1030am Sunday 10-11-2020

Once More Jesus spoke to them in Parables saying the Kingdom of Heaven be compared to a King who gave a Wedding Banquet for his son. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the Wedding Banquet, but they would not come. Again, he sent other servants saying tell those we've been invited. Look I have prepared my dinner my oxygen my fat calves. Have been slaughtered and everything is ready. Come to The Wedding Banquet. But they made light of it and went to wave one to his farm and other to his business. All the rest sees that the servants mistreated them and killed them. the king became enraged he sent his troops destroyed those murderers and burned their City. Then he said to his servants. The wedding is ready, but those invited we're not worthy. Go therefore into the Main Street and invite everyone you find The Wedding Banquet those servants went out into the streets and as they were told they gathered all in they found both good and bad for the wedding hall was filled with gas.

But when the king came in to see if I guess you noticed a man and he was there and he was not wearing a wedding robe. The king said to him friend. How did you get in here without a wedding robe and the man was speechless? Then the king said to his attendance bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer Darkness. Weather will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for many are called but few are chosen. the gospel of Our Lord

Thanks be to God I got baby. Please be seated.

I invite you to pray with me.

Chains be broken lives be healed In This Moment Christ be revealed in the name of the father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

So our gospel text today Falls in if you've been watching and worshipping with us online, you will know that this is kind of one after the other we've been following through a Matthew for quite some time. Now. It's a lot of Matthew and in Matthew where to part where Jesus is confronting the religious leaders. He's in the temple is having this basically this this this biblical ninja fight at buccan nerd fight about who is the smartest to and by that who has authority to oversee God's people who has the authority to oversee God's kingdom and and Jesus his confounded the Pharisees and the Sadducees under the same hearing the leaders of the temple in the sacrificial second temple period of Israel, And if he keeps going to show him up and end the first one we had few weeks ago last week. We had the second of the three Parables and today we get to the final the third of the three Parables where Jesus is confronting and in calling out the religious leaders for who they are and that the failure that they have wrought upon is real and it's pretty harsh. And in the religious leaders last week, if you remember they finally understood. Oh my gosh, he's talking about us and they kind of clutch their pearls and they gasp and they wanted to arrest Jesus but they couldn't because the crowds in this Temple time in the season of Passover. They hear Jesus is teaching they're compelled by his character and his truth in his grace and his integrity and they cannot justify the actions that they want to take so they can't have to sit there and just take it and this is done this Parable. It's it's it's a parable that is complex. And it's very hard for us to comprehend. What is being said here, right? There's there's weeping and gnashing of teeth. There is there seems to be like the king flip flops right go out and get everybody bring them in but then there's this one guy and it's like, oh no, I don't mean to I didn't mean John like why is John here get John out of here clearly Get me John like that guy know like you seems to flip flop he seems to be insincere in his statement to his servants to go and get everybody right and then there is this. There's this is the sense of not being trustworthy that the king's word is like it's a bait-and-switch I go get everybody but not everybody. It's really weird terrible, but it's a really important one. So we're going to unpack it today because what we do right foot pastors, do we unpack scripture? So How does the parable start the king? he sets a banquet for his son The Wedding Banquet and Before you quit. Let's go ahead real quick Parables. Tell deeper truths. What is on the page is not what is being spoken of so who is the king? . Who who are the servants are in R&R in the nrsv enslaves better translation be servants who were the servants that go and invite the people to the banquet hall. Rockets right Zachariah me and Maya Isaiah all the prophets who came and proclaimed God's truth and it's Justice and called them to be better than who they were to be faithful to the Covenant promise that God has given to them and to become the people of God as a representation of God's holy Kingdom on in the world and who are the people that are invited to it's the religious leaders. It also can be translated as the people of Israel themselves the ones who reject to Zach s Alta sale eating kill the prophets. I mean just read the Old Testament. It's all over the place. And then who's the son? Who's the son that's being that's that's having the banquet thrown for him. It's Jesus Jesus never claims that identity. He just tells the parable and assume that you're going to get it that you're going to understand what's being spoken here. So that's who the characters that's just stage that Jesus is setting for this parable. now in the ancient times It's an honor and shame Society. Honor and shame we have it to some degree still today. Hopefully it's not among us as a church as a people of the Kingdom because that's not the currency of the Kingdom. The relationships of the kingdom is not how can I do things that gave me more honor more Prestige more privileged more profit? And therefore us avoid shame and disgrace and all the other things right now. Hopefully we're humble enough to recognize that the true currency of the kingdom is Grace and forgiveness and mercy and humility and service. generosity all about me but others When is 1st Century society when a king invites you to a party? It's not like you get a wedding invitation from you know, your second cousin twice removed and you're like I don't want. Like This Not That when you get an invitation from the King. You do not refuse. Refusing an invitation from the king would be the same as shaming the king of publicly. Right and it's a statement of there's something about the king that my absence there is indicating that there's there's a quality or characteristic about the king that is not worthy of my presence. It's shameful to the king. You do not refuse an invitation and you can take it down to lower echelons of relationships, right? Maybe it's not the king. Maybe it's the governor or the mayor of the city or town. It maybe it's a friend or unimportant representative within the community and we know this to be true, right we go to things sometimes why because they want to go we go because it's expected. Because tonight. Go would be shameful to not go and to not be present would mean to indicate that the relationship is broken that there's something about the relationship of the character the nature of that person who I'm not going to is just fundamentally flawed and irredeemable. Maybe not to that degree, but you understand what I'm saying. and so in the first century Wendy's servants, they refused the first time answer the Kings like Okay. Maybe they didn't get it. Maybe I just need to be more. blunt about it And so the servants come again and they don't just invite is it? Hey, it's not just a party. It's the king's party. We got fatted calf. We got in a we got Merlot. We got all the good stuff. You want to be at this party guys. And what's the response? pretty specific here

