Ver. 1. Spake unto them again] That by one discourse he might peg in another. He had but a while to be with men, and see how he bestirs him! Natural motion is more swift and violent toward the end of it. It was as pleasant to Christ to seek men’s salvation as it is to the devil to seek their destruction; who therefore doth his utmost, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time, Revelation 12:12, his malevolence is motive to his diligence.
Ver. 2. Like unto a certain king] God is a great King, and he stands upon his seniority, Malachi 1:8, will be served of the best, and curseth that cheat that does otherwise, Matthew 22:14. He scorneth to drink the devil’s snuffs, to take his leavings.
Ver. 3. They would, not come] They proved recusants, and this rendered them unworthy of eternal life, Acts 13:46. God’s ministers sent to call them, must turn them over to him, with a Non convertentur, uncovertable person, and let him deal with them.
Ver. 4. Behold I have prepared my dinner] Luke calleth it a supper. The kingdom of heaven is compared to both, to show that the saints do both dine and sup with Christ; they eat at his table continually, as Mephibosheth did at David’s, yea, they have, as Jeconiah had, a continual portion from the king every day, a certain, all the days of their lives. My oxen and my fatlings are killed] Gr. Are sacrificed, τεθυμενα, but here it is translated to common use, because even heathen princes began their solenm feasts with sacrifices (which was craving a blessing on their food in their way), and for that men should come to a feast as to a sacrifice. Adeo ut gulae maetetur appetitus, as Novarinus here noteth.
Ver. 5. But they made light of it] God’s rich offers are still slighted and critized; and most men turn their backs upon those blessed and bleeding embracements of his, as if heaven were not worth hearkening after; “ … Paris ut vivat regnetque beatus Cogi posse negat.”—Horat, ep. 2. 10. One to his farm, another to his merchandise] Licitis perimus omnes, More die by food than poison. Worldliness is a great handicap to faith, though men cannot be charged with any great covetousness. See that ye shift not off him that speaketh to you from heaven, Hebrews 12:25.
Ver. 6. Entreated them spitefully and slew them] This is that sin which brings ruin without remedy, 2 Chronicles 36:16. Josiah’s humiliation could not expiate Manasseh’s bloodshed. Our Popish prelates in less than four years sacrificed the lives of eight hundred innocents to their idols here in Queen Mary’s days. That precious blood doth yet cry to heaven for vengeance against us. And it was a pious motion that one made in a sermon to this present parliament, that there might be a day of public humiliation, purposely set apart, and solemnly kept throughout the kingdom, for the innocent bloodshed here in those Marian days of most abhorred memory.
Ver. 7. But when the king heard thereof] And kings have long ears, this King of heaven especially. Cui etiam muta clamant cadavera.—Ut taceant homines iumenta loquentur. In case of the abuse of God’s servants, a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter, Ecclesiastes 10:20. John Baptist was beheaded in the prison, as if God had known nothing of the matter, said that martyr. But when he maketh inquisition for blood (which he often doth with great secrecy and severity) he remembereth such to purpose, Psalms 9:12, as he did Herod, Maximinius, Charles IX of France, Felix of Wartenburg, and various other bloody persecutors. The king is said to hear of what was done, for blood crieth. Sent forth his armies] The Roman spoilers, who were the rod in God’s hand, and revenged the quarrel of his covenant. Howbeit they thought not so, Isaiah 10:7. As in letting blood by leeches the physician seeks the health of his patient, the leech only filling of his gorge; so when God turns the wicked upon his people, he hath excellent ends, howbeit they think not so, but to destroy and cut off nations not a few, Isaiah 10:7.
Ver. 8. They which were bidden were not worthy] Who were then? Such as came from the highways and hedges, Matthew 22:9, that is, such as fit and show their sores to God, as the cripple and others do by the highway side to every passenger, to move pity. Such sensible sinners shall walk with Christ in white, for they are worthy.
Ver. 9. Go ye therefore to the highways] Those sinners of the Gentiles, Galatians 2:15, who wandered in their own ways, Acts 14:16, and were, till now, without God in the world, Ephesians 4:18. These are those other husbandmen, to whom the householder would let out his vineyard, Matthew 21:41-43, which truth to illustrate, this parable is purposely uttered, and principally, as it may seem intended.
Ver. 10. Both bad and good, &c.] Such a mixture there ever hath been, and will be here in the Church. Doeg sets his foot as far within the sanctuary as David. There are sacrificing Sodomites, Isaiah 1:10, sinners in Sion, Isaiah 33:14. We cannot avoid the company of those from whom we shall be sure to carry guilt or grief.