Disrespect for GOD and HIS SON THE LORD Jesus Christ
MATTHEW 22:1-14
Chapter 21 closed with the religious rulers determined that Jesus would die.
MATT. 22:45-46And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
AND THEN HERE IN OUR TEXT VERSES IN MATT.22: WE’LL SEE THAT THE Lord continues the verbal clash with the religious rulers.
The parable in 21 of the house holder, represents God the Father, and the son is the Lord Jesus Christ. The husbandmen are a picture of Israel.
matt. 22:1-14 Here in our text
“A certain king” is God the Father, and “his son” is the Lord Jesus. Notice the expression “kingdom of heaven” instead of Kingdom of God, which He used in the previous two parables. So the emphasis here MATT.22: is upon how and why this age began, “the church age”, rather than upon the conclusion of the age, that He reveals in THE PARABLES in Matthew 13 :
NOTICE; VSS.1
1And Jesus answered and spake unto them again **by parables, and said,
2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4Again, 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”.
5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
This refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in b.c. 70 by Titus the Roman.
8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Now we will see a change in the method and manner of the invitation, and it refers to the present age in which we live AT THIS TIME.
9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10So 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.
But notice what happens—
11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12And he saith unto him,”Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment”? And he was speechless. 13Then 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. 14For many are called, but few are chosen.
What is the wedding garment? The King’s invitation is for everyone, but there is a danger of coming without meeting the demands of the King. The wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ, which is essential for salvation, and it is supplied to all who believe.
The apostle Paul speaks of this imputed righteousness: ” (Rom. 3:21–22). “But now the righteousness of God without the law [that is, apart from the law] is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of [from] God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all [it comes down upon all] them that believe: for there is no difference”
There was a total disregard for the King’s Invitation, remember, the King here is God the Father,
Matthew 22:2-5 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants”
Who were bidden? The lost sheep of the house of Israel—The Lord had sent His apostles to them, the prophets had been the messengers back in the Old Testament.
This was Israel’s rejection of God’s invitation. They killed His messengers, including the Lord Jesus Himself.
and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 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”. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.
They felt they had better things to do.
Lets keep in mind that a “parable” is an earthly story to illustrate a heavenly truth.
Lets also keep in mind that the Lord is telling these Jews exactly what they were doing, although they were not aware of it. And as he was dealing with these Jews and offering the kingdom to them, they didn’t see it or understand it.
God is soon to turn from dealing with Israel and turn to whosoever will, at the time this parable was given. This is a picture of Israel about to be set aside for a time, as the HOLY GHOST calls out the gentile bride of Christ, however, he will turn back to His chosen people Israel after the rapture of His Bride, the church.
[Matt. 22:3]. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come
Verse 3 – they would not come - There was a conscious decision on their part not to come to the wedding.
Verse 5 – they made light of it - They treated it with contempt, as a thing of no consequence. They paid no attention and gave it no heed.
In this parable, the celebration was important – it was the wedding of the King’s Son. And the Lord Jesus is who this is.
~ They had previously committed to come – implied by the King’s actions in verse 2 - call them that were bidden
There was no good excuse for their refusal – They were motivated by self interest and materialism in the parable. And that’s the way the Jews actually did concerning God Son.
~ It is a privilege to come to Christ. It is a privilege to read the Bible. It is a privilege to pray. It is a privilege to come to God’s House. It is a privilege to worship. It is the highest privilege in the world to serve Christ. And these are privileges that we should not take lightly.~
Well there was a total disregard for the King’s Messengers;
In verse 4, the King sends a second group of His servants to remind them of their prior commitment and that they need to come.
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.
Their response is one of annoyance and contempt.
Matthew 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. (insulted and killed them).
There is an irritation that takes place when we realize that a person is in the wrong that becomes angry with those who would try to lead them back in the right paths.
John 15:18-20 Jesus said; If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept My saying, they will also keep yours.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
Listen to this illustration:
Many years ago, while on a visit to America, a wealthy Chinese businessman was fascinated by a powerful microscope. Looking through its lens to study the petals of flowers, he was amazed at their beauty and detail.
So he decided to buy one of these devices and take it back to China. He thoroughly enjoyed using it until one day he examined some rice he was planning to eat for dinner. Much to his dismay, he discovered that tiny living creatures were crawling in it.
Well since he was especially fond of Rice in his daily diet, he wondered what to do.
Finally he decided that there was only one way out of his dilemma—he would destroy the instrument that caused him to discover the distasteful fact! So he smashed the microscope to pieces.
“How foolish!” you say. well many people do the same thing with the Word of God. They hate it and would like to get rid of it because it reveals their evil nature.
People often avoid God’s house out of conviction.
There was a total disregard for the King’s Provision
Matthew 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
There was one at the wedding not dressed properly. All the other guests were suitably clothed. Regardless of who they were, what they had done, or their station in life. They all had wedding garments, except for this one individual.
It was an Oriental custom for a king to supply all invited guests at a royal feast with festive robes to be worn at the banquet. The man refused the provision of the King and wore his dingy everyday cloths.
His attitude may have been, Nobody is going to order me around and tell me what to do
If the King wants me at the feast, He’ll have to take me just the way I am.
I’m good enough the way I am.
Regardless of what his thoughts were for not accepting the King’s provision, it was an attitude of self will and disregard for the graciousness of the King.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
You can come just as you are but you cannot remain just as you are.
