Kinship
Placed after the Parable of the Vineyard, The Parable of the Wedding Banquet, correspondences with it in many ways. The Parable of the Wedding Banquet seems to have been added to underscore the common themes of the kingdom of God and the importance of the call to discipleship. Keynotes are suggested to the banquet being given for the "son" and "sending" of servants. The keynotes are to suggest their harsh mistreatment by those who are invited and summoned. The theme of the kingdom of God is clear and suggests the king who gives the banquet and a reference to those who have been called to participate in the ceremony.
The rejection of the king's invitation suggests the fury at the generosity of the landowner in the parable of the laborers. The slaves who are sent out to gather all who they find, whether they be good or bad, suggests the themes of the kingdom.
At the end of the parable these late-coming wedding guests are rejected for not wearing a proper wedding garment. It is a somewhat confusing ending, coming with no explanation. To enter the wedding without wearing the wedding garment provided by the host is to disrespecting his generous hospitality. Responsible and obedient discipleship is still required from all who respond to the king's invitation, and there will come a time of final judgment for all who believe in him (Hanson).
In summary for this parable, Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is compared to a king who gives a wedding banquet for his son. When those who are invited mistreat his servants, the king invites all to fill the banquet hall. But when one guest is discovered without the appropriate wedding garment, he is expelled with the warning that there are many who are called, but there are few who are chosen.
In Mark 3:31-35, Jesus’ mother and his brothers are introduced. This introduction to Jesus’ brothers is interesting because most Christians today take the constant view of the virginity of Mary as a given; which means that Jesus would not have had any siblings. Jesus’ mother also isn’t named as “Mary” at this point. Also when Mary comes up to Jesus to talk to him, Jesus rejects her. Not only does Jesus refuse to go out and see his mother, but also he claims that the people inside are his true family.
The margins of family, explained in Mark, are increased beyond blood relatives, spouses, and even disciples to include those who hunger for a relationship with God and are willing to do God’s will. However, it does not include those blood relatives who don’t have the correct relationship with God.
The final passage being Mark 10:1-12, focuses on divorce. Jesus says that “hearts should be easygoing enough for new rules” (New Oxford). According to Jesus, divorce is not allowed under any circumstances because God intended marriage to be permanent. Multiple wives, and concubines, were common in the Old Testament, but Jesus rejects it although there is evidence of polygamy being tolerated