Surprise Endings:
Lessons From The Wedding Banquet
Matthew 22:1-14
Introduction
If last week’s parable surprised us with grace and left us feeling grateful, this week’s parable will surprise us in a different way and leave us uncomfortable. At least it should.
Parable of the Wedding Banquet could be viewed as two parables or two parts to same parable adjoined by a the story of a King and the wedding banquet for his son. In the immediate context, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees. Matthew 21 ends with this: “They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.” There is application of this parable to those who were hearing him at the moment. They rejected the invitations sent - the prophets and especially John the Baptist. After repeated invitations, the King’s Son, Jesus, killed. The Jews would eventually suffer the destruction of the city - Jerusalem (A.D. 70). Both before and after this parable the Pharisees rejected Jesus - the Messiah sent to them as promised by God.
In addition, this parable points us to some truths about the Kingdom of Heaven that we should hear today. These stories are unsettling and uncomfortable. They are followed by the surprise statement: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Today we want to notice six lessons from the Wedding Banquet.
1. AN INVITATION TO JOY
Initially this parable brings together joyful elements of wedding and banquet.
“The invitation is not to a funeral. Jesus’ call to repentance, to turn around and face God, was a call to joy. This is why Jesus’ message would be called “the Good News”. (Bruner)
Announcement, food, preparations - wedding is a time of joy
Wedding theme in Scripture
Matthew 9:14-15 One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?” Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Revelation 21:2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Revelation 3:20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
God’s invitation is one of joy - banquet - friends - celebration.
2. AN INVITATION OF LOVE
The King is pained at the rejection of those invited. He has gone to great lengths to put the banquet together. He appeals to potential guests four times in this story. God is not apathetic about his desire to have us live with him forever.
“…God seeks a rebellious people - this is the theme of the Scriptures ever since the Lord called our first parents, who had just eaten the forbidden fruit and were hiding from the face of the Lord - and the Lord God said, …with great patience, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9). God first seeks out, not wipes out, those who spite God’s gift.’ (Bruner)
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
John 3:16 For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
3. AN INVITATION WITH LIMITS
The rejection of the King is not based on something sinful - they were doing normal things and just could not be bothered. (5). This parable makes us aware that there are limits to the time God will give us. No one knows when the Day of the Lord is, but on that day there will not be a big revival meeting!
Hebrews 9:27-28 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
4. AN INVITATION WORTH OUR DEVOTION (11-13)
Both good and bad were brought in to the banquet. There is not a person on earth that God will turn away. The Kingdom isn’t a collection of the best of humanity but of all of humanity. This person appears to be there but not sincerely - made no effort to wear the proper garment. This person is present but not a part of the wedding. He was invited, they actually made it to the banquet, but had no thought to being devoted to the King.So he is cast out of the gathering in language that seems describe hell.
The act of being present is not what God is looking for, He is looking for us to be devoted to Him.
“Whether or not you accept the wedding garment is up to you, but Christ has provided it for you. The invitation has
gone out to everyone, but you will have to come on the King’s terms.” - J. Vernon McGee
All of us today should be asking if we are devoted to the King, or just present at the table.
5. AN INVITATION TO CONSIDER TODAY
Many are called but few are chosen - a surprising statement! If God Creator of the Universe would want to save someone like me, I want to throw myself at his feet. Many are too busy, disinterested, distracted. Everyone responds to God’s invitation … but the ones who respond with disinterest will not be chosen.
6. AN INVITATION TO SHARE
In this crucial moment the King is ready, inviting. We cannot be content to just let the banquet hall remain empty, but to go out into the highways and byways and bring in everyone who is willing to serve the King.
Conclusion
1. Isaiah 61:10 (NLT) I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.
3. Galatians 3:26-27 (NLT) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.
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LifeGroup Questions for Matthew 22:1-14
1. What is the most stressful thing about planning a wedding ceremony and/or reception? What is one funny thing that happened at your wedding or at a wedding you attended?
2. Matthew’s account of this parable has a couple of elements in it that catch us by surprise. But it begins with a happy event - a wedding in which everything is being prepared. What are some of the happy things about being a Christian, in your view?
3. As was the custom a notification went out that there was going to be a wedding banquet. When the summons went out to let people know it was ready - some of the guests ignored the invitation. Some of the guests insulted and killed the messengers who brought the invitation.
-Why do you think some people ignore the invitation of God in their lives?
-Why do you think some people are “violent” and vigorously reject God?
4. Verse 9 of our text is a great evangelistic encouragement: Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
-Studies show that many people who do not attend church would say yes to an invitation from a friend. Do the people of our group regularly invite people to church? What are some of the challenges of doing that?
-What does it mean to you that they were to bring in ‘good and bad alike’? Does that give us some instruction about outreach?
5. The man without the wedding garments is a mystery to many commentators. It seems like the King finally has what he wants - a full house … but this person doesn’t seem to belong. What do you perceive is the message of this part of the parable? (Especially for the Pharisees who first heard it?)
6. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Even with a full banquet hall, there are many more people outside than there are inside. As God has called to the entire world by the cross, few respond. How can we do a better job of sending out the call?
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Resources
Bruner, Frederick. Matthew: A Commentary, part 2.
McGee, J. Vernon Thru The Bible Commentary
