. If not you, then who?

And more, it should be taken as an axiom that Satan is doing his best to frustrate the going forth of the true gospel. One way that happens is by sending out his minions with false gospels. And they are diligent to get their word out. The annoying Jehovah’s Witnesses who come to your door are doing Satan’s bidding, stealing away souls from coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus.

The Mormons… they have a worldwide organization set up to share the wrong news, plant false churches, and lead people down the path to perdition. They are effective in getting their false gospel out, and they are motivated to do so. Most cults are. When you have to perform in order to participate, you are normally highly motivated to act.

Instead, Jesus trusts that those who have been deeply touched by the grace of the gospel will be willing to open their mouths and speak. Be a part of what is presented by Jesus in Matthew 22:9. He gave this parable as a revelation of what would be happening in the world after Israel turned their collective back on their Messiah. Now, it is our job to let the world see the glory of the Christ of the nations. If not you, then who?

Lord God, may we diligently go forth to the through-departures of the world, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ as we do. Be it a shopping mall, an airport, or a large city, whatever we are passing through, help us to remember to be about sharing this wonderful release from sin, which leads to restoration with You. Amen.