The Power of an Invitation

Introduction

In an article from EvangelismCoach.org dated November 5, 2020 [https://www.evangelismcoach.org/personal-invitations-to-church-are-most-effective], I found the following statement: We’ve asked more than 50,000 people over the last 10 years why they came to church, and between 75 and 90 percent of respondents say, “I began attending because someone invited me.” This represents a trend that has been observable and increasing for quite some time. The relationship factor is undeniable in determining one’s willingness to venture out into a new and unknown environment. The personal invitation remains one of the most effective methods of church growth.

Unfortunately, this is only the beginning of the story. Growing the church and growing the kingdom of God are not necessarily the same thing. Wouldn’t it make things so much more simple if all you had to do was get someone to church in order for them to be right with God! Granted, encouraging someone to attend a church gathering should lead to them hearing the Word of God preached in truth and power, but this is not always the case. Personally sharing the gospel of Christ is even more important than personally inviting someone to attend a church gathering. As Leon Morris so profoundly points out, “It is not enough to have accepted the invitation to the marriage feast—one must also go to the marriage (Pillar New Testament Commentary, 546).

1. God is kind in His calling (1-3)

Jesus is still speaking to the religious leaders

This is the third parable in a row He has told them

“In this context, there can be little doubt that this portrays the religious leaders, who do not believe God’s prophets and who ultimately reject God’s Son, Jesus, and his kingdom, which is spoken of elsewhere as a great eschatological feast” (David Turner, BECNT, 522).

Lit., “The kingdom of heaven has been compared to a King who made...”

The King “made” this wedding feast “for His Son”; the marriage supper of the Lamb may be clearly in view with this parabolic language

The King sent his slaves (Gk., δούλους) to call those who had been invited (Gk., κεκλημένους [perf. pass. ptc.]) to the wedding celebration

In other words, it was time to respond in obedience to the invitation

Unfortunately, they were not wanting (Gk., ἤθελον [impf.]) to attend

The Gospel according to Matthew 3. The Parable of the Wedding Feast, 22:1–14

This was something completely unnatural; in real life a royal invitation is not refused, and people are very glad to be present at a royal banquet. We should not miss the point that Jesus regards the actions of the high-priestly party as completely unnatural. When they were summoned by the King of heaven, they should surely have complied with his gracious invitation. But they did not.

2. God is persistent in His pursuit (4-6)

“By a complete misunderstanding of the noble and true doctrine of the freedom of the human will, salvation is made to depend perilously upon the will of man instead of upon the will of God. However deep the mystery, however many the paradoxes involved, it is still true that men become saints not at their own whim but by sovereign calling” (A.W. Tozer, God’s Pursuit of Man, 49).

The King issues a second, more urgent, call to those who were invited (same Greek word family, κεκλημένοις [perfect passive participle])

This second call is more detailed; the King has done EVERYTHING

I have prepared my dinner

My oxen and my fattened cattle are butchered

Everything is ready

Come to the wedding feast! (Gk., δεῦτε [present imperative])

This time there was a more blatant and violent rejection of the call

They neglected the invite; they were unconcerned (Gk., ἀμελήσαντες)

They went away, one to his farm, another to his business

The Gospel according to Matthew 3. The Parable of the Wedding Feast, 22:1–14

Jesus is citing typical shallow excuses to bring out the point that the impolite guests had no real reason for staying away from the banquet. They simply did not care.

They seized the slaves who were sent by the King

They mistreated / insulted / killed them (Gk., ὕβρισαν καὶ ἀπέκτειναν)

The Gospel according to Matthew 3. The Parable of the Wedding Feast, 22:1–14

They had no respect for the king and no fear of him.

