Matthew 22:1-14 | Entitlement

We are in a series entitled, The Enemies of Gratitude and so far we’ve looked at Religion, Grumbling, Nostalgia, fear and worry. All things that keep us from being grateful to God and they are, but I’m not sure if there is anything that stands in the way of gratitude to the Lord and Savior of the universe more than entitlement.

We’re all familiar with the term as it’s a frequent lament of many in our culture at the moment. Right, perhaps you’ve thought to yourself or grumbled under your breathe about our country and all these entitled kids these days!

Just so we’re all on the same page, I wanted to give you a definition of what entitlement is. Naturally I googled it. Here’s what came up:

en·ti·tle·ment - noun

The fact of having a right to something.

"full entitlement to fees and maintenance should be offered"

Similar: right, prerogative, claim, privilege, liberty

The amount to which a person has a right.

"annual leave entitlement"

The belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.

"no wonder your kids have a sense of entitlement"

That’s the definition for entitlement, and you might be thinking, good I can’t wait! Set all these entitled people straight preacher! To that I say, check your heart friend and I will check mine as well.

Here’s the deal, entitlement is very easy to spot in others and there aren’t many qualities that are as repulsive to us than entitlement. “Oh so you think your better than me?” “Look at that guy, what a stuck up!” “These people, walking around like they own the place, like they’re deserving special treatment, like their poop doesn’t stink!” I happen to be from a town and school that has a bit of this reputation. I heard it all growing up! You people of Archbold… uugggghhhhh.

Right, that’s the perception. Now perception isn’t always reality, but sometimes it is. Needless to say, entitlement is repulsive and it’s quite easy to spot in others, but personally, not so much. Entitlement in our own hearts is less easy to spot. “Who, me? I’m not entitled! I just deserve to be treated better than that! You don’t know how hard I’ve worked! I have a right to certain things!” While entitlement in others is easy to spot and condemn, entitlement within our own hearts is subtle and oh so easy to justify and explain away but like a cancer, if entitlement within is left undetected, unchecked and untreated, it will be deadly.

So let me encourage you before we begin to look at our text for this morning, before you look out there, let me encourage you to look within here (point to heart), first.

As a preacher I like to listen to often says, the Bible is best read as a mirror and not a set of binoculars.

And so, I invite you to undergo a spiritual MRI or CAT scan of sorts this morning, to search your own heart and examine to what extent entitlement is present and possibly spreading. Don’t worry, your insurance has approved this scan… there won’t be any co-pays. I can’t promise that it will be painless but it is free and I’ll encourage you, if you don’t like the diagnosis, please remember that Jesus Christ is the great physician and there is no tumor too cancerous that He cannot remove! There is no person among us who is too sick so as to hear the phrase inoperable! Nope, if you’ll cooperate with the Spirit this morning we can find a cure for the entitlement that has plagued our wicked hearts!

So what do ya say? Let’s check out Matthew 22:1-14 together. As you’re turning in your Bibles to that section of scripture, I’ll give you a little context to what’s going on with Jesus and his crew when He says theses things.

We’re told in Matthew 21:23 that

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

So the context of the stories Jesus tells in this section of scripture is within the temple courts with the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day. These would be the Chief Priests, the Elders of the people, the Rabbis or pastors of the Synagogue in Jerusalem where the Temple of God was.

That’s not to say no one else was present for these teachings, but that the dialogue and discourse is happening between Jesus and the Jewish leaders of the day.

And in case you don’t know much about Jewish religious leadership of the day, let me bring you up to speed a little bit on Jewish culture and the attitude of these folks.

We know not everyone of the Pharisees and Sadducees was this way (those were the 2 most prominent classes of the religious ruling class in Judaism) The Pharisees were a bit like the stereotypes of those in our Republican party of our day, conservative in their mindset, rich, educated, privileged white guys. And the Sadducees were a bit like the stereotypes of those in our democratic party, liberal in their mindset, loosely goosey with scripture, rich and very well connected and cozy with the government. It’s not an exact parallel, but there are similarities.

