Matthew 22:1-22 "The Examination of the King Part 3"

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Please turn in your Bibles to Matt 22…we are covering verses 1-22 today.

Last time we looked at the Parable pertaining to the Vineyard, Landowner and wicked tenant farmers. A parable that Jesus applied to the chief priests and elders. A parable told in response to Jesus being questioned by the Religious Leaders, “Who gave you the authority to do these things?”

This was Passover week, and Jesus was disrupting things. He rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey…just as kings of old did in times of peace…and Jesus is the King who came in peace to bring peace between mankind and God… as Rom 5:1 states, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...”

After the Triumphal Entry, Jesus was not so peaceful when He went into the Temple and saw the ‘Bazaar of Annas.’ They turned the Temple courts into a den of thieves…charging inflated prices for “temple approved” passover lambs and to exchange Roman coins to the Temple Shekels.

Jesus overturned the money changer tables and drove everyone out.

Then the blind came to be healed and the children sang songs of praise to Him. The temple was restored to it’s proper purpose in that moment, and the religious leaders were indignant with the Messianic praise to Jesus.

So, that’s the backdrop in Matt 21… the chief priests and elders are indignant with Jesus.

And, don’t forget what we read in John 11 last week… a very telling passages… the religious leaders revealed they feared all the people would believe in Jesus…and Rome would come and take destroy their Temple and nation. Any political uprising would violate the “Pax Romana” (lit. ‘Roman Peace’)…if you disturbed the peace of Rome, they would disturb you. If you get what I’m saying?

So, the Religious leaders “...plotted to put Him to death.” John 11:53… and “...commanded, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.” John 11:57.

So, today, as we look at Matt 22, remember John 11 to understand the intentions of the religious leaders…they have evil in mind towards Jesus.

We pick up with the third of three parables Jesus told to the chief priests and elders after they questioned His authority… the religious leaders are questioning Jesus, not even realizing they are symbolically examining Jesus… just as they would a passover lamb.

The title of today’s teaching is “The Examination of the King Part 3.” A four part mini-series if you will. There are many great truths and lessons in Chapters 21-22, but I don’t want to lose focus on the examination happening to Jesus by the Religious Leaders.

Let’s Pray!

As we go through this first parable (The Parable of the Marriage Feast)... I’m going to mention some things I discussed in great detail last week, so if you missed the message last week, check it out our our website, because there are some overlapping truths in this parable and the last.

Matt 22:1 “And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables [He’s casting a natural truth alongside a spiritual truth] and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king [representative of God] who arranged a marriage for his son [Jesus…who is often represented as a Bridegroom],

3 and sent out his servants [the prophets of old who pointed to Messiah... John the Baptist, calling the nation to repentance... and the Apostles preaching the Gospel.] to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they [Israel] were not willing to come.

4 Again, he sent out other servants [just like the parable last week…the ruler kept sending servants in grace… ], 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.” ’

This is a royal wedding… and the king made great effort to have a joyous celebration, and to inform all about how wonderful this celebration would be… and to make known his desire for them to attend.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. How many of you have been invited to a royal wedding? yeah…me neither. Can you imagine just shrugging it off?

The Gospel is pictured as a Royal invitation here. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity... this is not an invitation to a cake and ice cream birthday party… this is a Royal invitation sent by the King Himself to you personally.

And, if you snub the invitation, you’ll miss the feast, and get the furnace as we’ll see in V13.

And, can I say… please don’t treat the Gospel cheaply. It’s not “fire insurance”… or a “get out of jail free” card. It’s not cheap. It’s a ROYAL INVITATION. Don’t treat the Gospel casually.

V5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. [Showing disregard & disrespect for the king. They love the things of the world more than God.] 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

The same happened to the servants in the previous parable, and as discussed last week…historically many prophets have been beaten and killed by the Jews.

V7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. [righteous anger] And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

In the last parable, he sent his son to the vineyard. Now armies are sent and the murderers have a city he will destroy.

As discussed last week…armies of Assyria, Babylon were sent in the past… armies used to accomplish God’s judgment. In view in this parable is the Roman army led by Titus Vespasian who in 70 A.D. literally destroyed the city of Jerusalem.

V8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

God loves Israel, but they have done a poor job at reciprocating that love. Idolatry, rebellion, and wickedness is weaved into their history…and this unfaithfulness is why they were deemed unworthy. But God is not done with them yet. Revelation and other scriptures are clear on that point. Replacement theology is an error.

