Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Matthew Chapter 22
Metaphysically Interpreting Matthew 22:1-14
22:1And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying, 22:2The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, 22:3and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come.22:4Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast. 22:5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; 22:6and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. 22:7But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 22:8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. 22:9Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast.22:10And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests.
22:11But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: 22:12and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. 22:13Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 22:14For many are called, but few chosen.
MARCH 14, 1965: Matt. 21:28-31; 22:1-14
Also read: Matt. 21:28-31
[The first part of this lesson is repeated from the Matt. 21 lesson – ed.]
WEEKLY UNITY
Unity explains this week's International BIBLE LESSON
The Source of Man's Dominion.
How do we acknowledge the authority of God as supreme? By word or act or both. Unless words and acts are harmonized, action is the most complete acknowledgment.
Where our words are not in harmony with our acts, what state of consciousness is revealed in us? We are shown to be in a state of weakened faith with our will functioning improperly. If we are to reveal ourselves as sons of God, we need the courage of our convictions and the will to do what we say we intend to do.
What helps us to make our acceptance of divine authority unqualified? the realization on our part that only the good is true and that evil is not real, and that God is our Father, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient.
Is it important for us to use our understanding of Truth even though we may feel that it is small and weak? Yes. Our understanding of Truth and our ability to use Truth in every department of our life increase as we diligently and faithfully use the Truth that we know.
What is symbolized by the king and the marriage feast? The king is God, who has prepared infinite abundance for all who will accept and partake of it. The marriage is the union of man with Spirit. The feast is the unrestricted appropriation of divine substance.
Who are those who do not accept the king's summons? Those in personal consciousness. They not only make light of the good news, they continue to pursue their worldly interests, and definitely reject the summons (kill the king's messengers). The price they pay is loss of the spiritual abundance that God would give them.
What is required of us who obey the summons? We must prepare ourselves to participate in this good by spiritual thinking and living. The "wedding garment" is the robe of righteousness, without which we shall not be permitted to eat at the divine table.
Why are "few chosen" from the many who are called? This statement of Jesus does not mean that God and His laws are capricious, for His laws are always exact and impartial. Those are chosen who have made the necessary preparation and are in readiness.
Seek in all things to express good will.
Metaphysically Interpreting Matthew 22:15-22
22:15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his talk. 22:16And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou regardest not the person of men. 22:17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 22:18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites? 22:19Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius. 22:20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 22:21They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22:22And when they heard it, they marvelled, and left him, and went away.
MARCH 4, 1962: Exod. 20:15; Josh. 7:19-26; Matt. 22:15-22
Also read: Exod. 20:15 and Josh. 7:19-26
WEEKLY UNITY
BIBLE LESSON
The Unity Interpretation of the International Sunday School Lesson
Honesty as a Principle.
Is honesty a principle or a policy? It is both, but it is foremost a principle, reaching down to the roots of character. To be honest is to be true in our thinking and in all our dealings.
How is dishonesty overcome? By a change of heart and a reorientation of the life from self to service. The temptation to be dishonest disappears when a person enters into the Christ Spirit and transforms the desire to possess into the desire to give or to share.
Of what are we all stewards? Of Truth. We are in charge of the riches of the inner kingdom, and to be just stewards we must spend these riches faithfully and use them aright.
What does Achan represent? Achan (trouble, troublesome, a troubler) represents covetousness. The great troubler of the spiritual thoughts (Israelites) in us is the notion that certain sense beliefs and habits that appear to us to be good should be held to indefinitely.
What does Joshua represent? Joshua (Jehovah is salvation; Jehovah is deliverer) in this lesson represents the I AM, which governs and controls the activity of thought in the inner realms.
What is symbolized by the things that Achan took and hid? Old ideas of the comforts that have seemed to us to be necessary. These must be denied away. Also, all the gold and silver (earthly wisdom and substance) and the earthly life and strength activities (sons, daughters, oxen, asses, sheep) must be dedicated to God and transmuted into their true spiritual essence.
Of what is Caesar a symbol in man's consciousness? Caesar here is a symbol of the tyrannical rule of the personal will unmodified by spiritual love and mercy and justice.
How do we "render ... unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's" in our own consciousness? We give the right amount of care and attention to external interests when we learn to express our inner life—our thoughts, feelings, and convictions—fully and freely in our contacts with others.
How can we distinguish between the thoughts and tendencies in ourselves that belong to Caesar and those which belong to God? Whatever is but a symbol of the true substance is of the external, and is Caesar's. The real substance of life, love, understanding, and Truth is of the inner life, and belongs to God.
I purpose in my heart to gain a clear understanding of Truth and to express Truth in my life.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 10-17-2013
