The Wedding Feast
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Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
Nine Years ago the “Bleacher Report” wrote a very interesting article...
About a very interesting event.
Here is what the reporter said in his own words:
“Miami Heat fans have developed a reputation recently of not being the most faithful to their team.
Tuesday night could not have proven that point any more.
There was a mass exodus of Heat fans at American Airlines Arena down the stretch in Game 6 on Tuesday.
You know, the same Game 6 that saw the Heat come from behind in the fourth quarter.
The same Game 6 that saw Ray Allen force overtime with a three-pointer with five seconds left.
The same Game 6 that saw Chris Bosh block Danny Green at the buzzer in overtime.
When fans heard the Heat were mounting a furious comeback, they reportedly begged to be let back into the arena, but weren't allowed to.”
The reporter continues:
Game 6 was a stunning display of resiliency by the defending champions.
Their season appeared to be over and done with when they found themselves down by five points with 28 seconds left. One missed free throw and two three-pointers later, they had forced overtime.
The Heat found themselves trailing by three points with 2:42 remaining in overtime, but went on to score six unanswered points down the stretch to force a Game 7.”
So Church, do you know what happened at Game 7?
The Miami Heat won; defeating the San Antonio Spurs 95 to 88.
The key to their victory was the end of Game 6.
It was the come from behind kind of victory you see in the movies...
And fans who paid top dollar for seats missed NBA Finals history...
Why?
Because, they didn’t realize what they had.
They had a rare opportunity to see history in the making...
And they threw it away because they wanted to get home a few minutes early...
They wanted to beat the traffic out the parking lot...
They didn’t want to see their team lose..
They didn’t see anything special about this game...
For whatever reason their miscalculation caused them a ton of regret.
And this is brings us to our message for today...
Another story about a group of people who missed out big because they didn’t see something special.
A group of people whose miscalculation cost a lot more than just a few memories at a basketball game.
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
So, please turn your copy of God’s Word to the Gospel of Matthew.
We will be conducting our study in Chapter 22 and focus on verses 1 through 14.
Our message this morning called “The Wedding Feast”
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Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we consider our text, please join me in prayer...
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Let’s turn to our text for today:
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,
2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’
5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,
6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’
10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
So, let’s break this down, Church.
1) He Spoke In Parables
1) He Spoke In Parables
Verse 1: And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,
Parables where a favorite teaching method of Jesus...
Mainly because a parable was meant to reveal truth to those who genuinely desired it...
Because God had mercy on these individuals and opened their hearts to see this truth.
Additionally, parables confused those whom God had harden their hearts.
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In a lot of ways a parable was a two edged sword...
The humble recieved life saving truth...
While the proud where rebuked.
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Jesus here is speaking a series of parables...
One after another...
He was challenging the Pharisees and at the same time guiding His sheep...
This parable is the third in this series on the subject matter of a master and his subordinates.
2) The Father Celebrating the Son
2) The Father Celebrating the Son
Verse 2: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
"The King” is God the Father.
“His Son” is God the Son, Jesus Christ.
So, the Kingdom of Heaven is described as a celebration for Jesus.
We see in the Scriptures that the Father celebrates the Son in other passages.
For example, take a look with me at Ephesians 1:15-23.
Hold your place in Matthew and turn with me in Ephesians...
We will be parking here for a bit...
Again we are looking at Ephesians 1:15-23.
This section picks up right after the greeting of Paul in the letter...
And Paul’s description how God has predestined everything from before the foundation of the world...
That is...
Before anything was created God had a perfect plan for how everything would occur.
Beginning at verse 15 the Word of God says:
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
Now pay attention to verse 18.
18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Notice what t says here...
“His” referring to Jesus...
“Glorious inheritance in the saints.”
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The Father is giving the Son the saints as a gift.
This is profound, Church.
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Now look at the next few verses.
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
The Father raised the Son from the dead...
The Father also seated the Son at His right hand.
You see Church, this is the Father celebrating the Son.
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And there is more.
Look at the next few verses.
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The Father gave the Son all rule.
The Father gave the Son all authority.
The Father gave the Son all power and dominion and a name above every other name.
The Father put all things under the Son’s feet and gave Him as head over the church.
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This is the love that the Father has for the Son.
This is the Father celebrating the Son.
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Now let’s look at the next section of our main passage we are studying in the Gospel of Matthew.
3) The Jews Reject Christ
3) The Jews Reject Christ
Verses 3-6: And sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
This is referring to the Gospel message of Jesus Christ going out to the Jews first.
Jesus spent three years preaching and teaching the children of Isreal.
The Apostles preached and taught all throughout Isreal.
Paul, who was an apostle to the Gentiles always first started preaching and teaching in the synagogues.
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Some Jews converted...
But as a whole...
