8 Days that Changed the World #3

Series: The Gospel Truth

Text: Matt. 22:1-14; 1Cor 11:24-30

Introduction: (What?)

The principles of the parable of the Wedding Feast also apply to the LORD’s Supper. Many are invited, some decline the invitation and thus are left out when it comes to being in the presence of the King. When they decline, their eternal destiny is sealed. Others accept, but on their own terms. These also face the wrath of the King. All who profess to be followers of Christ are invited to the LORD’s table, but there are rules that must be considered.

Examination: (Why?)

1. The invitation (RSVP)

Mt 22:1-3 “1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come.”

Quite often we get invitations to things like weddings, birthday parties and other celebrations. Some of them include the letters RSVP which comes from the French phrase répondez s'il vous plaît, which means "please reply."

This is a courtesy extended to the host so that they will know who is and who isn’t planning to attend. In this case those who were on the A-list were invited to the feast. But, to a person, they all refused to attend. This was an affront to the King and to His Son. In the parable of course the King is God and the Son is Jesus. The wedding feast is that described in Rev 19:9 “9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.””

If you have ever sensed a desire to surrender your life to Christ, you have been invited to the wedding banquet. But, you have a choice to accept or reject the invitation.

2. The 2nd Invitation

Matt 22: 4-7 “4 Again, he sent out other servants and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: See, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged, and he sent out his troops, killed those murderers, and burned down their city.”

The King doesn’t give up on those who were invited. He sends out other servants (prophets, preachers, teachers, believers who are witnesses)to make sure that everyone understands the importance of the invitation they have received. But those who are distracted by their earthly pursuits either ignored the invitation and went about their business or they mistreated and even killed the messengers. We see that played out in how the OT prophets were treated. We also see it in how those who take the message of Christ into dark places like China, North Korea, parts of Africa and So. America, and more and more in our own country are treated. What they don’t understand is that this is like spitting in the face of the King. V 7 clearly shows the judgment of the king on those who refuse His invitation and mistreat His messengers.

3. Make Sure of Your Credentials

Matt 22 8-14 “8 “Then he told his servants, ‘The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ 10 So those servants went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests. 11 When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.””

The King is adamant that His banquet hall is to be filled. If those “A-listers” refused His invitation, then He would extend it to the world at large. This, according to John McArthur, is an illustration of the free offer of the gospel which is extended to all without discrimination. But, there was at least one who didn’t dress for the occasion. This was a last minute invitation, so no one had time to either go home and put on their best or go out and buy something to wear, so the King actually provided “wedding garments” for them. The fact that there was a guest improperly dressed meant they he/she had refused to wear what the King provided. This was an affront to the King equal to that of those who refused the invitation. What does this mean to us? Again quoting John McArthur, “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.”

Application: (How will I respond to this message?

1 Cor. 11:24-30 “24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.”

All who are in the church (just as those around the table with Jesus that night) are there by invitation. Even Judas was there. But all were not “worthy” to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus represented by the bread and the juice. Those who are not clad in the “robe of righteousness” which the King provides for all who accept His invitation to the table are not worthy to participate in the LORD’s Supper. Also those who have an unrepentant spirit, a spirit of bitterness or an ungodly attitude toward another are unworthy. If they choose to participate regardless of their sin, they put themselves in the path of the judgment of God. V 29 says that they bring judgment on themselves. V 30 indicates how grave this situation is by telling us that God even puts the worst offenders to death.

That being said, before we partake of the LORD’s Supper today, we are going to have the invitation. As Doug comes and leads us in singing “I Surrender All” this is your opportunity to do exactly that. By your singing, you are saying to Jesus, “I give you my life.” Also, if you have at one time surrendered all to Jesus, but now you are harboring bitterness or ill-will toward someone or have sins in your life that you have not repented of, by your singing you are confessing those sins and repenting of them.

The Body

Matt 26:26 “26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.””

The Blood

Matt 26:27 “27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you.”

The Fellowship of Faith

For any of you who, for the first time surrendered your life to Jesus today, please come down front after the benediction and tell me so. Anyone who desires to become a member of Faith Baptist Church, also come and I’ll meet you here.