42: The King’s Invitation (Mt 22:1-14)

Before we dive into this SERIOUS-BUSINESS passage, I thought I would get your brains in gear with some highly intellectual

DAD JOKES.

As I’ve been out fishing on the Gulf it gives me a lot of time to really think and one day I said, “You know, Seasickness comes in waves.”

I'm so good at sleeping, I can do it with my eyes shut!

At first, I thought my chiropractor wasn’t any good, but now I stand corrected.

I found a wooden shoe in my toilet — it was really clogged.

Turn to someone and tell them - DAD JOKES are the BEST! AND…You are VALUABLE!

You’ll remember from last week that Jesus goes toe-to-toe with the religious leaders and says:

Matthew 21:31b–32 (NIV) Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

We will come back to this point later in the text, but for right now - you need to remember this response, repent and believe, put it on a mental sticky note.

Later, Jesus says this to the religious leaders.

Matthew 21:42–46 (NIV) Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

Jesus is the CORNERSTONE - the foundation of our faith - the KING of the KINGdom.

Thus Jesus has concluded His 2nd judgment parable clearly was speaking AGAINST the chief priests and pharisees.

Now Jesus completes the trilogy of His judgement parables against these religious leaders & their followers - telling a story about The King’s Invitation.

First, we will read the story, and then attempt to interpret what Jesus means by it.

Matthew 22:1–14 (NIV)

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

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

The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

Then he said to his servants, “The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.”

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.

But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, “How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?” The man was speechless. 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.” For many are invited, but few are chosen.

What is THAT all about? Let’s dig in a find out.

Matthew 22:1–3 (NIV) Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

First, this is all about the kingdom of heaven/God where a king (God the Father) prepares a wedding banquet for his son (Jesus). Many are invited to this prestigious party which would have been a countrywide celebration that lasted for at least a week.

It could be that the king had already sent an invitation out since they would - like us - have to rearrange schedules to be gone for several days. But now he sent his servants to those who had already been invited to give them the face-to-face invite. Sadly, the those who had been invited have better options, so they refused to come. This would have been quite an insult to a king in that culture. But the king is patient and once again extends the generous invitation.

Matthew 22:4-5 (NIV) 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.” But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.

They have now dismissed the servants bringing the personal invitation, twice. Why? They have more pressing issues - like their own businesses.

Jesus had likely told a similar story or even the same story on several occasions. In Luke 14:16-24 Jesus tells a similar story and speaks of some of the excuses the invited guests offered for not attending:

I just bought a field - How bout you check on your property later? It’s NOT going anywhere!

I just bought a bunch of oxen. How bout you delay playing with your farm equipment for a few days and come to the wedding banquet.

I just got married. Here’s an idea….BRING YOUR WIFE with you to the banquet - it’s like having a free date with food and dancing!

These men received the 2nd servants message are dismissive, turning and walking away from this incredible invitation. They were more concerned with honoring their own agenda than showing up to honor the King & His Son.

I’m glad WE’RE never like that - aren’t YOU?

But others who were invited were more than dismissive, they were destructive, doing far more to show their displeasure than just walking away.

Matthew 22:6-7 (NIV) The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

WOWZERS! Jesus tells a made-up up story to demonstrate a real injustice that has occurred. In Matthew 23 we will specifically watch Jesus address how prophets from the past who had been sent to the people of Israel, with an invitation from the King. But rather than be welcomed and appreciated, they were mistreated and even killed.

Further, in the future, the servants of Jesus - many whom were standing with Jesus watching this battle in the Temple - would later be mistreated and killed in this very city - Jerusalem - as they spread the message of the Resurrected King.

In response to how his servants and his invitation was treated, the King was enraged and sent an army to destroy these murderers and burn their city.

And even though this was yet to happen, it later would in AD 70 - as God sends the Roman army to besiege the city for 5 1/2 months, kill all who tried to escape, and eventually enter & burn the city - including the Temple. We will discuss in much more detail when we come to Matthew 24 a few weeks from now.

Despite those who responded to the invitation in dismissive & destructive ways, the King is not done offering generous invitations. But, as this is an honorable banquet, it is super surprising WHO the King is about to invite.

Matthew 22:8-9 (NIV) Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:10 (NIV) 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.

Those who were invited but did not deserve to come are the religious leaders Jesus was talking to, along with anyone who followed in their footsteps.

It’s important to note that NOT ALL of the elite pushed away from Jesus. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were 2 who even took time to clean and bury Jesus’ emaciated body in Joseph’s new family tomb (Jn 19:38-42, Mt 27:57-61).

Sadly however, many people of Israel refused to respond to the wedding invitation to honor the Son - and because of this, others would be invited - including Gentiles. Paul spills a lot of inking writing about this in Romans 11.