The Jewish people rejected their Messiah and actually crucified Him and persecuted His followers.
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But this was not unexpected.
This was fulfilled prophesy.
Remember what Jesus said in Mark 12:10-11:
10 Have you not read this Scripture: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
11 this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
This was all part of God’s plan.
But the sin of Isreal was not a great sin…It was their greatest sin.
They did not just reject a prophet...
They rejected God
As Acts 4:11 says He was not just a stone but He was the cornerstone:
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
And the Apostles did not sugar coat their message to the children of Isreal.
They told them plainly as they did in Acts 2:36:
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
The promise of the messiah was found all the way back in Genesis 3:15, which says:
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
From that time, before Isreal was even a nation until the arrival of the Son of God in the flesh, Isreal was waiting...
But instead of celebrating the Son.
They crucified Him.
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Well, God’s wrath would fall on Isreal for this wickedness.
Let’s look at our next verse.
4) God’s Wrath - Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
4) God’s Wrath - Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
Verse 7: The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
The King’s wrath is the worst.
The more powerful the king the greater His wrath.
And no one's wrath is greater than the Father’s.
God is merciful and just.
That is true.
His grace is like no other.
But the same can be said for His wrath.
Just look at what it says in Romans 1:18:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
As a Holy God, the Father must punish all ungodliness and unrighteousness.
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This reminds me of a time that Paul Washer, a preacher and missionary, was addressing a room full of atheists...
He said, “Do you want to know the scariest thing about God is?”
He continued, “He is good.”
The people in the room where confused...
Some where laughing...
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Washer continues, “The reason that is scary is because you are bad...
And a good God who is just must punish bad or He wouldn't be good.”
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God’s wrath is no joking or small matter.
In fact, in this verse, Jesus was speaking a prophesy right here.
As He would make even more clear a few chapters later when He said in Matthew 24:2:
2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Jesus’ prophecy literally happened in 70 AD.
Consider these excerpts from an Article found on the Hope for Isreal Ministries website:
“In 70 AD the land of Judea was plunged into chaos and turmoil.
Bands of Zealots and other Jewish rebels groups roved the countryside attacking Roman garrisons and even their own Jewish brethren they accused of sympathizing or appeasing the Romans.
The Romans reacted with brutality, showing no mercy as they indiscriminately killed men, women, and children.
In April of 70 AD, the Roman General, Titus, who would later become Caesar, besieged the city of Jerusalem with over 100,000 people trapped inside.
As the Romans tightened their strangle hold upon the city, the Zealots and groups opposing them began fighting each other within the city, even burning each other’s food supplies.
Anarchy, fear, and starvation reigned within Jerusalem’s city walls.
Outside the city camped the Romans who would crucify any man, woman, or child caught fleeing the city.
So many crosses were being made to crucify those fleeing that the woods in the surrounding area were almost completely deforested.
After a four-month siege the Romans stormed the city, killing everyone who was left inside and completely destroying the city and the Temple.
It was said that so many were the slain on the Temple mount that the stairs to the Temple flowed with blood.
As the fire set by the Romans in 70 AD raged through the sanctuary in the Temple, quantities of silver and gold, which had been placed there for safe-keeping, melted and ran down between the stones.
Roman soldiers tore apart the stones to retrieve the gold and silver, literally leaving ‘not one stone left upon another’ as Jesus had foretold forty years earlier as recorded in Matthew 24:2.
At first the Romans forbade Jews to enter Jerusalem, then, sixty years later, with another failed revolt against the Romans, Jews were ultimately exiled from Judea.
Thus began the period of the second Jewish exile, one that would far outlast the first.
For the next 1,900 years, the Jewish people would be scattered throughout the earth where they would endure relentless persecution.”
This was the price for rejecting the Messiah.
But in God’s providence and mercy, what the Jews rejected resulted in grace for the gentiles and the spreading of the Gospel to the nations.
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The next part of our passage continues:
5) The Gospel Goes To The Gentiles
5) The Gospel Goes To The Gentiles
Verses 8-10: Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
This is referring to the Gospel going to the gentiles.
Consider what Paul, the Apostle to the gentiles, said in Ephesians 2:11-22:
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Wow, Church...
The mercy and grace that God has on us...
It is incredible.
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But we can’t look at God’s mercy and grace and try to take advantage of it.
Just because the Gospel now has spread to the gentiles does not mean we can’t reject Him.
Look with me at the next few verses:
6) Rejecting The King’s Provision & Grace
6) Rejecting The King’s Provision & Grace
Verses 11-13: “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Let me be very clear here, beloved.
You can’t arrogantly come to God in whatever manner you choose.
It does not work that way.
For the Israelites that though their blood lineage to Abraham and “good works” would save them...
Jesus made it clear that it did not matter that they where physically circumcised if their hearts where not also circumcised.