Both of these groups of leadership within Jewish religious life and governance were well respected, powerful and considered to be part of the so called elite of their society.

People looked up to these folks. They were respected. Their titled carried weight. If you made it to this rank, your family was proud. You had arrived.

Not only did their society give them respect and honor, it was assumed that God was pleased with them as well! These were the leaders of Israel. They lead the people of Israel in what they claimed were God’s ways and curried not only the favor of man but it was assumed that they carried the favor of God as well! They had the authority, the privilege the status and respect of their community.

So while, it’s easy to be critical of them when we read scripture, I want us to understand that their culture and tradition had set them up for this! It’s difficult when you start to receive special treatment and accolades from man not to start to think that you deserve that special treat from not just man, but from God as well.

And it is into this assumption and sense of entitlement that Jesus speaks.

Jesus shows up to their turf, the center of their authority, the temple and they do not take his presence lying down. They view him as a threat to their “god-given authority” and they question Jesus: By whose authority are you ministering!” they want to know! It’s not by our authority! You weren’t trained at our schools. You weren’t commissioned or ordained at our seminaries. By who’s authority are operating! Where are you papers? Where’d you get your degree!?

It’s the politically correct way of saying who the heck are you and where do you get off teaching our people!? There’s an order to things here Jesus and you are not following the order!

And Jesus being the shrewd teacher that He was, he doesn’t answer there question but instead counters with another question of his own.

I’ll answer your question only after you answer mine. “Who gave authority to John the Baptist to baptize? Was his baptism from heaven or was it from purely human origin?”

The leaders refuse to answer because if they say from heaven then Jesus will ask them why they didn’t accept John and if they say it was just human then they’ll loose all their following of people because the people loved Johnny B and thought he was a prophet from God. So they say, we don’t know. (grumble....grumble…)

And so Jesus refuses to answer their question about his authority and then he launched into 3 parables.

The first is a parable about 2 sons.

The father asks both sons to go work in His vineyard the first refuses at first but then shows up for work. The 2nd says he’ll go to work but then skips out on work and is a complete no show and Jesus asks the Jewish leaders, which one did the father’s will?

They answer correctly. It was the first, even though he refused his father at first, eventually he showed up to work.

Then Jesus tells him, you all are like the second son! Even the tax collectors and prostitutes believed in John and are entering in to God’s kingdom but you don’t believe him and you don’t believe me!

Friends, can I just say, we need to read our Bibles! Jesus was loving yes, but that doesn’t me He never confronted people. Imagine being a bystander to this exchange! Jesus has just told the most prominent and respected individuals of the day that the most despised classes in society are better than them! The traitors of their country, the tax collectors and the prostitutes they are entering the Kingdom, but you all, even for all your goodness and honor in this community, you are not!

Even if you don’t mind a little confrontation, this is stomach churning stuff here folks. It’s anything but comfortable.

And before these people can recover from their first incision to cut out their entitlement, Jesus cuts just a little bit deeper with his scalpel. He tells a parable of the tenants or renters.

A farmer owns a vineyard, he’s got some renters farming it for him. When it’s harvest time, he sends his servants to go collect his share of the crops. But the tenants beat, kill and stone his servants. He is merciful and send some more servants which the treat the exact same and then still, he is merciful, he doesn’t press charges or take them to court, He determines to send them his son. Surely they’ll respect his son! But they don’t they kill him thinking they’ll be able to steal the ground their farming if the heir to this tract of land is dead!

And Jesus wants to know, how do you think this farmer will treat these tenants?

The leaders once again answer correctly, I love how the NIV says it,

Matthew 21:41 (NIV)

41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”

Then Jesus tells them albeit a bit cryptically, that unless these people accept Him, they will have no place in His Kingdom! Why, because He is the cornerstone of salvation, the cornerstone of the religious establishment of God, the cornerstone of God’s Kingdom, which the builders have rejected!

And remember these guys are all Ivy-leaguers, they know exactly what Jesus was saying to them, which is why it says this in Matthew 21:45

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.

