Sermon Responding to God’s Great Invitation
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14 “Jesus also told them other parables. He said, 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. 3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! 4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ 5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. 7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. 8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. 9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ 10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. 13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Introduction: In this parable of the wedding feast, we discovered that Jesus spoke this parable in the context of hostility. The chief priests and Pharisees were seeking to entrap Jesus with his word and then kill as a law breaker. Jesus had entered Jerusalem for the Passover and the city was in an uproar. Remember, we called it the triumph entry. Now Jesus was teaching the people and was pointing out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who instead of repenting and coming, they resisted God, his messengers and are trying to kill his Son. Jesus using this parable to illustrate God willingness to invite all, make provision for all, clothed all in his robe of righteousness and rejoice over all. The wedding feast illustrates the provisions made by God for the salvation of all mankind. Because of the sin of Adam in the garden, death entered the world and mankind was separated from God. God promised that the seed of woman would bruise the head of Satan and provision would be made for man’s redemption. The first invitation was to the Jews who mostly refused, others ignored the invitation and some became violent towards God’s messengers. Then other servants were sent to the highway and hedges to invite all, the good, the bad and the ugly. Those who responded were given white wedding garment and standing invitation to come until the banquet hall was full. The parable demonstrates the generosity of God who invites all to be saved and fellowship in His presence.
1. All are invited to come! Matt 22: 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. 3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
Even though all are invited, not all will come. These first refused to come. They knew the invitation was coming and even respond positively, but when the call came, they refused. Today, all are still invited to come. Some come halfheartedly, some ignored, and others want to come on their own terms. The voice of the gospel is God’s call to enter the true Church by accepting Christ and putting on His robe of righteousness. Most people ignored or put off their response; some of them would rather follow the conveniences of this life: and some persecute very cruelly those that call them: but they are the true Church who obey when they are called shall enjoy all the benefits of salvation and kingdom living. All are invited to come.
2. All are given multiple invitations to come. Matthew 22:4 “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.
It is wonderful that God continues to call men unto Himself. The parable shows God’s love his son and his love for the world. When all things were ready, the hall decorated, the food prepared and the band was in place, but it is incomplete without guest. All are given multiple opportunities to come, but one day the door will be closed.
3. All invited Must Respond one way or another. Matthew 22:5-8 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. 7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. 8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.”
All are responding one way or another. How people respond when they hear the gospel? Some simply ignore it as if nothing is being said. They might come to hear preaching for traditional reasons. Others hear and going doing what they were doing. Some are so busy with their jobs or their business to care. Some become hostile and violent towards the messenger, while a few will insult and even kill their influence in the city. Yet all of these things are noticed by God. God knows how to administer justice to all. Today, God has moved the gospel call from the sanctuary to social media. People are responding every time they go online, some ignore, tick pass it, even curse it, but there is always a response, and each person must give an account.
4. All Invited Guests will be examined. Matthew 22:10-14 “So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. 13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Because the invitation is expanded to all, many feel they can come on their own terms and have it their way. Guests are invited from every walk of life, without regard to their social standing, economic situation, or disposition, all are welcomed, and provision have been made for all. The general calling offers the gospel to all men: but those who enter in have their life examined. When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment. In the number which came was a person not properly clothed. The wedding garment testified that these guest accepted the invitation and came through door of salvation, they had put on the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and were walking in the newness of life. The improperly dressed man was a castaway who did not confirm his faith in Christ and was not walking in the newness of life. He just joined in with the crowd. He heard about the wedding, the free food, the party and his schedule was free. He came expecting to blend in. He probably felt good, accepted by the other guest and maybe was the life of the party. He seemed to be unaware of the coming examination. Then after arousing applauding of the host and the hall was quiet, the host said unto him, “Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?” The man was speechless. The literal translation is "haltered." Like a wild horse that had been caught and bridle. The man held his peace, as though he had a bridle or a halter around his neck. “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.” “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The chosen or the elect have been before called, chosen, and dressed for the occasion. They have been clothed in the robe of righteousness and they understand an examination is coming. The wedding garment was not something the man could steal or buy, he could not obtain it from a friend, a mother, pastor or church. It is something only God can provide for you. The point of the parable is that the Lord wants us to be clothed with God-kind of righteousness, which is, righteousness by faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. It is the one thing required in the examination. The parable teachings a lot. It is important to remember: 1. All are invited to come! 2. All are given multiple invitations to come 3. All Invited Guest must respond to God’s messengers one way or another. 4. All invited guest will be examined. The speechless man represents the response every person examined before God who squandered every privilege and ignored every invitation. There is a song written by Richard Smallwood ask a question:
“Why don't you come on in this house? Why don't you come on in this house? Why don't you come on in this house; come on in this house of the Lord, house of the Lord.
We're gonna have a good time, come on in this house. We're gonna have a good time, come on in this house. We're gonna have a good time, come on in this house; come on in this house of the Lord, house of the Lord.
If you need salvation, there’s salvation, soul salvation in the house of the Lord. If you need love, (there's love, everlasting love in the house of the Lord). If you need joy, (there's joy, unspeakable joy in the house of the Lord).If you need peace, (there's peace for your soul),(to wash you clean and make you whole). Come on in this house of the Lord, house of the Lord. If you wanna feel the Holy Ghost, come on, come on in this house. If you wanna feel the Holy Ghost, come on in this house. If you wanna feel the Holy Ghost, come on in this house; come on in this house of the Lord, house of the Lord.
Good time, we're gonna have a time. There's healing, salvation, there's happiness, you will be blessed. Come on in the house of the Lord.”