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During my study this week I came across this note in the MacArthur Study Bible that faithfully sums up what is happening in these few verses:
“All without exception were invited to the banquet, so this man is not to be viewed as a common party-crasher.
In fact, all the guests were rounded up hastily from “the streets” and therefore none could be expected to come with proper attire.
That means the wedding garments were supplied by the king himself.
So this man’s lack of a proper garment indicates he had purposely rejected the king’s own gracious provision.
His affront to the king was actually a greater insult than those who refused to come at all, because he committed his impertinence in the very presence of the king.
The imagery seems to represent those who identify with the kingdom externally, profess to be Christians, belong to the church in a visible sense—yet spurn the garment of righteousness Christ offers by seeking to establish a righteousness of their own.
Ashamed to admit their own spiritual poverty, they refuse the better garment the King graciously offers—and thus they are guilty of a horrible sin against His goodness.”
So, you can’t obey God in some areas and reject Him in others.
You can’t just worship God the way you feel like it.
Just take a look at what happened to Aaron's son’s. in Leviticus 10:1-3:
1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them.
2 And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ ” And Aaron held his peace.
If we really love God and believe in Him with our heart then we will obey Him.
When we live our lives as if we rule then we prove we have no relationship with God.
Look at the final verse in the Book of Judges...
It really sums up what is seem throughout the book..
Judges 21:25 reads:
25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Those things that they did that was right in their own eyes included...
Adultery, Idol worship, murder, etc...
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So you can’t show up to God’s wedding feast while you reject His grace and provisions.
He will through you right out.
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And take a look now at this final verse in our passage.
It contains a hard truth we need to understand.
7) The Effectual Call
7) The Effectual Call
Verse 14: For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The “many are called” is referring to the sharing of the Gospel.
Unfortunately, not all people even get a chance to hear the Gospel.
That is why it says “many” and not “all.”
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That is also why it is important for us as believers to share the Gospel with as many people we can.
That is why missionary work and evangelism is vital.
But let me be clear...
It is not only the job of the pastor, preacher, evangelist, or missionary to spread the Gospel.
It is the responsibility of all believers of Christ.
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Now take a look at what it says at the second half of the verse...
It says, “few are chosen.”
That is in reference to God’s effectual calling.
That is when God, by His own mercy and grace, calls you personally.
Every believer has experienced this call.
And every person called in this matter accepts Jesus’ effectual calling.
That is why it says few are chosen...
Because it is God and God alone who does the choosing.
And His reason for choosing you has nothing to do with what you did but simply His purpose.
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You, if you are a believer, where chosen simply by grace and mercy.
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You had nothing to do with it.
It was all an act of God’s love.
So, don’t go boasting that the Jews rejected Christ but you accepted Him because you are smarter or better in some way.
God didn’t see what you did in the future and select you because of how great you are.
You only chose Him because He chose you first!
Take a loom at what John 10:27-30 says:
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”
Notice what profound truths are found in this verse.
Who are the only ones to hear Jesus’ effectual calling?
It is His sheep.
The sheep are given to Jesus by the Father from an eternity past.
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So, Jesus loved you before you ever existed.
Jesus sees you as a gift from the Father.
Jesus called you and you listened only because He loved you and had mercy on you.
And all whom the Father gave to Jesus will never be snatched out of His hands.
Once God saves you, He puts the Holy Spirit in you and He keep and preserves you until we make it to glory.
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Look at what other passages of the Word of God say...
Look at what Romans 9:10-18 says:
10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,
11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—
12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!
15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
God has mercy on whom He chooses.
For His purpose.
According to His will
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Just look at what it says in Ephesians 1:11-12:
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
This truth may be hard to swallow for us...
But there is no doubt that it is true.
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His ways are just so much more higher and better than our ways.
But just as God is sovereign and in control so we too have human responsibility.
Here is what John MacArthur says of this balance:
“Here, then, is the proper balance between human responsibility and divine sovereignty:
The ‘called’ who reject the invitation do so willingly, and therefore their exclusion from the kingdom is perfectly just.
The ‘chosen’ enter the kingdom only because of the grace of God in choosing and drawing them.”
Closing Illustration
Closing Illustration
As this message comes to a close...
Think on this...
There was a boy who did not have much athletic ability.
Every time he and his friends would play some game he was always the last to be chosen.
One day two new fellows came to play with them and were allowed to be team captains because they were older.
The first team captain chose the boy who had always been chosen last before.
Why?
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Because they were brothers, and he loved his brother.
So it is with God.
He chose us not because of our abilities, but because he loves us.
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So, as you reflect on this message and the truth found in the Word of God...
Remember, do not look inwardly to your own merits or ability...
Instead look to God.
As it says in Romans 1:16-17:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
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To God be all the glory.
Amen.
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Please join us for one more song from the Praise Band.