In looking through the scriptures associated with Holy Monday, I was struck by the “Parable of the Wedding Feast” from Matthew 22:1-14. I never really paid much attention to this parable before and was moved by the passion and boldess of Jesus in one of His last times of public teaching.
It was an exciting challenge to write a song based on this text. It’s not every day that you get to sing: “There’s prime rib served with oxen stew in God’s Kingdom” (Matthew 22:4). And yet, that is exactly the kind of detail that Jesus includes in this story. It is incredibly endearing that though Christ had limited time before His death, He stopped to tell a few more stories and made sure not to spare any details. Oxen and fattened cattle were on the menu.
So you have these various groups of characters in the story, some good (the King, his son, the servants, the soldiers, the second group of invited guests) and some bad (those who reject the first invitation and the man who was not wearing his wedding garments). And you have this King who is desperate to invite people to his party. I love when he sends out the second invitation and extends his welcome to everyone, “both the good and bad” (Matthew 22:10). Does that sound familiar?
Jesus is truly a master teacher. He’s addressing the people of His day but He’s also speaking to you and I. Have we heard the call to enter His Kindom? Have we accepted His invitation? Are we ready for His feast by wearing the right garments? These are important questions. We hope that this song brings you to a point of honesty and that you will respond correctly to God’s invitation into His Kingdom.
lyrics
In God’s Kingdom
Words and Music by: Eric Himes
VERSE 1:
God’s Kingdom’s like a wedding feast,
The table’s set, the banquet’s free.
Invited guests would not receive God’s Kingdom.
The King sends out his servants to
Remind his guests: this is for you.
There’s prime rib served with oxen stew in God’s Kingdom.
CHORUS 1:
But the guests just shrug their shoulders,
Go to work or to their gardens,
Even worse some kill the servants.
VERSE 2:
The King sends out his soldiers who
Destroy those guests; their cities too.
They cling to lies; denying truth of God’s Kingdom.
The King had no desire to waste,
He told his staff: “It’s not too late.”
“Invite more guests to celebrate in God’s Kingdom.”
CHORUS 2:
So they went into the cities
Found the praised and found the pitied
And the good, the bad were all invited.
VERSE 3:
The King was not surprised to see
The mixture of his company
And sinners filling every seat in God’s Kingdom.
But the King could not permit
The guest without his garments.
For there’s no room for hypocrites in God’s Kingdom.
OUTRO:
In God’s Kingdom…
For many are called…
But few have chosen…
credits
from Holy Week,
released April 8, 2011
Words and Music by: Eric Himes
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