verse 5 Ninja rejected it. Just say no. Thanks. I'm okay with this a verse 5. But they made light of it.

And went away one to his farm another to his business. While the rest sees the servants mistreated them and killed them.

In this text we see different responses different levels. a reaction Some of them are kind of making fun of it. They're ignoring it. Maybe they're falling asleep.

and the others are are making fun of it and and so-so some decide. This isn't worth my time. So instead of accepting the king's invitation, where do they do they go back to what they've always known they go back to things that they place a higher priority on then the king's banquet, which is what business baby growing crops and selling them things of of merchants things of money monetary things how many of us have prioritized the monetary over the spiritual how many of us and prioritize money over relationship? Look around our world today. We know this to be true. but someone further they didn't just refuse to come they didn't just decide openly and actively to choose something of a of a lesser quality over what was being offered. They actually went even further. They openly rebelled against the king if you kill assault. In insult a servant of a king it is the same in this culture as you're insulting assaulting and killing the King himself is open Rebellion. It's an open Assault on the kingdom of the king.

And today is varying degrees of response, but the people who go back to their businesses or who all quiet or making fun of it there just as complicit as the ones assaulting. So what is the king do he just send his army, and he just wrecked that place. He just Rex it.

The king will not tolerate open Rebellion. The king will not tolerate these things not because the king is zealous for profit and power and territory but because of the king who is that recognizes that it is a life-and-death struggle here that the people of God the people who reject or even kill the servants who are the prophets are the people of Israel. The religious leaders on the stakes are high. They are called to be a representation of God's Own Heart and character. Why would a king allow people of this quality to represent him at all? It would be shameful. So the king openly reject and even go so far as to destroy the city now, it sounds harsh.

How many of you parents when your kid just open the Cabela's gives them a good old whooping. It sounds harsh. But we all know that need to correct and get your mind. Right right. I don't know if you better check yourself before you wreck yourself. The king is doing that here and as this progresses.

It moves into the second portion versus 8 to 14.

My read 8 to 14 again so that we have a refresh in our minds. So the first group rejected killed made light of it shows other things actively over the kingdom the king destroys it all. Vs8. What did you do? Does it end there just does the parable end with destruction and death? No goes on. Then he said to his servants the wedding is ready. But those invited we're not worthy go therefore into the main streets and invite everyone you find to The Wedding Banquet those servants went out into the street and gather all who they found both good and bad for the wedding hall was filled with gas. We're getting more like it. That's the god that we serve right? That's that's the god that we have come to know. That's The God Who reflects all means all good and bad doesn't matter who you are we come from. What you look like what you believe how much money you have? What kind of car you drive doesn't matter. You are welcome into this banquet with the King. You're welcome to the sons banquet good and bad but

it gets complicated again. It doesn't end there either goes on verse 11. When the king came in to see the guest both good and bad. He noticed a man who was not wearing a wedding robe. We said to him friend. How did you get in here without a wedding robe and he was speechless? And the King said they bind him hand and foot and thrown out into the outer Darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for many are called but few are chosen. I want to focus in on the response of the man who's not wearing the proper outfit. Now I said earlier that sounds like a bait and switch right like bring everybody good and bad but not John. That guy he is beyond my Redemption. He is beyond my love. But we I think what the translation here fails and ends in the Greek. It's not speechless. It's not like it's not like you're asked a really tough question and interviewing like that's a good question. I don't I don't know. It's it's it's actually the better better to lease will be silent be silent and it's just type of Silence. That's the silent obstinance. It's a it's a silent insolence to the question. We all know what that silent insolence is, right? We all know what that means, right? It's when everybody is expected to do something or say something or behave in a certain way reasonable and that person who decides I'm my own person. I have my own form of expression. I'm just going to do what I want and when somebody challenges me on it. Well do something about it. What you going to do? Right. We all know that type raise your hand if you're that kind of person.

hint you all are because we all have that type of humanity within us. When I was working at CPE as a student, I was a chaplain resident service for a year in Columbia, South Carolina. We got a new supervisor supervisor who was trained and qualified and the guy done it for 35 years. He was wise he was strong in in spirit and wisdom. Huge Mana protocol rules are rules are rules if you got a HIPAA violation you are out. You really are some of medical information unlawful. You're gone. but he also is kind of a stickler for the smaller rules to because he understood that the smaller rules. are what really really make a workplace work and function and therefore allow all of us together as chop lenses as nursing staff to do our job and a unified will

One of the elements of the rules was there's dress code. The dress code was suit and tie clean-shaven. That was the rule that have you ever seen me in a suit and tie. When have you ever seen me clean shaven? I'm not just talkin for a weekend. I mean for a year. and He came to me. Peter these are the rules What what did what does the policy speak of Suit & Tie? Shaved, that's not what you doing.

