Sunday Sermon Matthew 22:1-14 Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Welcome
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to FCC!
Thanks you for worshipping with us in Spirit and Truth, one verse at a time.
Let us quickly dive into the text at hand because we are headed to about 105 degrees today.
Prayer
Prayer
Review
Review
Jesus is still in the temple and he has fired off three parables in a row. All three parables have elements of The Father heart and his divine attributes like: love, mercy, grace, hope, longsuffering, patience, kindness, and judgement. Yes, judgement!!! God wishes not one shall perish, but that all would repent and accepts His son as Messiah. But we see here that the religious leaders as well as some of the pilgrims, were not willing.
It is Wednesday before His crucifixion as He will be put to death on Friday.
We learned about what jewish wedding looks like:
The marriages were arranged as we see here in verse 2.
There was a betrothal period before they married and this could last a few years. Joseph and Mary...
This period was legally binding and during this time, In the days of Jesus the husband would go build a room onto his parents home for them to live when they married. In a contemporary setting, they would go and build a home for the bride.
After the wedding feast, the marriage was then consummated.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4. Jesus ascended into heaven church in Acts 1:9, he is preparing a place for you and for me.
5. We learned that the King in this parable is God, while the Son is Jesus. Jesus is the husbandman, while the church is the bride of Christ.
And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders because back in Matthew 21:23, they questioned his authority.
Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
Now remember, this is passover time, therefore, there would have been a couple hundred leaders surrounding him from the Sanhedrin, to the Pharisees, to the priest. Along with them would have been pilgrims, those that traveled for miles to celebrate passover.
Soon, Jesus would become the passover Lamb who would die for the sins on the world.
We see that the King arranged this marriage, that he sent out invitations.
Invitations
Invitations
The middle eastern custom during the time of Jesus was your would send out 2 invites:
The first invite asked the guest to attend. This was like the RSVPs we send out in preparation for the wedding day.
Then the second would happening suddenly. This one announced all was ready.
Keep in mind they did not have refrigeration. So when the second time this meant that the wedding feast was ready.
The Lord sent invitations over and over and over to Israel, but the refused to respond.
He sent invitation through His prophets: Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, this list goes on and on.
Israel had fallen from grace and crated a works based system, that did not include a love relationship with God.
Church, how many invitations has God sent you?
There are some of us here today, that are playing church. Just going through the motions, no real relationship with the Lord.
If there is no relationship with the Lord, then there is no time spent in Gods Word.
If there is not time spent in God’s Word, then there is not sanctification
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
How many times have you not followed through on your invitation?
I believe there are some sitting here today, that God is saying:
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Did you see the invite?
Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
Did you see the invite?
The words “FOLLOW ME” are mentioned 13xs in the gospels.
What do you think think they mean?
The words mean immediate detachment from personal interests and attachment to Christ. Implied in the call of Jesus was a turning from sin to Him in order to be saved.
“Follow Me!” is a call to obedience. It is no mere invitation, but an imperative command.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Whose voice are you following? How can one hear the voice of God?
There are some here today, that are struggling to abide in the Vine, look what Jesus says:
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
All through our lives, The Lord is inviting us to come to Him, to come to the wedding and we RVSP, but when the second invite comes, like Israel, we are not willing to come.
and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
Did you notice, they were not willing to come?
Did you notice, there were not willing to follow through with the invite?
Remember, there were 2 invitations given.
This wedding was ready, and the King said come!
Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
Now I think it is crucial, to remember this is not just a neighbor, a family member, or a friend getting married, this was a Royal Wedding.
It would be like the queen of England sending you an invitation to come to Prince Harry’s wedding.
How would you respond to this invitation?
Queen Elizabeth 2, I cannot come because I have no transportation to get there.
Her response would be: Don’ worry, I will send a plane, I will cover the cost...
2. Queen Elizabeth 2, I cannot come because I do not have anything to wear.
Her response would be: Don’t worry, I will have you fitted for a wedding garment, that is sufficient for the day. I will cover the cost.
3. Queen Elizabeth 2, I have no place to stay.
Her response would be: Don’t worry, we will put you up in a beautiful country hotel, one you cannot fathom. I will cover the cost.
Church, I think it is crucial to see here, that Jesus does the same for us. He paid the price! He covered the cost. All we have to do is come to Him, follow Him, and Abide in Him.
I think it is important to Note, that they were not willing to come.
I think it is important to Note, that they were not willing to come.
But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
BUT YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO COME TO ME THAT YOU MAY HAVE LIFE.
Life- zoe- life (state) n. — the condition of living or the state of being alive; especially healthiness, happiness, exuberance, energy, vitality, and the like. Of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God. Life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ. Used 133 xs in the Bible...
The King sent out an invitation for the wedding feast, for the feast that we will have with him in heaven, but what stops us from surrendering unto Him?
It is crucial that we understand that people in this culture did not go to a Royal feast unless there was an extreme emergency.
They could not afford to eat the King’s delicacies or enjoy a feast that could last several days.
This was the feast of feasts that everyone wanted to go to.
This was a once in a life time opportunity and yet they were not willing.
Israel was not willing to come, the religious leaders were not willing to come because they were proud, and stubborn, they had already reasoned away their Messiah who was standing right in front of them....
But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
But is the key that unlocks the passage.
Why were they not willing to come? Here is the answer, they made light of it and went their ways. One to his farm and another to his business.
Church, we see here that the King gave 2 invitations that was inline with the custom of the day.
We see here that the people made light of it.
Made light of it- in the Greek it means careless, to be neglectful, to be unconcerned, to be careless, it means to care little if any about...
Church, they were definite in their decision not to attend the Wedding Feast, they were careless and negligent about it.
They were too busy to be concerned with he King’s invitation, too busy with the world and making a living and getting more and getting more and more for pleasure and comfort.
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
Note:
Some were busy farmers. This was an agrarian society, therefore, property and crops needed to be looked after. NOTE: the words his farm (ton idion agron) It was his own farm. He was wrapped up, he was consumed with the possessions of this world.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
The Sanhedrin are exchanging their traditions for the Messiah.
What are exchanging your soul for church?
What is more important than eternal life???
Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
2. Some were busy merchants, they were city dwellers. They were engaged in commerce, business, and trade. They were wrapped u and consumed with the business of the world.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
3. Some were worldly-minded and religious. They were so attached to the world that they wanted nothing to do with the King.
When we look at the groups the text mentioned, where can we find ourselves? What is speaking to you right now?
The King disturbed their interests and their lives.
He was a threat to their to their position, to their pleasure, to their prestige,
He was a threat to their wealth and security.
Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’
Men are always rejecting God’s invitation. WHY? Not because they have to church, but because they want to!
But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
Church, if anyone should ever be recieved with open arms, it is the messenger who brings the invitation to the King’s wedding feast for His Son.
Yet, the very opposite is true. The King’s messengers are often un-welcomed, ridiculed, criticized, mistreated, abused, cursed at, persecuted, murmured against, and sometimes killed.
How do you respond to God’s servants?
What are your excuses? What have you exchanged for your soul? If Jesus came back today, would you be ready ?
Prayer
Prayer
Announcements
Announcements
Does anyone have any announcement?
Please continue to reach-out to those that are not here.
Benediction
Benediction
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
Are you going to the wedding feast?
The Lord Bless you!
Your Mission Starts Now!