The Guest Who Refused A Wedding Garment
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Tonight, we are looking at another parable...
At the beginning of Matthew chapter 22 Jesus tells a parable of a wedding feast.
The theme in this parable is rejection.
Jesus is painting a picture of the rejection by the nation of Israel. He warns them of their certain doom in verse 7, which was a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. He is also telling them of His intention to fill the Father’s house with people other than themselves.
The king in the parable sends his servants out to find other guests to come to the wedding celebration. As they gather themselves together, the king notices a man in the company who does not have on a wedding garment and this man is cast out of the wedding celebration.
These verses paint a picture of salvation.
When Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah, He turned to the Gentiles. You see, the Lord intends to fill His Heaven with the redeemed from the earth. Only those who have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ will be admitted into God’s Heaven!
The Bible tells us that when the redeemed of the Lord gather together in Heaven, that there will be a marriage. There will be a time of celebration know as the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb”, Rev. 19:7–9.
Verse 8 tells us that the people involved in this heavenly celebration will be dressed in pure, white garments.
As we look at this parable and at the fact that those who are saved by grace will meet in Heaven and be dressed in white at the Marriage of the Lamb, it seems to me that the garment is of the utmost of importance. When it comes time for the wedding, you must be dressed properly, or you will not be admitted.
For a little while, I want to preach on the subject of “The Guest Who Refused A Wedding Garment.”
First of all, let’s take a closer look at this parable:
1-The Analysis
1-The Analysis
A-An Invitation Rejected
A-An Invitation Rejected
1. The kingdom of heaven is likened to a wedding feast
1. The kingdom of heaven is likened to a wedding feast
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
A. Isaiah had used the figure of a feast to prophecy of the Messianic age
6 And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people
A feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees,
Of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
B. The Book of Revelation describes a future marriage of the Lamb and His Bride
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
2. But the invitation is rejected...
2. But the invitation is rejected...
It is rejected:
A. By those indifferent
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 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. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
B. By those rebellious
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Because of this rejection, we see...
3. The King's furious reaction
3. The King's furious reaction
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
A. Those who had so callously rejected His invitation, abused His servants, are themselves destroyed
b. As I mentioned in the introduction, this seems to be a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in A.D. 70.
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
When Jesus looked around, it broke His heart because John 1:11 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
As Jesus looked into the future, He wept as He saw the terrible judgment that was coming to the nation, the city, and the temple. In a.d. 70, the Romans would come and, after a siege of 143 days, kill 600,000 Jews, take thousands more captive, and then destroy the temple and the city. Why did all of this happen? Because the people did not know that God had visited them!
Let’s get back to the parable; the king’s reaction was also...
4. To extend the invitation to others
4. To extend the invitation to others
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So 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.
So, we have an invitation rejected, but looking on, we find:
B-A Guest Improperly Dressed
B-A Guest Improperly Dressed
We see here that a guest was in the midst of the wedding party...
1. Without a wedding garment
1. Without a wedding garment
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
a. Now, it was customary for the hosts to provide their guests suitable apparel.
b. And to not wear the provided garment showed a lack of respect and appreciation.
c. That is why no real excuse could be offered for not wearing one, verse 12 says, "he was speechless"
We then see a second time...
2. The King's furious reaction
2. The King's furious reaction
13 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.
a. The seriousness of the insult is seen in the reaction of the king.
b. The punishment described is similar to that found in other parables; here’s just a couple:
In the parable given of the wheat and the tares, Jesus said,
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
And in the parable of the net, Jesus said,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
3. Jesus' conclusion
3. Jesus' conclusion
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
a. This summarizes the main point of the entire parable
b. The invitation (call) of God is extended to many, but few receive it in such a way to be among the "chosen"
Now, this parable was clearly told in response to the rejection of the King's Son and His Kingdom by the Jewish nation, the King is none other than God the Father, and the King’s Son, none other than Jesus Christ.
But, there is an application for us in this parable, because the invitation to attend "The Wedding Feast" is still being offered through the call of the Gospel!
So, let’s take a look at:
2-The Application
2-The Application
A-Have You Rejected The Father’s Invitation?
A-Have You Rejected The Father’s Invitation?
1. Through indifference?
1. Through indifference?
Many people do not know God because of a lack of interest, yet God has so ordered the affairs of life to encourage faith and interest in Him:
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
It’s for this reason, even those who through indifference do not know God and obey the gospel will be condemned:
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
2. Through rebellion?
2. Through rebellion?
a. There are many who know full well the Father's invitation, but for whatever reason they rebel against it and in so doing, they despise riches of God's grace and store up for themselves God's righteous indignation...
Certainly all should respond to the Father's invitation if they desire to enjoy the spiritual blessings of the kingdom of heaven. But as we learn from the parable, there is more...
B-Are You Dressed For The Wedding?
B-Are You Dressed For The Wedding?
1. Many people seek to attend the "wedding" in their own clothes
1. Many people seek to attend the "wedding" in their own clothes
a. Some, not knowing the righteousness of God, have tried to establish their own.
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
b. People do this today when they expect salvation on terms different than those taught in the gospel...
For example, trying to obtain salvation based upon their own good works.
The Bible tells us though that our own righteousness is nothing but “filthy rags.”
Here’s the thing, we must be willing to put on the "garment" that God gives us and not another:
We must "put on" Jesus Christ!
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
We must "put on" the new man!
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
We must "put on" righteous deeds!
We understand that we don’t work to be saved, but we should have some fruit after salvation, we ought to have some works...
No, the works aren’t for salvation, but they are done to bring honor to God, and therefore we are to be ever ready and zealous to do good works.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Are you doing what you can to "beautify" the wedding garment of the bride?
Conclusion
Conclusion
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
This remarkable parable applied to those who first heard it—that is, the Jews and their leaders who would not believe the Lord. It also applies to those who down through the entire gospel age have heard the royal invitation.
The Lord’s last word on the subject is solemn: “Many are called, but few are chosen.”
We are warned to make our own calling and election sure.
To be chosen is to accept the invitation...God calls us, but those who are chosen are those who wholeheartedly accept the invitation and its conditions. Have you accepted the wedding garment? If not, I’m glad you can make the arrangements today...