1. Matthew 22:12. Why the severity of punishment here? What should be the application?

Have you ever wondered why the king in this story reacted the way he did? Granted, the ill-dressed intruder did not behave properly, and deserved to be thrown out of the wedding proceedings. But “outer darkness”? “weeping and gnashing of teeth”? And Jesus does not soften the blow with any explanation further than the fact that only a few are chosen.

I like Macarthur’s explanation here. He points out that, in the context of the story, no one would have had a wedding garment of their own! He has just ordered that the alleys and back roads are to be searched for whatever, whoever, to come in to this feast! And to get in, they had to receive a wedding garment from the King himself!

Ah, that explains it. In the very presence of the One Who was offering this sumptuous dinner to a worthless street bum, this man dared to come in in his rags rather than take the provided clothing!

Seeing that, the meaning of the parable becomes clear also! We are all worthless bums until the grace of God reaches out to us and makes us worthy to come to the feast of eternal life. The robe of righteousness is offered to us, and when by faith we receive Christ as our righteousness, we are “worthy” to celebrate.

But there have always been those among us who have scorned what Christ died to give us, and tried to make it “on their own”, without the saving grace of God changing them. Their tribe seems to be increasing in our day. External, phony Christians who can talk the talk but not walk the walk.

Their fate is described here.

2. Matthew 23:5. What is a phylactery ?

A phylactery is normally used in pagan religions. Little boxes containing holy words, tied to the hand or head with straps.

Deuteronomy 6:8 and a couple other verses tell the Jews leaving Egypt that they are to remember the Word of God, yes to “bind these words as a sign on your hand and as frontals on your forehead.”

The key word there is “as”. The binding was to be a mental-spiritual binding, but so real as to seem like a sign or a “frontal.” In later years, Israel began to take the figurative meaning away and cling to a literal idea. They actually created “amulets” as the pagan wore, and placed them in the parts of the body that God had specified.

More extreme religionists would widen the phylacteries, supposedly to have more space to write larger letters, thus appearing to men to be more holy to God. It was all a sham, and Jesus saw through it.

3. Matthew 23:8-12. Should Christians wear titles?

I think not. They should hold offices, and realize they are working in Christ’s stead on earth. Those who work with them should understand that office. But Jesus is saying here that any title given to a human being inappropriately ascribes a “worthiness” to a human being that belongs only to God.

Protestants immediately jump to the “Father” prohibition. That’s a no- brainer to us. But why should we therefore be allowed to wear the “Teacher” title or the “Pastor” title? Consistency demands that we abandon them all and call each other brother and sister and fellow-slave. It is hard (impossible, by my recollection) to find a case in the New Testament where anyone was hailed as “Pastor” this or “Reverend” that. They had names. The names were used. And nothing more.

4. Luke 20:47. How does one “devour” a widow’s house?

This graphic description has to do with the way that the religious/political elite of Israel would take advantage of un-protected females and cheat them out of their savings and property. While claiming to be a holy man of God.

5. Matthew 24:3. How many questions were asked here?

First, how many questions were meant to be asked? Question 1: When shall these stones all be torn down that you were speaking of? Question 2: What will be the sign of your coming? Question 3: What will be the sign of the end of the world?

Or was this two questions? Or even just one?

Then we must discern how many questions Jesus answered. There is a long series of signs which are a non-answer, just a lead-up to the answer. Then there is a clear sign given. Then a discussion of the end of the age and His coming.