That then brings us to Jesus’ final cut with his scalpel and it’s a deep one. Now I want to read this parable with you and as we read it, I’ll pause to explain and expound on what Jesus was saying to these people who thought they were God’s gift to the world and the Jews!

Matthew 22:1–14 (NIV)

1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

This is what Heaven is going to be Church, a wedding feast for Christ the bridegroom with His bride the Church! You are all invited just like this King invites these people to His sons’ wedding feast here!

3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

God pursues people. He pursues these Jews. He’s pursuing you! Inviting you, over and over, sending His servants to the peoples of the world, come to my wedding feast. He sends out His invitation, and His invitation is that which was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 55:1-2

Isaiah 55:1–2 (NIV)

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

And in Isaiah 25:6-9 which you will have read already because you’re apart of our enriching tradition text devo series, which says:

6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine- the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; (What does that mean? It means when we come to the feast of God by faith He’ll reveal to us our true identity, He’ll wipe away any entitlement and confusion as to who we are and give us a new identity and new clothes of righteousness) Also, 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. 9 In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

This is the invitation! And you say what’s this of new clothing? Where do you get that? Look at Isaiah 61:10

Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)

10 I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

The King extends His beautiful invitation to His servants but how do they respond? They refuse to come to the King! vs. 5

5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.

Some were too busy to be bothered by the King’s invitation! They paid no attention… to the King Church! Would you decline an invitation to the presidents table.... no matter who was in office, I sure hope not! The Office deserves respect even if you don’t respect the individual who holds it. I’m too busy. I’ve got important work that needs doing. Sometimes Church this refusal to come to the King is done because we think we’re doing important service for Him. Many of these religious leaders thought the were serving God, but they were deceived and Jesus tells us in John 16 that they were in fact serving Satan! And Jesus warns us in John 16 of what these wicked servants will do. Believing they are serving God, they persecute and kill His servants!

6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.

They can’t be bothered to come to the King’s feast. They’re too busy. The hate His servants! Maybe they thought they were too good to be invited by a servant… if the King wants me to come well then He come come invite me himself! Maybe they wanted a sign! Show us a sign and we’ll believe!

Maybe because they didn’t know the King or love the King, they thought his party was gonna be lame! How many people today reject God’s invitation because they think He wants to steal their joy and rob them of their fun!?

God invites, and the people say no thanks! We don’t like how you’ve set the table! We don’t like the menu you’ve put together. We don’t like how you’ve worded the invitation! We ain’t coming!

Now hear this folks, God does not start at war with these people. God starts with an invitation to an amazing feast, but these people, they’re too good, they can’t be bothered, how dare this King do this or do that! What does He know and they reject Him, The King does not start at war with these people but as they continually reject His invitation and then turn on his servants He does end by war and judgement. v.7

7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

But here He is with this generous spread, he’s sparred no expense for His son’s wedding! He must have guests to share in His generosity! So he sends out the invitations far and wide! v. 8.

8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

And here’s the gospel, the good news! None of us deserves to go to this party. None of us are entitled to it!

Not even the powerful, the rich, the Kings of this world. Do you know what God has to say to those of prominent positions in our world. Psalm 2: The One enthroned in Heaven laughs. He scoffs at them! He says to them you are dust! Here today and gone tomorrow! God moves rulers around in our world like pieces on a chess board executing His will and divine justice.

And you say well ok, God doesn’t respect all our pomp and circumstance. We may flatter ourselves thinking we deserve an invite or deserve the right for ourselves to reject the king’s invitation for any number of reasons, but God does not pay any regard or respect to our positions of power. Before mankind we have rights to life and to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but before God we are entitled to none of those things. God is not obligated to give you or I anything, including life!

And I know for some of us, this is a very very tough pill to swallow because we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are good! I mean I may not be entitled to special treatment before God if there even is one, but surely I don’t deserve to be in hell! What about all my good works!? I know I’m not the best person, but I’m not the worst either! Actually by societies standards I am pretty good! I am pretty important! I know I don’t deserve hell! Surely God would never send me to hell? Why not friend? Based upon what?

