Pardon My Insistence
Notes
Transcript
Read Matthew 22:1-10
Read Matthew 22:1-10
Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
What is the primary interpretation of this parable?
What is the primary interpretation of this parable?
It is analogy of God’s invitation to the “chosen people”(Jews) who didn’t accept the invitation to follow Jesus. In fact the often killed the messengers(prophets). So God sent messengers(apostles, disciples) into the world(gentiles) and invited them. It didn’t matter who they were or what they had done, all they had to do was accept the invitation.
It is analogy of God’s invitation to the “chosen people”(Jews) who didn’t accept the invitation to follow Jesus. In fact the often killed the messengers(prophets). So God sent messengers(apostles, disciples) into the world(gentiles) and invited them. It didn’t matter who they were or what they had done, all they had to do was accept the invitation.
Now, what is the secondary invitation?
Now, what is the secondary invitation?
It is one that we can make personally
It is one that we can make personally
Read Matthew 22:1-3
Read Matthew 22:1-3
Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
God has prepared the greatest celebration of all time, the grand homecoming of heaven and eternity. He has invited everyone. But the invitations were discarded.
God has prepared the greatest celebration of all time, the grand homecoming of heaven and eternity. He has invited everyone. But the invitations were discarded.
Read Matthew22:4-6
Read Matthew22:4-6
“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
Even though God gave people a second chance at the invitation; the attention is on the worldly agendas and events, so some very absurd excuses are made to not accept the invitation.
Even though God gave people a second chance at the invitation; the attention is on the worldly agendas and events, so some very absurd excuses are made to not accept the invitation.
Some even were so upset with the insistence of being invited that they become hostile to those who bring the invitation
Some even were so upset with the insistence of being invited that they become hostile to those who bring the invitation
Read Matthew 22:7-10
Read Matthew 22:7-10
“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
Those that turn away from the invitation are no longer a part of the great celebration. It isn’t always those we, through our worldly eyes consider the good people who attend, but many whom we and others consider unworthy.
Those that turn away from the invitation are no longer a part of the great celebration. It isn’t always those we, through our worldly eyes consider the good people who attend, but many whom we and others consider unworthy.
Now, what about the view from a seemingly minor player in this parable, the servant.
Now, what about the view from a seemingly minor player in this parable, the servant.
Read Matthew 22:1-4 again and put yourself in the servant’s role.
Read Matthew 22:1-4 again and put yourself in the servant’s role.
Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’
What would you feel like if EVERYONE you invited refused? How would you like to react? How does this effect your invitation and witness to others for Jesus?
What would you feel like if EVERYONE you invited refused? How would you like to react? How does this effect your invitation and witness to others for Jesus?
Read Matthew 22:4-6 again
Read Matthew 22:4-6 again
“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
When asked to go again and offer the invitation how would you feel? When reports came back of others being ridiculed and even persecuted for doing it, how might you react? If you were faced with a situation of risking your life to deliver this invitation, what would you do?
When asked to go again and offer the invitation how would you feel? When reports came back of others being ridiculed and even persecuted for doing it, how might you react? If you were faced with a situation of risking your life to deliver this invitation, what would you do?
Read Matthew 22:7-10 again
Read Matthew 22:7-10 again
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. 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, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
What do you think about this new direction that God might send you on to offer the invitation? How would you decide who to invite? What made the difference which caused the third group to accept the invitation you gave? How did that make you feel?
What do you think about this new direction that God might send you on to offer the invitation? How would you decide who to invite? What made the difference which caused the third group to accept the invitation you gave? How did that make you feel?
You, the servant have finally accomplished your King’s request, helped to fill the banquet hall. Now you are guest at the party and what a party it is.
You, the servant have finally accomplished your King’s request, helped to fill the banquet hall. Now you are guest at the party and what a party it is.
Jesus said this party is a celebration for those who have taken up their crosses to follow HIM. Not an easy task but with a promise that when the party happens we will find rest.
Jesus said this party is a celebration for those who have taken up their crosses to follow HIM. Not an easy task but with a promise that when the party happens we will find rest.
CS Lewis described it in his spiritual autobiography, “Surprised by Joy”. He said it is no happiness or pleasure. He said that joy is not a substitute for any type of pleasure but that ALL pleasures are distant substitutes for JOY.
CS Lewis described it in his spiritual autobiography, “Surprised by Joy”. He said it is no happiness or pleasure. He said that joy is not a substitute for any type of pleasure but that ALL pleasures are distant substitutes for JOY.
The the apostle Paul describes it as not being drunk with wine but filled with the spirit
The the apostle Paul describes it as not being drunk with wine but filled with the spirit
Read Ephesians 5:18
Read Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Being invited to the party is God’s longing for us to join HIM and that is why as his servants, it is so imperative for us to keep on inviting.
Being invited to the party is God’s longing for us to join HIM and that is why as his servants, it is so imperative for us to keep on inviting.
Because once we get to the party the feast or drinks or other excitements we were anticipating are all overshadowed by visiting with our dear friend who makes our soul feel complete.
Because once we get to the party the feast or drinks or other excitements we were anticipating are all overshadowed by visiting with our dear friend who makes our soul feel complete.
A person who we may have invited to the party because of the attractiveness of heaven or the fear of hell, will find that the greatest fulfillment is communication with God.
A person who we may have invited to the party because of the attractiveness of heaven or the fear of hell, will find that the greatest fulfillment is communication with God.
So if you have a good friend, a relative, someone you really care for, invited him or her to the party. And hurry with that invitation. Remember, the king said to the servant, “Compel them!, “Don’t miss the party!” It is the one event in all time and eternity that we dare not miss. What possible reason can we have to be anything but insistent?
So if you have a good friend, a relative, someone you really care for, invited him or her to the party. And hurry with that invitation. Remember, the king said to the servant, “Compel them!, “Don’t miss the party!” It is the one event in all time and eternity that we dare not miss. What possible reason can we have to be anything but insistent?