Who are “the bad” versus “the good” in this story? Since none are righteous before God on their own merit, none are truly good. You might remember that Jesus had earlier said, “Only God is good.” (Mt 19:17)

So, who ARE “the bad and “the good” in this story?

When Jesus tells the similar story the Master tells his servants to go out and invite the “poor, crippled, blind, and lame” (Lk 14:21). In Jewish culture of the time, they would likely be those that many considered “the bad” - as many believed those with physical disease or abnormality were that way because of sin that they or their parents had committed - even the disciples of Jesus believed this (cf. Jn 9:1-3).

On the other hand, as Jesus already noted, tax collectors and prostitutes (the bad) were entering the kingdom ahead of those who thought they were good - the religious elite Jesus is condemning (Mt 21:31).

And then there were others who were considered less valuable than even the Jews who were poor, crippled, blind, & lame, tax collectors & prostitutes - the GENTILES - non-Jews - considered unclean & unworthy. Yet THEY were invited too, as God (the Master) wants his house to be full (Lk 14:23)!

Oh what a compassionate God we serve - the God of ALL NATIONS - calling Jews & Gentiles, the strong & weak, those who have obeyed God’s laws for years, as well as the most wicked sinners - to come to His banquet!

What an amazing experience to go to other nations and see that THEY TOO have responded to the Gospel invitation! Yahweh is NOT just the God of Israel - He is the God of all nations!

And how incredible is it to hear the stories of those who were FAR AWAY from God, those who looked like than had gone too far for His grace, HEAR & RESPOND to the Invitation from the King - and be radically forgiven and transformed! - Oh what a Compassionate King we serve!

Matthew 22:11-12 (NIV) But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, “How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?” The man was speechless.

While there is debate among scholars regarding what the wedding clothes represent, there's no debate over the fact that the wedding garment illustrates someone whose condition has changed - someone who is now wears clothes they previously were not wearing.

Except for this man who had slipped in without wedding clothes.

Just like all the others at the wedding, he was likely invited - especially in light of the fact that seemingly everyone had been invited at this point – however, for some reason this man CHOSE not to put on the appropriate wedding clothes for this prestigious event, and this decision was costly.

Matthew 22:13-14 (NIV) 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.” For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

The servants were to throw this man outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This certainly echoes language Jesus has used referring to HELL (Mt 8:22)

WHO is WHO in this story & What do the wedding clothes represent?

In light of What Jesus has previously said in this same conversation, “the bad” (Mt 22:10) tax collectors and prostitutes have not only been invited, but have chosen to participate in the marriage celebration - not just by showing up, but having put on the appropriate wedding clothes - representing those who have honored the King & His Son by repenting of the sins and believing on Jesus (Mt 21:31-32).

The religious leaders and their followers, however, fully expected to show up to the great eternal banquet because of their “goodness”, but have refused to honor the King & His Son by refusing to put on the wedding clothes. In other words - they have NOT repented of their sins & NOT believed on Jesus. They will not be allowed into the KINGDOM - what this story is all about, but will be thrown out¸ into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

In the final outcome, while many are invited, few are chosen.

“Chosen” is a key word that can draw battle lines between brothers/sisters who have adopted Calvinism & those who have not.

In the context of this parable, those “chosen” have not been been picked out of the crowd that was invited. Instead, in the context of this parable…the Chosen have put on the wedding clothes.

BIG TRUTH: The Chosen respond to the invitation in repentance.

Those who have responded to the King’s invitation in belief & repentance - as many tax collectors & prostitutes had done - have died to our old life of sin and been made alive in Christ (Rom 6:6-7, 2 Cor 5:17). Paul later uses this same language to demonstrate how all who have been invited and respond in repentance are clothed with Christ.

Galatians 3:26–28 (NIV) So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Is that YOU? Have you been baptized into Christ, clothed with Christ, dead to your sin and alive in Him?

Have you chosen to respond to the King’s invitation in repentance OR are you showing up on your own terms - ‘wearing’ whatever you want? Or maybe you have scheduled your own pleasures, another person, your job, or your material possessions ahead of responding to the invitation that the King of Creation has extended to you.

FEET2FAITH

1. Respond to the King’s Invitation. Turn from your sin to turn to Jesus. Ask your questions. Find your answers. Follow Jesus.

I recently talked with a young lady who went through Starting Point (Karon Mazella). She is humble and shared that she didn’t know much about Christianity and the Bible, but NOW…now she’s asking her questions and finding some answers. And NOW…she shared that she has genuinely trusted Jesus - she has put on the wedding garment - she is chosen, having responded to the invitation in repentance!

2. Become the SERVANT who carries the King’s invitation to others! BE the SERVANTS who invite friends, family, & acquaintances to the eternal banquet in honor of the Son!

You want to see your faith TAKE OFF? Stop keeping it to yourself! Start praying for someone to turn to Jesus. Ask, look for, & take opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus with them!

Discussion Questions