Society and culture do not set the standard friends, God, the King does! It’s his party! It’s His food! It’s His son! It’s his dime that’s footing the bill! He is the one with the authority! It’s His invitation!

And I want you to see who this invitation goes out to and who is permitted entrance to His feast? The good and the bad it says!

Do you know what this teaches us? It ain’t about what you do! Your good works can’t get you in. Your bad works can’t keep you out! The way into God’s party, the way you get your name on the guest list is by simply accepting the invitation in faith! But don’t miss the last part!

How you dress matters!

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Church, these are the words of Jesus. God with flesh on. Here’s what He is telling us, Hell is real and forever is a long time. The invitation has been made to you in and through the person of Jesus Christ.

God is preparing a Wedding Feast and you’re invited! Do not reject the invitation!

Listen to the Revelation of John in chapter 19

Revelation 19:6–9 (NIV)

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

Church, God has a dress code. He supplies the wardrobe. I read in a commentary that sometimes when King’s threw parties it was not uncommon for them to provide attire for the event! God has provided for you and I righteousness in the person of Jesus Christ! As Revelations declares the fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people!

There is such a thing as sin and the people of God don’t wear it! They put on Christ and they put on righteousness, love joy and and peace!

And you might be thinking what does all of this have to do with gratitude! Well church, you and I we don’t serve the grace that’s been given to us. The angel in Revelation says, Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! That invitation is a blessing! It’s not an entitlement and if you like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day or like so many in our culture and so many perhaps even in this room today and you respond to the King’s invitation by looking at it and tearing it up because you don’t like how it’s worded or you don’t like how the party is furnished or the menu that’s been chosen or you don’t like the clothes that the King is requiring you to put on because maybe you’re like this guy who shows up with out the right attire thinking I like how I’m dressed just fine thank you. You might be the King, but you don’t get to tell me what to wear! If you reject the King’s invitation, you have made war with Him and He will make war with you and Church you will not be able to stand up against his power and wrath. He will bring you to a swift end in hell just like He did to the servants in the story the fella in the story!

All of these attitudes that bring about divine justice and send these individuals to hell boil down to entitlement! I don’t care who the invite is from, I’m too busy, I’m too important to be bothered by the King of Heaven. Oh the King wants to sends servants to invite me does he. Doesn’t he know who I am! If He wants me to come He should come invite me himself! Show yourself! Prove yourself to me! I’m important enough! I demand a sign! Or the last guy. I’m not wearing this stuff! I don’t care who the King is, He doesn’t get to tell me how to live, how to order my life, how to dress, how to do Church!

All of this Church is evidence of a haughty and proud heart! You do not know who it is who inviting you! He’s the King Church! The King of Heaven and Earth! And you don’t even deserve to be in His presence! You and I deserve hell. You and I deserve wrath! But Jesus! Jesus comes and He invites us. Jesus although being God did not consider Himself too important. Jesus was not entitled. He lowered Himself to the form of a servant and became like his little flock! To invite us to become His bride and join Him at the wedding feast of the Lamb!

If you’re entitled! You will never now the awe and wonder of grace because you will miss the reality of God’s lavish undeserved favor! You won’t be surprised that the God of Heaven is mindful of you! At best if you sit in your entitlement you’ll become too busy to be bothered by the King of Heaven or at it’s worst you’ll go to war against Him and face and eternity of His awesome and infinite wrath!

I’ll close with a word from Paul to the Romans:

Romans 12:3 (NIV)

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

And before I pray, let me give you one point of application for the coming week. If you want to understand your true position before God apart from Christ, make it a point to go read the old sermon from Johnathan Edwards called Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God! I know of nothing else that chops the legs out from our entitlement and fills my heart with more gratitude that learning and reading from Edwards and the verses of Scriptures that He highlights that helps me know what the Lord God has saved you and I from in Jesus! (you can read it here: https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/edwards_jonathan/Sermons/Sinners.cfm)

Let’s pray