And I looked at him.

Just quietly. obstinately as if to say what you going to do?

We all know that place of Silent abstinence. The authority figure in our life, maybe it's our parents. Maybe it's our bosses. And in this case, maybe Stephen the god. to the king is it is it is the party does this man who comes in the wrong dress? Is he the one who the party is for? No, is he the one who is provided the party know? Is he the one who is provided the food and the drink and spared? No expense for the guests know. What does the host what does the king ask? That you wear certain clothes.

As in many things in Parables cloves don't mean clothes. This isn't like a I showed up to work in a polo instead of a suit and tie kind of situation because the clothes represent something more, right? They represent something deeper. They represent our identity. When you wear clothes, what are you attempting to? You're attempting to project something right? I'm a professional. What am I wearing right now?

Listen to I've been in here silent, I've I've called my I've been preaching to a camera for 7 months. I don't need you to yell, but I would love some interaction. So what am I wearing a robe? And what is this? Astro you got five good boy good girl brownie points for being knowledgeable about church stuff to say I'm trying to say I am the one Pastor right and there are certain identity characteristics expectation standards that pastors project as a result of that right? We're holy word Pious for prayerful. Did you just I just got off students look for her. I love you girl. I love you. But this is the image that we project you do the same thing. Right you projected image. As a police officer you want to project strength and security calm in the midst of craziness. As an employee you want to project confidence Seas capacity capability Ingenuity. We all project what we want to wait what we want others to seeing us by the clothes that we wear but the clothes aren't the clothes that Jesus is talking about. The clothes is our Behavior. how reacts How we treat others? How we use our money how we care for one another how we extend forgiveness instead of Retribution? The clothes that we wear represent in this terrible our Behavior. I want a real quick. I want to jump ahead into Ephesians chapter 2 will be back to our text today just in a moment, but it is a great representation. Of this idea of these clothes Roman Book of Romans Paul talks about putting on the armor of God putting on the clothing of Christ. But that.. Clothing changes not our appearance but our outward action. Because I don't want to just give bunny. Is that the only Kingdom to get get you to give money? No, the goal of the kingdom is to have your behavior be generous, right? There's a deeper meaning behind the behavior. There's a heart issue here. The Romans talks about this image of a putting on clothes putting on Christ that Christ is the clothes that we wear in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 Paul says this versus 8 to 10 of Ephesians chapter 2

and then it's not of your own doing. It is a gift of God not the result of work so that no one may boast.

For we are what he is made of created in Christ for good works which God prepared beforehand to be a way of life. Putting on Christ is it just about not being naked? It isn't just about adhering to the clothing policy of the Kingdom. Right? It's not a chef the block issue pastors wearing a robe Shack must be a great pastor. They're wearing a suit check must be a confident fantastic professional. their actions tied to that appearance But also recognized in Ephesians that it's it's not an action that earns the grace what came first in that text the grace and the love and the salvation of God came first on that poured from there into actions. Always remember that Does not a a shame Honor Society if you don't earn Honor by doing works the honor comes from the life and majesty and gift of Christ in his life death and resurrection and that gift should pour into us and then from us into others.

The men's clothing. His behavior is not consistent. He was welcomed into the kingdom. He was brought into the kingdom. No ticket at the door. No entrance fee, but when you get in there. There's a change that should happen. There's a transformation that is invited to happen and occur within each of us. And when we are cold on it sometimes what are we do we cross our arms. And we just give us a silent obstinance there. What are you going to do about it?

Well, God did something about it. in Christ That's all our obstinacy and insolence and he knew that there was no way that you were I could ever ever ever in any alternate reality or space-time Continuum changed the direction an attitude that we have. Our hearts were too calcified or attitudes were too entrenched. The Christ brings us into the banquet hall in love and in Grace and just as a gift, but once were in there that should change something in US. and the prayer That I have for you in the prayer that Jesus has for those hearing his Parable today is that we will hear this Parable and we will transform your obstinate silence and a humble praise and thanksgiving that we will take our influence of selfishness and it will be translated and turned into acts of generosity and Grace at the clothes that we wear won't just be for show and the place that we worship won't just be to gain honor or have people say, oh there Christian check that it will actually means something.

I pray that for all of us today, but the clothes that Christ has given us will mean something to us. And that our silence will be turned the song. and I apathy will return to action. asprey fishes. We thank you for the banquet that you will set us with today. We pray that you will help us to become food for the broken that you will break us and pour us out for the sake of others recognizing that it is your righteousness. It is your relationship. It is your grace and forgiveness that qualifies us to be in this place help us to submit our attitudes to your wheels to your kingdom to recognize that is not ours, but your glory that we seek your pray this in your son's name I meant

Related Media

Related Sermons