Friends Don't Let Friends Go to Hell!

TEXT: Matthew 22:1-14

TOPIC: Friends Don’t Let Friends Go to Hell

Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church of Icard, March 12, 2000

For the Christian, all of life is a party! I heard Jamey Ragle say again this week that Christians are the only people on earth who really have any reason to be happy. Knowing what we know, and whom we know, is indeed, cause for celebration!

The rule of God in life is a great feast, not a sad fast. The kingdom of God is often compared to a wedding feast in the Bible. In Jesus’ day, a wedding feast was a time of great joy and celebration. The feast would go on for seven full days! Can you imagine, a weeklong buffet!

In Matthew 22, Jesus tells us the story (a parable) of a king who threw the “Mother of all Wedding Feasts,” for his son, the heir to his throne. Matthew 22:1.

Matthew 22:1-14

1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3“and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4“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.” ’ 5“But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6“And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7“But when the king heard about it,he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8“Then he said to his servants, ‘the wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9‘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 hallwas filled with guests. 11“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. 13“Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

(Matthew 22:1-14, KJV)

In every generation, God gives a wedding feast and invites all to come. The feast is an eternal time of celebration around the throne of God in heaven, acknowledging the royalty and Lordship of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. And you’re invited.

This message has two parts. Part one presents the glorious, gracious, and great invitation God offers everyone for eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. Part two, however, paints a much bleaker, even black picture of terrible doom and damnation that awaits those who reject His offer of love and forgiveness.

Notice several very interesting insights about this Wedding Feast.

I. The InvitationExtended, 1-4

On two separate occasions the kings sends out invitations to the wedding feast for his dear son. In Jesus’ day there were always two invitations. The initial invitation would be sent out days in advance while the immediate invitation would be delivered when all was ready. In verse 3 he says, “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.” ’

Historically, God called the people of Israel to experience the feast through the prophets. That was the initial invitation. More immediately, God called the Jews through John the Baptist and Jesus’ own ministry. But they refused to come.

Personally, God calls each one of us both initially and immediately to come to Him. Many have accepted while many others still reject Him. Jesus is the magnet of the ages. Some He draws while others are repelled.

II. The IndifferenceExhibited, 5

“But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.

Many reject the invitation of the King. Some reject the invitation out of indifference. Some reject out of ingratitude. Others simple ignore the king’s gracious invitation. Some even reject out of ignorance. But most out of indifference.

III. The InsultExercised, 6

“And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

These people didn’t just ignore, or exhibit indifference; they violently opposed both the messengers and their message.

Of course this is a historical reference to the persecution and murder of the prophets from the O.T. whom proclaimed God’s message to the Jews.

But it is also an immediate reference to Jesus himself who would be rejected and killed by the Jews.

Did you know that in some parts of our world Christians face horrible persecution? In China, in many Islamic countries today, people, just because they are Christians are imprisoned, beaten, tortured, raped, mutilated and even killed.

But there’s a forth thing about this invitation to the Wedding Feast.

IV. The InvitationEnlarged, 8-10

“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9‘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.

If you do not accept the King’s invitation, others will. The grace of God will not be defeated. He will gather a great people. Whether or not you come, others will.

The invitation is enlarged in that the king sends his servants out into the highways, a reference to the places that bring people from far and near.

The invitation then is for “all creatures, all nations, all the world, to whosoever will, let him come.”

The invitation is further enlarged in that it is offered to “both the bad and good.” Before, God offered only to Israel the promise of being His people, but now He has made all who would accept His invitation, “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

(1 Peter 2:9-10, NKJV)

We must never fail to understand that this invitation comes from a King of Grace. Look how patient, how loving, how persistent the king is to continue extending and enlarging his invitation to those who are completely undeserving.

Why does God do this? Because He likes a full house. “and the wedding hall was filled with guests.”

But we must also never fail to remember that our King of Grace is also a King of Wrath. Judgment will come. For all those who ignore his loving offer, for all those who turn away in indifference, for all those who insult and inflict abuse on those who bring good news, judgment will come!

Part two reveals the terrible truth about a place for all those who reject our King’s offer of love and forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ.

Look back at verse 6 and 7. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7“But when the king heard about it,he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

V. The IndignationExpressed, 7

God says, “Vengeance is mine. I shall repay.”

The Bible says there is coming a time when the future inhabitants of our earth will cry out to “the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17“For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

The Bible says that one day God will summons the select angels in heaven. Revelation 16 says, Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

VI. The InviteesExamined, 11-12

“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 would have been customary that the King who issued the invitation also provides the proper wedding garments.

Surely God provided the garment of righteousness we need to attend His final feast!

“And he was speechless.” This invited guest who tried to attend the feast without the proper credentials, was suddenly speechless. Those not prepared to stand in God’s presence will have nothing to say.

VII. The InviteeExpelled, 13-14

The last two verses and one word in verse 12 are the basis of my sermon title today

12“So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless“Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Listen dear friends, “Friends Don’t let Friends Go to Hell.” Oh dear friends, as much as there is a Heaven, there’s a Hell. I wish it were not so, but I didn’t say it God did. Jesus preached more about Hell than He did Heaven. Oh don’t let your friends go to Hell!

The skeptic will say, “I don’t believe in Hell.” Well one day you will.

The unbeliever says, “I don’t believe a loving God would send anyone to Hell.” You’re right! God will never send anybody to Hell. We send ourselves. Jesus loves you so much; he loves your friend so much that He took your Hell on Calvary’s cross for you.

William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army is reported to have said if he could, we would make it mandatory that every recruit spends 24 hours in Hell before beginning their ministry. Only then he said could they possible have a proper understand or compassion for the lost and waits for those who reject God’s gift of everlasting life.

Share the tragic story of “Becky” who died a gruesome death just this week. If she was lost, and I believe she was, she’s in Hell.

As we prepare for Friend Day and our “Come and See” Tent Crusade, we dare not let our friends go to Hell! Go and invite your friend to come to the King’s Feast this Easter!