The word “Worthy”... Gk. axiŏs means “of equal value, or having the weight of another thing.”

Think about Lady Justice… the statue outside court houses… blindfolded with her scales and sword. Blindfolded symbolizing impartiality. Scales to weigh the evidence. A double-edged sword symbolizing authority.

Israel was placed on the scales and were found not of equal weight… they were unworthy.

In the next verse... God finds worthy guests… not because of their sterling character… they were a mix of “bad and good”… but because they accepted the invitation and His wedding garments.

V9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

On highways in the 1st century traveled upright citizens, and highways were also a place for brigands and thieves. The road from Jericho to Jerusalem was knows as “The Way of Blood” because of robbers.

You and I are pictured here. We are the wedding guests… The church is a mix of bad and good…God is impartial…and the church is full of people with various degrees of reputation who accepted the invitation…

And, I don’t want you to get confused. “I thought we were the Bride of Christ.” YOU ARE! Don’t worry… this is a parable to illustrate a point to the listeners. You’re still the Bride… you’re still getting married. Just in this parable told to the Jews, we are pictured as guests.

A great example of why we don’t form doctrine out of parables.

I want to emphasize… the first group (Israel) was deemed unworthy for rejecting the invitation… this second group is accepted as worthy…not because of their character…but only because they accepted the invitation.

Prior to Christ, it doesn’t matter if you were upright or a thief…what’s important is that you accepted the Gospel invitation… which clothed you in His righteousness.

V11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.

It was customary, especially for a Royal Wedding, for the host to provide wedding garments to anyone who needed one…and a rag tag bunch of highwaymen would need wedding garments.

Revelation 19:8 pictures such garments…this is the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” and the bride of Christ (the Church) is “...arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, [White garments no doubt…and listen to what these garments symbolize…] ...for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

This is not THE righteous act (Justification by faith)… “righteous acts” here is plural… these are the righteous acts after you accept Jesus as Lord, not to earn salvation, but because of salvation… obedience, good works done to glorify His name, pursuing holiness, fleeing from youthful lusts, and so forth.

But, at the wedding, in Matthew, stands a man without a wedding garment… perhaps he thinks he can wear his own “robes of righteousness.” And, in context of Jesus speaking to the religious leaders…this is exactly how they carried themselves… self-righteous attitudes.

J. Vernon McGhee said this is ‘one of the greatest parables that parallels our time.’

And, I agree... because many people think they can go to heaven on their own terms. They are self-righteous.

Religious people think entering heaven is because of church membership… their church is THE church… and their religious rites… and attending the church Bingo… these are the things that save.

And, there are many people in the world... indifferent to religion... but believe they are going to heaven based off their humanist good works… “I’m going to heaven… I’m a good person… I do good deeds. I don’t drink, smoke, or chew… and I don’t go with girls that do. I’m definitely going to heaven.”

Oh really. Isa 64:6 states, “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.”

We must be very careful not to think too high of ourselves especially in light of salvation.

Notice, when the king questions this man…in V11 “…he was speechless.”

Heb 10:31 states, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Don’t attempt to go to the wedding clothed in your righteousness…accept the garment He gives you… entrance to heaven is only on His terms… by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through faith, and being clothed in His righteousness.

Isa 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Since times of old, salvation has always been by faith, not by works. It’s not our righteousness that saves, but God who clothes us with salvation and righteousness.

The man in Matt 22 is not a believer…and as a result…he will face judgment…first being removed from the wedding and much worse...

V13 Then the king said to the servants [different servants than V3…perhaps angelic beings here], ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

This place, generically is what we title as “hell”… ‘Sheol’ in Hebrew… ‘Hades’ in Greek… pictured as the Valley of Hinnom or Gehenna… a “furnace of fire” in Matt 13… ultimately- eternally it’s the “lake of fire and brimstone” or the “second death” in Rev 20:14.

Hell is the place where those who rejected the invitation to Christ spend eternity. One scholar described hell as an “eternity of conscious, guilty, shameful separation from God and all forms of goodness.”

It’s a very real place… annihilationism is false. Annihilationism teaches consciousness is extinguished after death… that there is no eternal torment for unbelievers.

Jesus taught just the opposite…He warned against hell in Mark 9:43-44 “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—44 where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’”

I’m not sure what the whole worm bit means, but it doesn’t sound good. “Uh…waiter. I’d like to order ‘eternity without worms please.’”

Jesus was quoting Isa 66:24 and Isaiah seemed to like the hell and worm theme. Isa 14:11 another wormy description…you’re welcome... “The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you.’”

