He often told them stories about "the Kingdom of Heaven," for He wanted all who heard Him to enter into that Kingdom, and to share its everlasting joy.
The parable I am going to tell you to-day is one in which the Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a certain great King who made a marriage feast for his son.
He invited a great many guests, and when all was ready, he sent his servants to call them all to the wedding.
But the guests who were invited were so busy about their own affairs that they did not trouble to come to the King's house!
Then the King sent some more servants, with the message that everything was prepared for the feast, and to bid the guests to come to the marriage.
But they made light of the invitation! One went to his farm, and another to his business; and the rest treated the King's messengers very badly, and even killed some of them.
Then the King was very angry, and sent his armies against the men who had murdered his messengers.
Then the King said to his servants, "The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy: go instead into the highways, and bid all that you can find to come to the marriage."
So the servants went out, and gathered all they could find, and brought them to the King's Palace, both bad and good. And this time there were plenty of people who came to accept the invitation.
Then the King came in to see the guests, and his eyes fell on one of them who had not on a wedding garment.