Marriage Dinner

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Turn with me to

Matthew 22: 1-14

The marriage dinner

1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,' 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.' 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.'

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:' 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.' 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burnt up their city.' 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.' 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.' 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.' 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:' 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.' 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.'

Introduction:

Here in Matthew chapter 22,

Jesus tells a story that has to do with clothing, and what to wear, and he even talks about wearing the wrong thing.

It’s a disturbing story in some ways,

it doesn’t have a happy ending.

At least not for the one dressed wrong.

But it’s a story with several important lessons to learn, so let’s take a look at this story together this morning & see what we can learn from it.

I. The Message of the Parable

A. The invitation rejected.

In those first two versus it says

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,' And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding:

Now it was very unlikely that any of the people Jesus was speaking to had ever actually been to a royal wedding feast,

but they were all familiar with wedding feasts in general

they had some idea of the importance and magnificence of one that a king would prepare for his own son.

In that day and time, a wedding feast was the highlight of all social life.

a wedding feast that a king prepared for his son would be the “feast of all feasts”.

Jesus was painting a picture here of the most elaborate celebration possible.

This was the ultimate party.

If it took place in Jeffersonville, it would no doubt make everything that’s happened all year long look like nothing at all.

I think it’s important to notice that Jesus compared his kingdom to a feast or a banquet. Being a part of God’s kingdom is like going to a party.

It’s a festive occasion,

a time of fellowship,

a time of joy.

A lot of people seem to believe that you can’t enjoy yourself if you’re a Christian,

to be a Christian means you have to denounce every joy and pleasure in life.

I think Jesus wanted us to understand that the greatest true joys this life has to offer are found in his kingdom.

Verses 2-5

2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,'

3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.' 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.' 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:'