A bed of maggots and a blanket of worms. Sounds... squishy. [I have a slide depicting maggots… I’m just joking…don’t leave] But, look, we don’t even like to look at maggots… imagine eternity being covered in them. Hell’s not a good place.

Rev 20:10 states, “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Eternal torment is not a punishment for a lifetime (70 years or so of sin)… that wouldn’t be just reciprocity. Eternal torment is because all sin is against the nature and character of God, and He made a way to be forgiven.

God incarnate paid for sin by His own blood, and all we have to do is accept Him…Jesus in faith. Just accept the invitation.

Please understand... God does not send anyone to Hell. To go to hell, one has to fight against God their whole life… suppressing truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1:18)… searing their conscious (1 Tim 4:2)… loving darkness rather than light (Jn 3:19)… and rejecting the Holy Spirit drawing them to Christ (described in Tit 3:5 as “… the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit”).

A person only goes to hell by their free will… by choice… by refusing the invitation… they loved darkness, so God gives them what they want… “outer darkness.”

And, if you are hear today, and your thinking, “What have I gotten myself into?” Listen, I just teach the Bible verse-by-verse… and no one in your family called me ahead of time to let me know you were coming today… maybe this is a message from God for you.

Eternity is heaven or hell. He’s inviting you to the wedding of His Son. He’s been speaking to you in various ways your whole life. Rom 1:20 says, “… since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made...”

The universe, the world, nature… even an acorn… design and creation speak about a designer… about God. Your life… the very intricacies of your eye…

...how it focuses… how it self-lubricates… how it transmits messages to the brain and sees color. God created the eye to behold the beauty of this world, and more important to behold the Son in glory.

But, you have to accept the invitation. No one can do it for you.

V14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The invitation goes out to everyone…all are invited, but few are chosen because few choose to accept.

Jesus said it this way in Matt 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Enter the narrow gate… accept the invitation.

So, that was the third of three parables Jesus gave to the chief priests and elders of the people after they asked about the origin of His authority. And, these parables sent a message to the Religious leaders and there are lessons for us today.

In these parables God warned against hypocrisy… laid out expectations for fruits of righteousness… and gave invitations to faith.

The religious leaders were pictures as liars, thieves, murderers, and indifferent towards the things of God… and they would be crushed and exiled from God. But, the tax collectors, harlots, another nation, and the bad and good people on the highway… all would turn to God, accept His invitation and gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

The warning and invitation is clear.

Every Sunday, driving home from church, I ask my family three questions about the sermon. Do you have any questions? What’s one thing you learned? What’s your application?

As we have gone through these parables... out of the mouth of babes…the application, most thematic, from my children has been, “Don’t be like the religious leaders.” It’s simple, but true.

The Kingdom of Heaven was entrusted to us when Jesus said in Matt 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

To make a disciple, you have to be a disciple. You have to be a follower, not just a fan. You have to be in hard pursuit of Christ, not just a casual observer. In the trenches, not on the peripherals.

Jesus said it this way, John 15:4, “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.”

The religious leaders had no relationship with God, and failed. “Don’t be like the religious leaders.”

Well, after these three parables, we several more groups come to question and challenge Jesus...

Matt 22:15-16a “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. [They are disingenuous… and have ulterior motives… remember John 11… they want Jesus dead]. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians…

Pause right there. I don’t want to overlook the interesting and significant history about the Pharisees, Herodians, and a third group (the Sadducees) that we will encounter in V23.

All three of these sects have roots during the Intertestamental period…the 400 years between the last OT writer, Malachi, and John the Baptist. Daniel prophesied about this history in Dan 2, 7, 8, & 11.

Between the Old an New Testament writings, Alexander the Great of Macedonia (modern day Greece), conquered the known world, then died at age 32 in 323 B.C. and his four generals founded their own dynasties who often warred with one another. Israel was caught in between two of these Generals- Ptolemy (in Egypt) and Seleucus in Babylonia, Syria, and eventually Israel / Palestine..

Seleucus was the Great, Great, Great Grandfather of Antiochus IV, who chose the name for himself “Antiochus Epiphanes” with means “god manifest.” He has also been called a “ ‘type’ of anti-christ.” He came to power in 175 B.C. and began to persecute Jews and made illegal their religious practices, and became famous… rather infamous for sacrificing a pig to Zeus in the Temple thus desecrating it.

