Come to the Free Banquet

Pentecost 21

October 17, 1999

Matthew 22:1-14

Forgiveness is Free. I’m sure just about everybody will give intellectual assent to that statement. However, in actuality we sometimes think of ourselves and behave toward each other in ways that betray a different understanding of the heart.

Take For example, the story of a poor family in Europe who some 80 years ago bought tickets to America. Being poor they brought only some bread and cheese to eat on the way. Every day they ate cheese sandwiches. Finally the little girl in the family said, “I’m sick of cheese sandwiches. If I can’t get anything else to eat, I’ll die before I get to America.” Her father gave her a nickel and told her to go to the dining room to see if she could buy some ice cream. She went and was gone a long time. When she returned, it was with a big smile and a full stomach. She explained, “I ate three ice cream cones and since I was still hungry, I ate a steak dinner.” “Where did you get the money for that?” her father asked. “Oh,” she said, “it was all free. All the food is free. It comes with the ticket.”

Because of a wrong assumption, the family did not partake of all that was made available to them by the purchase price of the ticket. In a similar way, we do not always partake of all that is available to us by the purchase price of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Thus the words “but they refused to come,” can be applied to us. Nevertheless, the Lord wants us to know that we also are invited to the grandest of grand banquets ever. Through His servants, He reminds us:

1. You are cordially invited. It is important for us to realize that this is an important event; a once in a lifetime event. It might be compared to receiving an invitation to the President’s inaugural ball, all expenses paid.

This event is the union of the royal son with His beloved bride. Consider the words of the prophet Isaiah: “as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” Why this heavenly rejoicing? Only because the divine invitation is accepted and, acted upon. John’s vision of the bride is astounding. He says, “I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

God’s love makes the bride beautiful. Paul says, “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” This truth marks the reason why more servants are sent out with the message, “Come to the wedding banquet.” The Lord God Himself has seen to it that all has been prepared. Everything that needs to be done is ready for us to participate. So, when the invitation comes, it is genuine and true.

The urgings of the Holy Spirit call out “come.” God’s promise in Holy Baptism calls out “come.” Jesus’ own body and blood calls out, “come.” My friends, the ticket is paid for, and many are invited to God’s banquet benefits. The Holy One has done this and calls out, “your sins are forgiven, your guilt removed, the image and likeness of the Almighty God, is being restored in you, and your life is secure in me.” What possible reason could a person have for not coming?

Whatever excuse might be put forth, there is no reason to turn away from the invitation. Work left in the field will not benefit the banquet. Business ventures will not put it on hold. The kingdom banquet is ready, but careless denial of its value to the one invited will stop its intended benefits dead in its tracks for that one. Thus, “few are chosen.” Nevertheless, the banquet hall will be filled, and those who were counted unworthy by those elite and religiously proud people, will receive the benefits.

They are given the wedding clothes of Christ. They will be reclined at the master’s table. They will be washed, purified, and made holy, not by their own efforts, but by the blood of the Lamb of God. They will wear the clothes of the King’s banquet, the robe of His own righteous love.

2. So welcome the invitation. It might not be politically correct, but the one who answers God’s call with humility is the one God respects: “This is the one I esteem:” he says, “he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2b).

Too often, we behave like those people in the story we began with. We do not always acknowledge our need of a Savior. We do not always put the Kingdom of God above our own priorities. We do not always feel like we need to be forgiven. We do not always consider the effect of our complacency and we do not always understand that the total cost of our ticket has been paid in full. Thus, we deny ourselves the Kingdom benefits God intends for us to have, and to use. You see, because of what God, by himself, has done for us the banquet is free. So, Come! Come to the Free Banquet of the heavenly King and enjoy. Amen.