Chosen: An Invitation Into Grace

(S1) — Series

Jesus’ authority being questioned...

Parable of the Vineyard—Provision/privilege/misused

—New Vineyard (world/church)—Expectation of Fruit— Jesus as the cornerstone

Rejection or Repentance? It’s a CHOICE

Today, a parable—is an invitation to a heavenly feast; portrayed in a royal wedding banquet—an invitation given by Christ; to celebrate in the presence of the king

Jesus by way of the parable extends the invitation to those expected; but who are unwilling to come.

The bottom line of Jesus’ parable is clear…

Matthew 22:14 ““For many are called, but few are chosen.””

To be chosen is an invitation of grace

PRAY

(S2)

Planning a wedding celebration is a big deal...

— dress, tuxedo, wedding party, church/venue, flowers, cake, music, food/beverages, laws and in-laws...planning months in advance

Perhaps the most difficult...deciding who to invite

—guest List/RSVP—the invitations help determine who’s going to show…

(S3) —

Banquets were a highlight of social activity in times of antiquity; especially when it’s the kings only sons wedding.

— Royal weddings lasted for several weeks—Banquet was the climax—Guests would have been invited well in advance—a high honor with the expectation of full participation! Many no doubt had said they would come.”

The response to the request to be in the presence of the King is key to this parable

—Jesus reveals four key elements of the invitation…

(S4) — {22:2}

I. The NATURE of the invitation

When speaking in parables, Jesus seems to always have the intended listener in mind—The phrase ‘The Kingdom of heaven’ would have been meaningful to his Jewish audience…

— The Kingdom of God…The Jews, out of reverence for God, avoided uttering the divine name

Last week we heard the parable of the vineyard tell of the history of Israel and how God dealt with them...here Jesus is telling how God will deal with his new people; the church—caretakers of the new vineyard.

…King (God)—Son (Jesus)—The banquet is a direct illusion to the union of Christ the lamb of God, and the bride; his church

Revelation 19:7–9 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb... “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.””

The nature of the invitation is heaven: the coming consummation/perfection of all believers to God

Israel was the first intended guest to the feast; a high honor they should have recognized!

Luke 14—a parallel parable—The Great Banquet

(S5) — {22:3-4}

II. The REJECTION of the invitation

The Save the Dates had been sent—the invitations made on FB, Instagram…

The grand meal was ready—It was customary to extend the invitation again—sending the servants (Prophets/John the Baptist) would have been expected

Dinners ready (Dad)

They inform the king of the first outright refusal

(CSB) “Did not want to come”

To NOT come was to dishonor the king, but to not WANT to come is and outright rejection of the king and his son

How do you feel when someone you invite to come...doesn’t want to?

So the invitation is made again, this time by other servants (disciples)—come the banquet is ready! Again the invitation is rejected

To be in the presence of the king...was to be in the presence of his grace

— To dine with Jesus the son was to be in the presence of God. This makes their response even more appalling to those listening

(S6) — {22:5-6}

Here we see two differing and contrasting responses to the kings invitation

Apathy; to ignore

they went on their own way—they were just too busy

Destructive; outright evil (previous parable)

Destruction of Jerusalem

Note the excuses made—one to his farm, another to his business

This is more than misplaced priorities—to reject the invitation was to refuse the offer of a relationship with God.

I’m not sure which way God hates more…but for sure I don’t want to find out!

Those hearing this would have been outraged at the invited guests; not realizing yet that Jesus is talking about them. The kings response is warranted and expected—Their refusal deems them unworthy of the kingdom

7 ““The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. 8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.”

I wonder how Jesus feels when we ignore the invitation or are too busy to respond to the relationship offered?

I know he loves us still; that’s grace. But I believe he weeps when we reject him by going our own way.

Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”

Going our own way may not seem like were rejecting God…but it for sure keeps us from going deeper in our relationship with Him.

(S7) — {22:9-10}

Everything is ready; but those who are expected don’t come opens up the invitation

Sending his servants out (Jesus’ disciples)—Seen throughout the gospels

— fish for men…sending the 12…go and make disciples…

Luke 10:1 “The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.”

They are sent to; Everyone you see!

J.W. ‘The World is my Parish’

III. The WIDE-OPENESS of the invitation

1 Timothy 2:3–4 “This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

— The result; the banquet hall is filled with guests!

What if our only mission was too…

(S8) — MAKE HEAVEN CROWDED

Imagine our church filled with guests if we only extended the invitation to everyone we see!

Didn’t someone invite us...? Aren’t we the kings servants? Sent out to invite everyone into the presence of the king?

Acts 26:17–18 “Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’”

Do you see the wide-openness of the invitation...and your responsibility in it?

(S9) — {22:11-12}

Wedding Crashers

Someone who came in with impure motives

—may have been one of the Pharisees trying to get a looksee; or thinking he earned his way in.

—a warning of false prophets

Matthew 24:23–24 ““if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.”

Having the right wedding attire was not a restriction, but an offer of love

— A reference to the poor; those wearing street clothes. Those who would have never been invited to such a feast were not offered a seat at the table.

When Jesus said everyone he meant everyone

IV. The REQUIREMENT of the invitation

...was to wear the clothes offered...to be clothed in Christ

The wedding garment — “A metaphor for the righteousness or worthiness required to participate in the Kingdom of Heaven, as depicted in the parable of the marriage supper.”

Galatians 3:26–27 “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.”

This was a gotcha to the those Jesus was speaking to...the requirement was no longer the law...but only faith in Christ

Galatians 3:11 “So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.””

(S10)

The requirement of the invitation is SALVATION

...which some, those who were expected to be invited to the banquet, would refuse..

Matthew 22:13–14 “Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.””

Does everyone go to heaven? We should be careful to not make the assumption

Not an all dogs go to heaven gospel

Not all will see the glory of God and feast at heaven’s great banquet...

{21:32} “the expected will not enter the kingdom without repentance and faith”

Some rejected the invitation and still do today...but that doesn’t mean we give up

Boy who prayed for his grandpa

The nature of the invitation is HEAVENLY—some will REJECT the invitation—but its a WIDE-OPEN invitation—and the only requirement is SALVATION though faith in Christ

Matthew 22:14 ““For many are called, but few are chosen.””

Do you understand the nature of the invitation...the high honor of being in the presence of the king?

How have you accepted or rejected it? What is getting in the way? Are you going your own way or following Jesus?

Do you see your role in offering the invitation to everyone? Will you?

Do you wear Christ? Are you fully living into the salvation offered?

(S11) — Title

To be chosen, is an invitation into GRACE

Not a restriction or a preapproved way into heaven; an acceptance of the invitation to faith; so that one day you will dine at the table in the the presence of the king of kings: God’s only son

Jesus’ parable foreshadow the greater banquet to come. The question is will you and I have a seat at the table

{Psalm 23}

Going our own way will always lead us away from Jesus. To be chosen, is an invitation into GRACE. We only need accept the invitation offered

Matthew 22:4 ‘The feast has been prepared. Everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’”