Wedding Feast
Notes
Transcript
Handout
What is the text functionally?
This passage is a parable.
What is the subject of the passage?
The subject of the parable is the kingdom of heaven.
What is the text saying about the subject?
The text, through story, is describing those who will enter the kingdom of heaven.
What response might the Holy Spirit want from those who hear this text?
I think the Holy Spirit would want us to respond with deep reflection in regards to this text… Particularly, around our assumptions pertaining to the kingdom of heaven & life with God.
If our life with God is not significant to us now, why would we imagine it being significant at a later time?
Within this passage is a relational reality — the guests are being invited to a party for an intimate event, a wedding feast.
the Father wants to celebrate with the guests and enjoy their company.
The guests do not WANT to come.
We struggle, I struggle, to have a genuine eternal perspective. I live as if this life is all there will be… and when I do that I try to get more out of this life than it can give me and I neglect my soul.
and I will live for myself
I will take advantage of others
That’s what we see the guests doing in this passage!
How does this text elicit that response?
How does this text elicit that response?
Ends with this image of a man being thrown into outer darkness… and essentially Jesus is making the point that those that think they’re in, the religious leaders, are the ones who were invited but refused to come....
it’s a message of warning to them
How does the text contribute to the larger picture, the drama of redemption?
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have access to God. The issue now revolves around the issue of faith and repentance.... there will be those that refuse God… and even some of think they have access to God’s kingdom but actually do not.
We all must remember that our access to God is based on nothing but Christ and what he has accomplished. If we are putting our hope in anything else we will be disappointed!
Primary claim: The death and resurrection of Jesus represent God’s gracious invitation for us to God’s kingdom. Have we heeded God’s invitation?
Organizational sentence: Three questions: (1) what does the feast represent, (2) what’s the deal with the absentee guests, and (3) how do we know if we’re chosen?
Welcome
Today we look at another parable Jesus teaches… in a line of three parables in a row that we see here in Matthew.
His topic doesn’t change much, he’s challenging the way the people viewed their relationship with God.
He is particularly challenging the religious leaders.
Jesus knows where’s he’s headed, he understands what he has been sent to do… so all of this even has a bit of foreshadowing to it… and it also points to the religious leaders unwillingness to hear from God’s messengers, like John the Baptist.
In our religiosity, in our pursuit of God… are we focused on the Lord or on ourselves? It’s so interesting and tragic, that this has to be a question — and that it is so often a problem.
We make our religious practice about us, rather than making it about God — and that is what Jesus is challenging his audience with!
So if you’re able, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word.
And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’
But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,
while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’
And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Today, what all of this is aimed at is this: The death and resurrection of Jesus represent God’s gracious invitation for us to God’s kingdom. Have we heeded God’s invitation?
Three questions: (1) what does the feast represent, (2) what’s the deal with the absentee guests, and (3) how do we know if we’re chosen?
Outline:
What does the feast represent?
The feast represents the kingdom of God.
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
matthew 22:
So we’re looking at a parable, which is an “extended metaphor” — a brief story… and Jesus is telling us about the kingdom of God, which is a primary theme of the book of Matthew.
Essentially, Jesus is saying, “you think you know the way to God, but you’re wrong. I’ll show you the way to God’s kingdom… I will show you the way to life with God.”
So what is happening here?
The master is God, and like we’ve seen in the last couple parables, Jesus is showing us what it means to follow God… The master is throwing a feast… this is a picture of what it means to be invited to life with God… the master, “God”, is inviting his guests to a feast… “Heaven”… and they won’t listen.
What’s the deal with the absentee guests?
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The New American Commentary: Matthew 1. True Discipleship versus Harsher Condemnation for the Jewish Leaders (19:1–22:46)
The people originally invited to the banquet clearly represent Israel.
The New American Commentary: Matthew 1. True Discipleship versus Harsher Condemnation for the Jewish Leaders (19:1–22:46)
“They paid no attention” is, more literally, they didn’t care.
How do we know if we’re chosen?
This parable & really the whole of Matthew is aimed at the kingdom of God.
Application:
Community Group Reflection:
Communion:
Benediction:
Philippians 4:10-13
is functionally a testimony.
What is the subject of the passage?
Paul is the subject of the passage.
Rejecting God’s invitation constitutes a deliberate insult against his dignity.
What is the text saying about the subject?
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009), 519.
Paul is writing about the manner in which he is content in the strength of the Lord.
God will severely judge those who spurn his kindness.
What response might the Holy Spirit want from those who hear this text?
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009), 520.
The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary The Arrogant May Spurn Him, but God Invites the Lowly to His Banquet
The arrogant may spurn him, but God invites the lowly to his banquet.
I believe the Holy Spirit might want us to recognize that our provision from God is not circumstantial. Despite our present conditions, the Lord provides his stregnth and presence.
How does this text elicit that response?
The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary Those inside the Church May Also Dishonor God and Warrant Death
Those inside the church may also dishonor God and warrant death.
Paul mentions that he’s “learned in whatever situation… to be content” precisely because he can do all things through Christ who gives him strength.
The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary Those inside the Church May Also Dishonor God and Warrant Death
Matthew leaves no doubt as to the interpretation: the wedding garment signifies repentance (3:2; 4:17).191 Just as most of the Jewish leaders were unprepared at Jesus’ first coming (cf. 23:13–33), some professing disciples of Jesus will be unprepared at his second (24:45–51).
How does the text contribute to the larger picture, the drama of redemption?
The New American Commentary: Matthew 1. True Discipleship versus Harsher Condemnation for the Jewish Leaders (19:1–22:46)
the worthiness or unworthiness in view here has to do with one’s response to the proclamation of the gospel.
This is a good reminder that although Jesus has come and delivered Christians from the eternal perils of sin, we still live in a fallen world until he returns. Therefore, we wrestle with things like “hunger” and “need” but we can hope because of Jesus and what he has accomplished in his death and resurrection.
Primary claim: The Lord provides strength to be content in whatever situation we face.
Organizational sentence:
10-11
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13
Application:
