Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 22:2

"The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son," — Matthew 22:2 (ASV)

Which made a marriage for his son — The seed of the thought that forms the basis of this parable is found in a brief reference in Luke 12:36: When he shall return from the wedding. Here, for the first time, it appears in a fully developed form.

The parable of Luke 14:15-24 is not specifically connected with the idea of a wedding feast. The thought itself was based, at least in part, on the language of the older prophets. They spoke of God as the Bridegroom and Israel as His bride (Isaiah 62:5), and they viewed Israel’s idolatry as the adultery of a faithless wife (Jeremiah 3:1–4) who had abandoned the love of her youthful devotion (Jeremiah 2:2).

In this parable, the prominent idea is that of the guests who are invited to the feast. The interpretation, at this point, lies almost on the surface. The king is none other than God, and the wedding is between Christ and His Church, the redeemed and purified Israel (Revelation 19:7–9).

We must also remember a truth that the form of the parable excludes: the guests themselves, insofar as they obey the call and are clothed in the wedding garment, become, in their collective unity, the Church which is the bride .