The Word Call
Key Words of the Bible • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 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.
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 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.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
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. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Introduction
Introduction
Words are an important part of our lives. Without words, we would not be able to communicate. In our series on the Key Words of the Bible, we are looking to define these important words as we study the Word of God.
The fifth word that we are going to see in this series is the word call. The words “called”, “call”, and “calling” are found 844 times in the King James Version. God calls mankind. People call out to each other. People are called different names for a reason. The word call affects both eternity and our time here on earth serving God.
Webster defines the word “call” as
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) (Call)
1call \ˈkȯl\ verb
1 a: to speak in a loud distinct voice so as to be heard at a distance: SHOUT 〈call for help〉
b: to make a request or demand 〈call for an investigation〉
The call of God is one that we see throughout Scripture. God is calling to you today. He wants you to answer Him. The call of God can be ignored. The call of God can be silenced. But today, you have the opportunity to answer the call of the King.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Dramatic Conversion
On a sultry day in July, 1505, a lonely traveler was trudging along a dry road on the outskirts of Stotternheim, a village in the German region of Saxony. He was short of stature and wore the garb of a university student. Suddenly there was a shower, then a crashing storm. A bolt of lightning knocked the young man to the ground. Struggling to rise, he cried out in terror, “St. Anne, help me! I will become a monk.”
The man who thus committed himself to being a monk later repudiated the system. A loyal son of the Catholic Church, he later shattered the structure. A devoted servant of the Pope, he was later to identify the Pope with the Antichrist. The young man was Martin Luther.
The call of God to Paul on the road to Damascus was just as amazing. God took a man named Saul who was known for his persecution of the church and changed his life. He became the greatest missionary to the Gentiles in church history.
We see in this parable the call of the king to the wedding of his son. Jesus gives the final of three parables here regarding the kingdom of heaven. Jesus tells the story as a metaphor for the people showing a truth which is found in verse 14. There are key words in the parable in the words “like unto”. This phrase was often used by the Rabbis in the Talmud. It compared something familiar with something being taught. Will the people answer the call? Will you?
Declaration
Declaration
Everyone is called to the kingdom but only those who accept it are chosen to receive of the feast. God calls those who respond worthy. God expects us to come to the marriage as the Bride of Christ. Today, see that God calls out to you wherever you are and however you hear His voice!
1. The King Calls to the Invited
1. The King Calls to the Invited
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
The king calls those who were to come to a wedding feast or ceremony for his son. It was typical in those days for there to be two invitations. One several weeks before and one at the time of the feast. Theologically, the wedding feast here is the marriage supper of the Lamb and the kingdom of heaven is the Millennial reign of Christ.
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. And he will destroy in this mountain The face of the covering cast over all people, And the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: For the Lord hath spoken it.
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. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Practically, we see that the call here is to salvation through Christ. All of those who will be at the marriage supper are those who have responded to the call for salvation! The people that had been called to the feast would have been invited some time previous to verse 3. But what happens to the call of the king to this first group? No one responds.
God is calling to those who were invited to come. Even today, God is still calling out to the nation of Israel. God is calling to those who grew up in Christian home. God is calling to those who were pastors children and missionary kids. God wants those who were invited to come to the marriage.
And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
First, the King calls to the Invited.
2. The King Calls to the Indifferent
2. The King Calls to the Indifferent
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. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
There was haste to eat the food prepared before it was spoiled. The king sent different servants to the people to ask them the second time to come to the waiting feast. This was a meal that had to be eaten together at the one time. It could not be put off.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
The reaction of the people was one of indifference to the call of the king. Though the time was short, with the preparations all now completed, the people still were not willing to put aside their priorities to come to the wedding feast of the king. They did not care. Instead of being attentive to the king’s call, the Indifferent people went back to what they had been doing.
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
The farm was more important than the palace. The shop was a more comfortable place than the table of the King. There are many who will not enter the kingdom of God because their heart is following only the call of the marketplace of this world. They hear the bustle of trade and they see the wealth of the material world. God is calling to the Indifferent but they will not listen.
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Are you indifferent to the call of God? Where are your priorities? What are you focusing on? What is the occupation of your life?
The King calls to the Invited, now He calls to the Indifferent.
3. The King Calls to the Impatient
3. The King Calls to the Impatient
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
After the Indifferent went back to their occupations, the Impatient were left alone with the servants. The remaining people were not preoccupied, they were perturbed! They took the servants, beat them and killed them.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
The King has an experience of anger and wrath. When he heard that the people had not only rejected but reacted to the servants, he sent and destroyed the city. This anger was revenge for what was done to his servants. Punishment follows the wrath of the king.
