You're Invited!!!

You’re Invited!!!

Matthew 22:2-14

July 10, 2005

Matthew 22:2

"The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.

A Heavenly Wedding Celebration

 Christ the groom will be united with His bride

• The church is the bride of Christ

 Not determined by membership, but by relationship

 This union calls for an eternal celebration

• Revelation 19:7

• Revelation 19:9

Revelation 19:7 (NLT)

Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.

Revelation 19:9 (NLT)

And the angel said, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "These are true words that come from God."

Matthew 22:3-4 (NLT)

Many guests were invited, and when the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify everyone that it was time to come. But they all refused! [4] So he sent other servants to tell them, ’The feast has been prepared, and choice meats have been cooked. Everything is ready. Hurry!’

The Invitation Has Been Made

 The message is simple…come

• Matthew 11:28

Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

The Invitation Has Been Made

 The message is simple…come

• Matthew 11:28

• John 7:37

John 7:37 (NLT)

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "If you are thirsty, come to me!

The Invitation Has Been Made

 The message is simple…come

• Matthew 11:28

• John 7:37

 Multiple invitations are extended

• God wants all people to have the opportunity to accept His invitation

 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.

Matthew 22:5-7 (NLT)

But the guests he had invited ignored them and went about their business, one to his farm, another to his store. [6] Others seized his messengers and treated them shamefully, even killing some of them.

[7] "Then the king became furious. He sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city.

Rejected Invitations

 Many will reject God’s invitation

• Indifference

• Rebellion

• Ignorance

 Luke 9:59

 Luke 19:22-23

 John 5:43

Luke 9:59 (NLT)

He said to another person, "Come, be my disciple."

The man agreed, but he said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father."

Luke 19:22-23 (NLT)

"There is still one thing you lack," Jesus said. "Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." [23] But when the man heard this, he became sad because he was very rich.

John 5:43 (NLT)

For I have come to you representing my Father, and you refuse to welcome me, even though you readily accept others who represent only themselves.

Rejected Invitations

 Many will reject God’s invitation

• Indifference

• Rebellion

• Ignorance

 The Jewish people were God’s chosen

• They had repeatedly turned their backs on God and faced His judgment

 Jeremiah 2:27

 Jeremiah 35:15

Jeremiah 2:27 (NLT)

To an image carved from a piece of wood they say, ’You are my father.’ To an idol chiseled out of stone they say, ’You are my mother.’ They turn their backs on me, but in times of trouble they cry out for me to save them!

Jeremiah 35:15 (NLT)

I have sent you prophet after prophet to tell you to turn from your wicked ways and to stop worshiping other gods, so that you might live in peace here in the land I gave to you and your ancestors. But you would not listen to me or obey.

Matthew 22:8-10 (NLT)

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.

All Are Invited

 God’s message of hope is for all people

• The message is the same…“come”

 Galatians 3:28

 Colossians 3:11

Galatians 3:28 (NLT)

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians—you are one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 (NLT)

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.