Enough was enough, and one Jewish family, named the Hasmoneans, arose and revolted against the Greek/Syrian oppression from 167-160 B.C. The name commonly assigned to this family is the Maccabees which was derived from one of the most renowned brothers, Judas Maccabeus (“the hammer”)… son of the priest Mattathias.

The revolt is known as “Maccabean Revolt” which you can read about 1 and 2 Maccabees as well as writings of Josephus. The origin of Hanukkah (meaning “dedication”) comes from when they captured and rededicated the Temple in 164 B.C.

Notice at the bottom of the Hasmonean Family Tree... Herod. This is Herod the Great who married into the Hasmonean Family by his first wife Mariamne to unite the families and legitimize his political rule.

Tying this back to Matthew, we see three Jewish sects today…Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Herodians.

The Pharisees (meaning “separated ones”) have an obscure origin. Some take them back to the 5th century and Ezra, but others place their origin just prior to the Maccabean revolt, as connected to the Hasidim (“the faithful ones,” traditionalists who opposed Greek influence... “Hellenization”... in Jewish society).

In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees had grown to become the largest sect of Jewish leadership. They had control over the synagogues… and Josephus estimated them numbering around 6000.

They were the conservative, religious elite...holding to strict observance of the entirety of…what we call “Old Testament”.... the Tanakh…the Torah (the Law), the Nevi'im (the Prophets), and the Ketuvim (the Writings)... and they held to strict observance of the oral law…traditions.

The Sadducees were aristocrats… the high priestly families… wealthy & materialistic. They were the ones making the temple a “den of thieves”… Annas’ Bazaar (overseeing and raking in the money for “temple approved sacrifices” and money changing). They did not tolerate threats to their position, power or wealth, so Jesus quickly became their enemy.

They were politically oriented and supported ruling powers be it Seleucids of the past or Romans in the present.

Sadduccees were social conservatives... loyal to the Hasmonean / the Maccabean Dynasty… and sought to preserve the practices of the past.

They held only to the Torah (the first 5 books of the OT) and rejected oral law. And, because of these and other religious views, plus their compromise with Rome... they were at odds with the Pharisees.

The Herodians were Jews who “had political affiliations with the Herodian House and religious affiliations with the Sadducees.” (Baker Enc.) The Herods (Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, and so forth) were given authority over Palestine by Rome, so the Herodians (like the Sadduccees) were the aristocrats…men of influence.

The painting behind me is by James Tissot, late 1800’s french painter. The title is, “The Pharisees and the Herodians Conspire Against Jesus”… our study today… the Herodians are pictured in dark clothes.

Some have linked the Herodians with a group called the Boethsians (bow-eth-usians). Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible states, “The Boethusians and the Sadducees were indistinguishable theologically, but the Sadducees were loyal to the Hasmonean dynasty, whereas the Boethusians were attached to the Herodian house and consequently were called the Herodians.”

The history of these groups is woven together… and the contentions run deep. This scene in Matthew is shocking being that the Pharisees and Herodians are collaborating… given their differences.

The Pharisees don’t go personally, but send their disciples along with the Herodians to attempt to entrap Jesus. Perhaps they don’t want to be associated with the Herodians, so in hypocrisy they plot with the Herodians and send their disciples.

Kind of a... “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” situation.

Well, let’s close today looking at their ‘egg-in-the face’ attempt to snare Jesus… reading from V15...

Matt 22:15-22 “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. [again... ‘motive’] 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians saying [and look at all this lying flattery…They are really trying to butter Jesus up], “Teacher [‘Rabbi’ in Hebrew… a compliment], we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth [Testifying of Jesus’ character and teachings as true…] ; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. [Testifying of Jesus’ objective or impartial nature towards people].

All these statements about Jesus in V16 are true, but the Pharisees and Herodians are lying hypocrites because they said these words with their mouths, but didn’t believe them in their heart.

So, here’s their question… their plot to entangle Him...

V17 “Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

And, you can almost picture dead silence… silent anticipation of Jesus’ response… the snare is set.

Here stands the Pharisees… loyal to Religion… and the Herodians… loyal to Rome.

If Jesus says “it’s lawful to pay taxes to Caesar,” the Pharisees could stir up the people against Him because they hated the Roman taxes.

Rome over taxed the people… it was a sore spot for them… taxes on everything… I just can’t imagine living in a country with excess taxes. As the scholar Vizzini once said, “Inconceivable.”

