What Jesus Did! 'The Power of Stories!' — Matthew 22:1-4

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

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Jesus also told [the leading priests and Pharisees] other parables. He said, "The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

"So he sent other servants to tell them, 'The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!'"

— Matthew 22:1-4 NLT

Key Thought

I love stories. It doesn't matter if they are parables or just anecdotes. When stories cut across our experience, when they are built out of the fabric of our lives, then they capture us and work themselves down into our hearts.

Jesus loved stories about weddings. Weddings were such joyful and passionate times in his culture. For him, weddings offered all sorts of opportunities for teaching. So many people had been to weddings and been a part of them in his time. The emotions ran deep. The involved families and friends added color, tension, excitement, love, confusion, joy, and risk.

Jesus once again used a story to make his point — a point we can't miss. But today, remember that Jesus used stories. We're so prone to spout a proverbial saying, a slogan we've heard from sports, or even a rule we've picked up from our religious environment. But today, let's be reminded of the power of stories and learn to tell more of them — especially stories that carry a Kingdom message.

Today's Prayer

Please, dear Father, in the life of my family, with my children, and around my friends, help me to use stories that help them catch a glimmer of your glory and the power of your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Matthew 13:1-3
  • Matthew 7:24-29
  • Matthew 13:34-35

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 22:1-4 NLT — "The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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