The Royal Wedding 2

Matthew 22:8 NLT

8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.

· Worthy

· Honor

God’s Last Call Accepted

Matthew 22:9 NLT

9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’

God’s Invitation is now extended to a broader group – Gentiles – you and I!

· Street corners

· Invite

· Everyone

· See =

Matthew 22:10 NLT

10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

Brought

Find

Good

Bad

Banquet hall

Filled

Guests = other guests who respond favorably

Matthew 22:11 NLT

11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.

Wedding clothes were supplied by the king, but apparently this guest refused to wear it

This man accepted the king’s invitation, but on his own terms—which the king found improper.[1]

Translation – Guest wanted to live life on his own terms – do his own thing – play by his own rules – on his own terms

Replaced God’s free gift of robes of righteousness with human efforts

o Our righteousness is as filthy rags

Never Refuse Relationship for Religion

Result = Disrespected the King – dishonored the Son

Guest made it in the gate but was still disqualified

Meet

Noticed

Man

Wearing

Proper clothes

Matthew 22:12 NLT

12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.

Friend = Judas

No reply = speechless – no excuse – he knew

Matthew 22:13 NLT

13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Aides = angels

Bind – like the devil with chains

Thrown out - separated

Outer darkness = hell

Weeping – regret

Gnashing of teeth – anger

Why so severe? Jesus’ Blood is priceless!

Time of judgement is coming – not everyone is ready

not all who consider themselves part of God’s kingdom are genuine members of it

Guest represents those who were not prepared for complete commitment to Jesus.

Matthew 22:14 NLT

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Many – all backgrounds, all races, both genders

Called

Few

Chosen

Individual response is required

Closing – to answer the Pharisee’s question – Who gave Jesus the right? GOD did!

[1]Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Mt 22:11). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.