Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Matthew 22:1-14

Theme: Many are invited to the wedding feast, few will attend.

Aaron Wilburn, a Christian comedian, in one of his routines tells his experience of the first wedding he and his wife were invited to after their own wedding.

Not sure is the wedding was casual or formal, he tells of how he tried to “split the difference” between the two options.

As he came out into the kitchen, keys in hand, reading to leave, his wife gave him a slight smile, and uttered those fateful words, “That’s not what you’re wearing, is it?”

Wilburn says that it was at that moment he realized that when wives sometimes ask questions, they’re really not questions at all.

They are statements, as in this case, “No.

That’s not what you’re wearing.

You need to go change.

Let me help you.”

A lot of people are going to stand before God thinking, they’re dressed just fine.

But God will take one look and say, “That’s not what you’re wearing, is it?”

But at that moments it will be too late to change.

Here in Matthew 22, Jesus tells a story that has to do with clothing, and what to wear, and he even talks about wearing the wrong thing.

It's a disturbing story in some ways, because it doesn't have a happy ending.

But it's a story with several important lessons, so let's take a look at it together this morning.

I. AN INVITATION SPURNED

1. the background for the Parable of the Wedding Feast actually begins back in Matthew, chapter 21

a. he has just told the religious elite of Israel—the chief priests and the Pharisees—that because they have rejected the Lord’s Messiah, God will reject the people of Israel

b. he says very plainly: ““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.”

(Matthew 21:43, NIV84)

1) he is referring to the Gentiles

2. the priests and pharisees, according to Matt.

21:45, know that Jesus is talking about them

a. they intend to lay hands on him—and it’s not for a healing service, but an afflicting service

1) they literally want to pummel Jesus for his accusation

2) they refrain from doing so because they know that the multitudes of people who follow Jesus consider him a great prophet

3. but Jesus is not done with these guys!

a. if they’re mad now, just wait until they hear this next story

“Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.”

(Matthew 22:1–2, NIV84)

b. in this parable of a wedding dinner Jesus again pictures Israel as set aside by God and the despised Gentiles invited as guests to the heavenly banquet table

c. he continues to reveal Himself in ever clearer light as the central person of the Kingdom

4. so what’s the story here?

A. A ROYAL WEDDING AND A GREAT FEAST

1. this is not just any old wedding that Jesus refers to

a. he likens the kingdom of heaven to a certain king who arranges a lavish wedding and wedding reception for his son

b. this would have been the social event of the season ... the ultimate party ... the mother of all feasts ... a wedding were no expense was spared

ILLUS The most lavishly expensive wedding of all time was that of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.

The bill was $48 million in 1981, or $110 million when adjusted for inflation.

All of the Queen's governors-general, as well as Europe's crowned heads, attended.

3,500 of their closest friends were in attendance, and 750 millions watched on TV.

Princess Diana’s wedding gown was covered in 10,000 pearls an had a 25-foot train.

It was considered one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history.

The 27 wedding cakes and five-foot-tall main cake supposedly took 14 weeks to prepare, with a duplicate cake made in case of accidents.

2. the royal weddings of Jesus’ day were lavish affairs as well

a. they were often several days long and the climax of the event was a banquet literally fit for a king

b. it was a high honor to receive an invitation and people would often boast about being invited

3. in that place and time, there was a two-stage process of being invited to a wedding

a. the invitation was actually sent out well in advance of the banquet and everyone sent back their RSVP

b. then, those who had said "yes" received a courtesy reminder on the day the feast was to begin

c. this is the picture we see in verses three and four

vv.

3-4 “And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.4

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.”

B. THE OUTRAGEOUS RESPONSE AND GREAT SNUB

1. the king sends out his servants to tell everyone to come join the party, but those who had been invited wouldn't come

a. so he tried again, sending out his messengers to say, "Look, it's going to be a great party—lots of food and fun!"

2. but invitee after invitee makes an excuse

v. 5 “But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:”

b. they respond by saying, "We've got other more important things to do.

Sorry, can't make it.

We'd love to come, but we're just too busy.

You know how it is."

3. imagine how this great king feels—you’ve probably been there

a. we've all had that happen to us at some time or another

1) you work like a dog getting ready for something

2) maybe it's a party ... maybe it's a Sunday School lesson ... maybe it's some get-together for a group of co-workers

3) you spend hours and hours getting everything ready

b. you work hard and you're excited about what you've got planned

1) the big day comes

2) twenty-five people have said they’ll be there, but only three show up

3) you know how it feels ... you want to cry ... it makes you angry and frustrated and depressed

3. you know how the king in this parable felt, and if you know how the king in this parable felt, then in some small way, you know how God feels whenever lost people spurn His offer of grace

a. but it got even worse

“The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.”

(Matthew 22:6, NIV84)

4. the meaning of the parable up to this point is pretty obvious

a. the king of the story represents none other than Yahweh, the Lord our God, creator of the universe

b. the son of the story represents our Lord Jesus Christ, the bridegroom who is coming for his bride, the church

c. the servants of the story represent Moses and the Prophets and, I think, John the Baptist

d. the first group invited represents Israel, God’s chosen people who were the first to receive the joyous call to receive the Messiah

1) they rejected the Lord

2) in Acts 13:46, Paul and Barnabas said to the Jews of Antioch, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles."

3) and that's exactly what they did

5. in God’s grand redemptive scheme—ordained before the foundation of the world— God offers the gospel to another group: The gentile nations

a. in short, everyone has been given an invitation, but not everyone has accepted the invitation

II.

AN INCENSED KING

1.

I'm sure the Jews listening to Jesus would have thought to themselves, "Who would do such a thing—refuse to go to a king's banquet?

The very idea is preposterous."

a. and yet these people refused to attend

1) they were indifferent and just carried on with business as usual, snubbing the king’s gracious offer

2) some of them got downright violent with the messengers, showing contempt for the king and committing a flagrant act of rebellion

2. the king is furious

a. he punishes those rebellious people, and then he decides to extend the invitation to this feast to anyone and everyone who wanted to come

ILLUS.

Some of you who know your Bible history, know that in 70 AD—some forty years after the crucifixion of Jesus—the Roman general Titus attacked, besieged and eventually destroyed Jerusalem and Israel ceased to exist as a nation.

At that point the early church concentrated on winning the pagans to faith in Christ.

b. he tells his servants, "Round up all the folks you can."