Background to passage, Matthew 22:1-14: the third parable in a trilogy of direct assaults in his two-day confrontation with the religious leaders of Jerusalem at the beginning of the last week of his life.
Opening illustration: I get official invitations to events at UT with the College of Agriculture, or from the Alumni Association, or from the Dean’s Office, etc. I am well aware that they are not calling me there to give me any award. I know that they are not giving away tickets to the UT/GA football game to me. I know they want me to donate something to them. So, that’s an easy “no.” They are not going to revoke my degree. They are not coming to find me. I am probably not on the list of potential big givers. I don’t think I have given a dime since my last tuition payment. But they still invite. I still never go or give, but nothing comes of it...
1) Invitations Received (v. 1-7)
Matthew 22:1–7 ESV
1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,
2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’
5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,
6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
1) Invitations Received (v. 1-7)
Explanation: the first response was representative of the nation of Israel and the religious leaders. Similar to the last parable where those that were entrusted with the vineyard rebelled against the owner, the guests (probably aristocracy, businessmen, nobility, wealthy, dignitaries) blew off the king. You just don’t do that. However, God’s patience was deep. He sent a second invitation. He gave them an opportunity to come to their senses, reconsider, repent. They took advantage of this patience, and furthered their treacherous behavior by killing some servants. King Patient was angry now. So off to kill them all and burn their cities to the ground.
John 1:12–13 ESV
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Illustration: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” Sometimes modern weddings cost as much as this king’s. One reason is they have full meals and lots of people. Catering ain’t cheap. RSVPs are often sent, but regularly ignored, unless you’re family. So, the big problem is caters charge by the plate. Families need to know how much money to spend. Can you imagine a bride or groom left standing at the altar, then the guests leaving without eating?
Application: When the king issues an invitation, you go! You don’t blow off King Jesus. Anything less than receiving the invitation is rejection. Not to decide is to decide. We may not kill the prophets, but our hearts are by default set against the king. He has prepared a lavish dinner. The well that will quench your thirst. The steak cooked well done for you and rare for you. Christ offers us complete satisfaction and utter joy, and we are satisfied to play with our toys and ignore true treasure.
God is so patient with us. Loving us even through our rebellion, dying for us while we were sinners, not willing that any should perish, taking no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and we still turn our heads. There is a time when the patience of God is exhausted. When He decides that judgment is required, justice will be meted out. His wrath, although controlled, is complete and full. There will be judgment without mercy. Do not wait too long. You don’t know when God will say thus far and no further.
2) Unlikely Guests (v. 8-10)
Matthew 22:8–10 ESV
8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’
10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
2) Unlikely Guests (v. 8-10)
Explanation: These individuals that came from the streets would have been the poor and the lame, the orphaned and widowed, the prostitutes and beggars, and possibly Samaritans and Gentiles. Unlikely is an understatement. These would have been the last people to be at a king’s table. They would have been the last people found acceptable and worthy by the religious elite. He specifically threw in “both bad and good.” They would have known Jesus chose these to be a direct affront to their thought and practice.
These are also representative of people who receive the offer of the king.
Argumentation:
Illustration: Can you imagine what a presidential party would be like if no one came? What would be even more strange is if he went into the streets and invited anybody who was walking by, tourist, people on their lunch break, people who have no job or no house or no food? Think of the last possible person that you want to show up at a wedding—ex-girlfriend and the baby.
Application: Two applications: 1) how do you treat the suffering, the poor, the prostitutes and sinners? This relates to how the Pharisees and Sadducees viewed these people. This starts at the heart where we must ask a humbling question about how we think of ourselves. Do we think of ourselves as pleasing to God because of all our good works? How do we view those who’s choices and lives have cost them dearly? How do we think about people have situations that they haven’t contributed to, but are terrible none the less? Do we love others that are different from us socially, economically, ethnically, politically, physically, vocationally? We would all say “yes, of course.” How many of you have people like that in your life? How many of you show love in action motivated by joy in Christ?
2) How have you responded to the king? We did an exercise in our men’s group this week about the gospel. We were asked to write our own definitions of the gospel first. Then we read them out loud, highlighting parts that were different. Then we asked AI (which was really interesting). The point is the gospel is doctrinal and contains parts necessary to teach and understand. The gospel, however, is good news. It comes to a person and tells them that they can be forgiven, have new life now and forever, have a vibrant, living relationship with the One who spoke everything we see into existence with the word of his mouth. It requires a RESPONSE. The gospel is not an academic exercise or test, it is received or rejected. You come to the King’s call or you don’t.
3) Dress Code (v. 11-14)
Matthew 22:11–14 ESV
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
3) Dress Code (v. 11-14)
Explanation: This is the part of the parable that makes us scratch our heads. Original guests don’t come. Everyone from the streets is invited. King is mingling and finds a guy without the proper attire. Addresses him as “friend,” then binds him and throws him into eternal judgment. Interesting note, the address of “friend” is only found two other times in the NT, both in Matthew, and one of them was when Jesus addressed Judas. Another “insider” who turned out to be a traitor.
The man didn’t protest. He was the only one in the whole banquet that didn’t have one, so it is probably that one was available, he simply chose not to use it. How many things that we know that we should do, but we just don’t care...
Can’t be certain what the robe represents, different theories offered, but Jesus gives us the point in v. 14. He said that even within the gospel call that goes to everyone, many will hear, some will even profess, be a part of churches, but not all who hear the call actually receive the gospel.
Illustration: stolen valor and the guy in ND with service all over the world.
Application: This passage does deal with the doctrine of election and the choice of God as the final arbiter of faith and salvation, but I don’t have time to get into that here. Call me or come by :-)
Just as the nation of Israel heard the call and rejected it, and just as Judas walked with Christ for 3 years, we can have those who act, think, and claim to be Christians, but without genuine salvation. There will be tares among the wheat, goats among the sheep, fish that will have to be thrown away, branches attached with no fruit, people who receive the word, but during suffering or when lured by the world turn away, their will be people who produce no fruit, whose lives never change, people who have worldly repentance leading to death instead of godly repentance leading to life, etc. This is why we are warned to examine ourselves.
2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
2 Peter 1:10 ESV
10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
Closing illustration: Paul in Athens — those who rejected, those who believed, and those who said, we will hear you again on these things.
Recap