3. God is just in His judgment (7-10)

The King was angry with the lack of response to his invitation

He sent his armies to destroy the murderers

His armies were instructed to burn their city to the ground

The King still had a wedding feast that was prepared and ready

Those who had been invited were not worthy / deserving (Gk., ἄξιοι)

A third invitation is for “as many as you find” (Gk., ὅσους ἂνN εὕρητε)

2 Peter 3:9 NASB 2020

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

The slaves went out into the streets to invite more people

They gathered together all whom they found

They gathered both bad and good alike

The wedding hall was now filled with dinner guests

Here is an interesting principle: the poor or destitute who may be found on the roads leading out of the city would most likely not be anticipating an invitation to such a wedding event. They would also likely be more appreciative if they were to receive an invitation. They would then be more likely to attend out of sheer gratitude.

The Gospel according to Matthew 3. The Parable of the Wedding Feast, 22:1–14

Jesus accepts people the Jewish establishment would regard as evil and therefore totally unacceptable. Of course, those who accept Jesus’ invitation do not stay evil, but the point is that Jesus welcomes people that the high priests did not want to include among God’s own.

4. God is clear in His consequences (11-14)

The King came into the feast to “look over” His dinner guests

He found a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes

He asked how the man was able to enter without proper clothes

The man was speechless; he was “put to silence” (Gk., ἐφιμώθη)

Exalting Jesus in Matthew The Rejection of Some of His Invited Guests

This wedding guest did what many people do today: they profess Christ while their lives show no evidence of saving faith. Such people are ungrateful to God, and their obstinacy when confronted reveals a deep-seated rebellion against God’s authority. They have no joy in God, no real desire to read or hear His Word. They continue to pursue the fleeting and empty false joys that this world has to offer, but they end up miserable and angry at God.

The King had the man bound hand and foot and thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth

The Greek word used here (ἐκβάλετε) is the same root word used in Matthew 9:38 “Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” The forcefulness needed to “send out” more workers into the harvest field in Matthew 9 is the same force used by King Jesus to dispel the hypocritical, disobedient man from the wedding feast.

The Gospel according to Matthew 3. The Parable of the Wedding Feast, 22:1–14

Many are called classes him with the other guests; they had all heard the gracious invitation of the royal host, and they were all where they were because of his generosity. But Jesus sounds a warning. Those who hear God’s call and know of his grace must not think that a call is the same as a response. While many indeed hear the call, few are chosen.

Main Principle: “Many are called, but few chosen.”

See passage in Acts 13:44-52 - “Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles...When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:46, 48).

The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament ἐκλεκτός, 3

Matthew alludes to the trial of the faithful when at the conclusion of the parable of the wedding feast (22:1–14; cf. Luke 14:15–24) he gives the eschatological warning against coming before the king without a wedding garment (Matt 22:11–13) and adds: “For many are called, but few are chosen” (v. 14). A predestinarian misunderstanding of the belief in election is thus rejected, just as is a particularistic-sectarian misunderstanding of it. The elect are those who have followed the invitation into the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ and have realized their call in a life of faith (cf. Rev 17:14).

Conclusion

“Men who refuse to worship the true God now worship themselves with tender devotion. A return to spiritual sanity waits for repentance and true humility. God grant that we may soon know again how small and how sinful we are” (A.W. Tozer, God’s Pursuit of Man,54).

Jesus talks about false prophets in Matthew 7:15-23. He reminds us that we will recognize them by their fruit rather than their profession. Those who truly belong to Jesus will affirm their faith through their obedience to the Word of God. Judas Iscariot is a prime example of someone who was called but not chosen.

“The gospel invitation goes far and wide, but not everyone who hears it is one of God’s elect. We know those who are elect by their obedient response” (Leon Morris, Pillar New Testament Commentary, 553).

Where do you stand with Jesus today? If you’re here, then I know God is calling you to Himself. He pleads with you to humble yourself and turn away from your sins. He longs for you to experience the depth of His love for you as you receive forgiveness and redemption. He promises eternal life for all who will surrender to Him by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Have you heard Him calling your name? Jesus is calling you even now. Softly and tenderly, He is calling you to lay down your burdens and run into His loving arms. What is stopping you? Won’t you come to Jesus?