This particular tax was the highly resented ‘Tributum Capitis’ or “poll tax”…a tax for Roman subjects, but not Roman citizens. Essentially a tax for breathing. Carson stated, “Zealots claimed the poll tax was a God-dishonoring badge of slavery to the pagans.” Tertullian called this tax a "badge of slavery."

So, if Jesus gave a nod towards paying this tax… the Pharisees would throw up their hands in objection… and easily position the Jewish people against Jesus.

If Jesus says, “it’s not lawful to pay taxes”… the Herodians would throw up their hands in objection… and report Him to Rome for treason. You didn’t go against Roman collection of taxes.

So, they think, “Haha! We’ve got Him!” They try to put Jesus on the ‘hot seat’ presenting Him with an either/or situation, but what they didn’t anticipate was Jesus’ reply. Essentially, He says... “both.”

V18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? [hupŏkritēs - ‘you two-faced actors’] 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. V20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” [which was a title for Roman Emperors].

I have a slide of a Roman Denarius from Jesus’ day… (a laborers days wage)…

From A.D. 14-37 the Caesar was Tiberius. He was the 2nd Roman Caesar succeeding his step-father Caesar Augustus… the first Roman Emperor.

On the front of this coin bears the image of Tiberius, and the inscription reads, "Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the Divine Augustus"… which was a claim to divinity. And, Romans held to Caesar worship.

On the back the image is a seated female, usually identified as Livia Drusilla (Roman Empress and wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius), and she is depicted as Pax, the goddess of peace… holding a scepter in her right hand and an olive branch in left.

The inscription on the back “Pontif Maxim”… a shortened version of “Pontifex Maximus, “… Latin for "greatest priest"… suggesting Tiberius was the high priest or head of the idolatrous Roman state religion.

So, imagine this scene…here is Jesus, God incarnate, speaking with disciples of Pharisees and Herodians, with all of their history of contention, yet greater hatred towards Jesus... and the topic centers on money…money with all sorts of pagan symbolism… and idolatrous inclinations… all of which was against Jesus… against God. This is a heavy scene.

Continuing in V21… observe Jesus’ divine wisdom… “And He said to them, “Render [or “give back”] therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

If it has Caesar’s image on it… give it back to Caesar.

We have dual-citizenship. We are citizens of heaven and we live on earth… subject to earthly government… therefore we have obligations to both… with heavenly obedience being superior.

But, as long as government is not demanding false worship… or stripping us of Biblical rights… we are to pray for our leaders, pay taxes, and “be subject” to authorities. Not my words… read Rom 13, 1 Pet 2, Titus 3.

But, submitting to government is getting harder every day. A storm cloud is brewing.

Carson wrote, “Where Caesar claims what is God’s, the claims of God have priority.” And, in this crazy season… it takes discernment to know when to take a stand.

When Peter and John were told not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, they replied, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19

Who knows… I may have a really great prison ministry in the near future the way things are going.

Jesus also said, if it has God’s image on it… give it back to God. Money has Caesar’s image on it, so give it to him. But your life has God’s image on it.

Gen 1:26 “God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...”

Even if you don’t feel like it or believe it… you bear the image of God.

And, as believers, Eph 1:13 states, “...having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise...”

Give back to God, that which has His image on it… your very life… give that to God.

We read, in V22 “When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.”

Don’t walk away from here today marveling at the wisdom of Jesus, but just going your way.

The Pharisees and Herodians marveled and went their way. They should have marveled and fallen at Jesus’ feet.

Just like in the parable earlier… God said, “Come to the wedding.” Sadly we read in V5 “But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.” Don’t let that be you today.

As we close…can you all close your eyes and bow your heads for a moment? (worship team come)

God extends an invitation to everyone to be with Him for all eternity, and it doesn’t matter if you’re ‘bad or good.’ You just have to accept the invitation.

If you are hear today, and you have never accepted that invitation before, and you want to accept the invitation now… just go ahead and raise your hand now… right where you’re seated.

The invitation is to the wedding of His Son, and God is inviting you. It’s an invitation to accept in faith Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Rom 10:9 says, “...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Just have to raise your hand… accept the invitation… and I’ll lead you in prayer.

If you are here today, and you’ve strayed from your citizenship. You believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior, but you’ve lost focus… you’re eyes are on the world… and your not giving back to God that things that are His.

If that’s you, raise your hand as a step that you want to turn from those things and be wholly devoted to God.

Let’s pray.

The Lord bless you and keep you, and cause His face to shine upon you. Go in God’s peace this week....and extend that invitation to someone else… should God lead you.