586. And therefore Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast (vs. 22). One cannot learn what the inmost sense of these words is, unless it be known what is here meant by Laban, by the men of the place, and by a feast; but neither do these meanings come to light unless it be also known that the kingdom of God is a marriage between the Messiah as bridegroom and the church as bride. To this marriage, are called the nations of the whole globe; hence the feast which is to be celebrated before the marriage. Therefore the calling together of all peoples and nations to this great marriage is that very feast which is treated of in the Divine Word, and to which the kingdom of God is likened by the Messiah himself. This calling together is done by him who in himself or in his own person represents the gentiles as being the parent of both churches, that is to say, it is done by Laban. The peoples and nations are here called all the men of the place, that is, all who have lived from the first creation to the end of the new creation or to the time of the marriage, and who are to live then also. This then is what is meant by the words: And therefore Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. That this feast was not that marriage to which the peoples and nations of the whole globe will be called, is clear from the very meaning of the words; for it is said: And therefore Laban gathered together. Here the words "and therefore," while indeed involving that Laban called them together, to the end that they might celebrate the nuptials, also involved that the nuptials themselves did not take place, inasmuch as they were not with Rachel, by whom is signified the new church. Hence, that it was not a true feast, is clear from the words themselves; and also from the fact that it was Laban who called these men together, while it is the Messiah himself who will call those together; and he will do this by means of his servants and ministers and thus by Laban also, inasmuch as Laban is called a shepherd of the flock, and thus represents the pastors6 (vs. 9). But those who will be called together then, are not all present; and those who have been gathered together will not all enter the kingdom; for they will be called to that feast, only that they may see the bridegroom and bride, that is to say, may see them in the Divine Word. Only those will enter in who are meant by the bride, these being all such as are clothed with wedding garments; and they are called the heirs of the kingdom and the elect. Hence it is clear that "many are called, but few are chosen" [Matt. 20:16, 22:4].
6 In the Latin shepherd and pastor are one and the same word.