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
For Jesus’ hearers, this could have been a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Regardless of this prophecy, we see that God, though longsuffering, will not wait forever for the Impatient to respond to his call.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Are you impatient with the call of God in your life? Do you reject the Word of God as it speaks into your heart? Throughout their history, Israel had killed the prophets who had called them to repentance. We see throughout history those who gave their life for the truth!
The King calls to those Invited. He calls to those Indifferent to the call. He calls to the Impatient.
4. The King Calls to the Interested
4. The King Calls to the Interested
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 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.
There is a transition in the parable in verse 8. Now there will be new people that are called to the marriage.
The king observes that those who should have responded were not worthy. They did not deserve the call. They did not receive the call. The good news of the marriage was rejected.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
As a result of what had happened before, the king infers that they must go into the highways. This is the place where the central street of the city exited into the country round about it. The king said to go to those outside and call them to come in to the wedding feast. The servants were to diligently search and discover the people wherever they might be.
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
The thought that we, the people at the going out of the city, were the ones that were worthy is so amazing. Worth is not merit based. Worth is response based. Everyone is called to the wedding but only the ones who enter in correctly will be chosen. God has shown us grace - ill deserved favour.
And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household. So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were. And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s house within.
There is no requirement of those invited resulting in both good and bad coming. The bad here are the wicked people of the world. They were sick with the disease that all of mankind has, sin. These were, in the eyes of the world, more unworthy than the first group. The king calls because of grace not goodness. He is looking for the people that will respond to His grace.
So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
There was great importance placed on the idea of a guest in the First Century. The guest was one who reclined at the table and ate of the food that was prepared. The host would be required to protect and provide for the guest in his house. Some of the rabbis put Abraham and Job as the best examples in tradition of hospitality. The king finally finds someone to come to the wedding feast. The Interested respond to the call.
Worthiness in the eyes of the King of Kings is only found in each person’s own response to the call of God in his heart for salvation!
Will you respond to the call of the King? Will you go from just Interested to Invested in the truth? Will you respond to the call of the king?
The King calls to the people who were Invited. He calls to the Indifferent and the Impatient. He calls to those who are Interested.
5. The King Calls to the Insecure
5. The King Calls to the Insecure
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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. For many are called, but few are chosen.
In the midst of the group of the Interested, there is a man who is Insecure. He does not have the marks of the wedding guest. The king comes to see the guests and he sees around his table one who has not completely responded in obedience.
The king addresses the man as “Friend”. This is greeting indicating the common circumstances of the two parties. This word is only used three times in the New Testament.
Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
TDNTA “The meaning is ‘friend’ but in each case with the implication of a distinct relationship in which there is generosity on the one part and abuse of it on the other.”
Jesus asks you the same question today. “Friend, how are you going to respond to the call of Christ?” How did the man without the garment get in? Did they miss giving him a garment or did he wander in some back way? The man without the garment came when called but was not clothed correctly. Only through the righteousness of Christ can we inherit salvation.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
The servants are commanded to take the man and bind him. He is cast into the outer darkness. This is the farthest and most extreme place they could take him. It is the farthest place from the joy of the wedding feast. For the Jews, this was the abode of the devils, this was hell. Here there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. Here was grief remembering the rejection of salvation. Here the sound of grinding teeth could be heard from the utter remorse of those who were left there in the darkness. This is the place were the Insecure man is cast.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: The desire of the wicked shall perish.
What are the reasons for this parable? What was Jesus teaching here? The reasons for the parable are that many are called and that few are chosen. Everyone is invited to the wedding. Everyone has the opportunity to come into the presence of the king. But, only a few receive the call. Only a few are chosen to receive the blessings of the wedding feast. Many apply but only a few will be there for the Millennium.
But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Conclusion
Conclusion
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Conversion
How painful almost to get a situation, but to miss it.
How vexing almost to catch a plane, but to be left at the terminal.
How sad almost to escape drowning, but to be engulfed in the water.
But, oh, how above-all-things terrible to be almost a Christian and yet in the lake of fire for eternity!
It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
May it not be said also that it will be trodden by millions of almost-Christians!
Oh, be warned, then, against being an almost-er, for to be almost saved is to be certainly lost!249
Everyone is called to the kingdom but only those who accept it are chosen to receive of the feast. God calls those who respond worthy. God expects us to come to the marriage as the Bride of Christ.
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
We see the Invited who did not come when bidden. We see the Indifferent who chose to spend time on their own pursuits rather than the King’s calling. We see the Impatient who only responded in anger to the kindness of the King. We see the Interested who responded and filled the feast. Finally, we see the man who represents the question of the hour, the Insecure. The question of the king is the question God asks us today,
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Today, don’t be speechless. Jesus wants you to respond to the question by receiving that wedding garment. Be clothed in His righteousness in the presence of the King! What are you going to do with the call of the King? The wedding is ready. The food is prepared. The gift is there for your taking! Respond to the call today!
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)