Journey Through Matthew: Let Me Tell You A Story! Part 2
Journey Through Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsWhile Jesus had the attention of the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law he took the opportunity to share with them some stories that would teach them some valuable lessons about faith as well as convict them of their continued denial of his identity and their purpose in life.
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Introduction
Introduction
Good evening and welcome back.
If you don’t mind, turn back in your Bibles to Matthew, this time to .
We are going to finish up Jesus’ latest confrontation with the Jews this evening.
And tonight we are going to be focused on a parable about a banquet.
And remember now that Jesus is engaged in this debate and confrontation with the Jews over the fact that at this point he is pretty much calling them out.
They had been watching Jesus for some time, stewing over all the attention he had been getting from the people.
And to make matters worse he had cut off a source of their underhanded income when he drove the people out of the temple.
He had all but called them “two-faced liars” by their inconsistent behavior and attitudes.
He had put tax collectors and prostitutes ahead of them in the Kingdom of Heaven.
He had called them wretched and fruitless sinners.
And not only were they under severe conviction for their sins.
They were angry and they were determined to get even.
And since they were already mad and already not listening to what Jesus was trying to tell them, Jesus decides he is going to tell them another parable.
Maybe then they will get the point.
Which is where we pick up in .
So, if you have found the chapter, I’d invite you to stand with me if you are able.
We will be reading the first 14 verses of .
He writes . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
1 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. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, ill-treated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 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. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
An Invitation to the Banquet (vs 1-5)
An Invitation to the Banquet (vs 1-5)
So, now since the Jews didn’t listen to the parable about the vineyard, Jesus is going to try it again.
This time he is going to pull from Jewish tradition and the idea of the wedding banquet.
And he does so because the wedding banquet is something that is very important in Jewish tradition.
In many ways it symbolized the unity of the two families.
A Mixed Reaction (vs -7)
A Mixed Reaction (vs -7)
And it was a very exclusive event and it was by “invitation only.”
All of the family and the closest friends were allowed to come.
It wasn’t for everyone out on the street.
Very exclusive.
Just like the Kingdom of heaven.
Because contrary to popular belief, everybody just can’t wander into heaven.
Not everyone will inherit eternal life.
It is very exclusive and in many ways by invitation only.
For God’s chosen people.
Reserved in the Jews minds, only for them.
Because the rest of humanity was unworthy and unfit.
But little known to them they were just as unworthy and unfit.
And Jesus was going to challenge this idea they had regarding heaven.
But make no bones about it, they understood exactly what Jesus was telling them.
So . . .
2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
Matthew 22:2-3
Matthew 22:2
What is this?
Why would anyone refuse to come to a wedding banquet; an event such as this?
Maybe they just didn’t understand the invitation, so . . .
4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.
So, it somewhat perplexing.
Even after more servants are sent they still refuse to come to this feast.
Everything is ready, all they have to do is show up.
But they ignored the invitation and went about their business.
Luke tell us this about these events . . .
18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
Luke 14:
And my favorite excuse of them all . . .
20 “Still another said, ‘I have just got married, so I can’t come.’
“My wife won’t let me.”
But the thing is they were all just excuses.
All of the people invited were just “too busy” to come to the banquet.
They had too much going on to take time out to even listen to what the servants were saying.
Even though the servants were sent out time and time again to invite them.
Even thought everything was prepared for them.
They just had to accept the invitation.
But they refused and made excuse after excuse.
Do you see where Jesus is going with this?
These Jews—and all of us for that matter—are invited to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus has prepared absolutely everything for us.
All we have to do is accept the invitation, which means repenting of our sins and believing in Him.
Trusting Him as our Savior and our only hope.
But we are constantly making excuses as to why we cannot.
But the servants keep asking.
And we keep refusing.
And after a while we start to feel guilty for refusing.
Actually, we fall under conviction because we know right from wrong.
We know what we should do but we do not do it.
Invite Everyone Then (vs 6-10)
Invite Everyone Then (vs 6-10)
And we react out of spite and anger.
We get tired of hearing all of that “church mumbo jumbo.”
And that anger leads to hate.
We begin to hate the servants and we even begin to hate the Master who is sending them.
And in our parable Jesus says this . . .
6 The rest seized his servants, ill-treated them and killed them.
And you may be saying, “hold on just a minute. I’ve never killed anyone!”
No, but hate is no different.
John tells us that he who hates his brother is a murderer.
Because murder is more than just a physical act.
Murder is a condition of our heart.
And that’s the point Jesus is making here.
They had ill will in their heart.
So . . .
7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
Which is symbolic of God’s final judgement.
And since God’s people had decided to endure His judgement rather than to enter into His glory and come to His banquet . . .
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 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.
Matthew 22:
And Luke records that . . .
21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.
Luke 14:21-
Now imagine that.
The King didn’t care if the people were rich or poor.
Whether they were well or lame.
Whether they for clean or dirty.
He is is just interested in those who are willing to come.
Willing to partake in His banquet.
And all of these Jews thought that these people were unfit and unworthy.
They wouldn’t even give these kinds of people the time of day.
But now they are in the Kingdom, sitting at the Kings wedding banquet table.
Few Are Chosen (vs 11-14)
Few Are Chosen (vs 11-14)
But now, that is just not acceptable.
“We were invited first, we were just too busy to come.”
But we want to come now!
We don’t need to be invited again.
We just need to show up and we can just mingle in.
Or we can claim our place and get rid of these undesirables.
Not so fast . . .
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 22:
No, you had your invitation but you decided you were too busy to come.
No, servants were sent time and time again to invite you to the banquet.
No, it was all laid out for you but you still refused.
The banquet is still, “invitation only” but you refused.
You can’t just come walking in thinking that everyone can come, without accepting the invitation.
This isn’t a restaurant.
This is the King’s table.
And because of your refusal, it’s too late.
The doors are closed.
And there is no place for you.
You are not wearing the “wedding clothes,” which is a symbol by the way of being covered by Jesus.
Because we are not fit and we do not have the right clothes.
But Jesus provides our wedding garments.
And only those with the garments get in.
So, what happens to those who do not?
Those who think that there are no stipulations to getting into heaven.
Those who think that just anybody can waltz right in.
Even though they have been told time and time again that it doesn’t work that way.
Well, there is a place for them but it is not at the table.
13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
And we call that place Hell.
Matthew 22:1
And the reason they end up there . . .
14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
They were all invited but they refused to accept.
Altar Call
Altar Call
I wonder if that would describe anyone here tonight.
You know you can come to church for years and never be saved.
You can come and be invited for years, but never accept the invitation.
And if you are here tonight and that does describe you, I’m extending the invitation one more time.
And I will tell you, none of us know if that will be our last invitation.
We simply do not know.
Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Because when you close your eyes here you are going to open them either at the Kings Banquet table or in Hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
But maybe you are here and you have some other need.
Something the Spirit is inviting you to pray about.
I’d invite you to do that tonight.
Will you?
We are going to put on some music and I will give you that opportunity.
If you need salvation, I’d encourage you to come.
If you need anything else, I’d encourage you to come.
Whatever the need is, I’d encourage you to come.
Will you do that tonight?
