COME TO THE WEDDING FEAST--MATTHEW 22:1-14

COME TO THE WEDDING FEAST

MATTHEW 22:1-14

Introduction:

“And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,..” [v. 1]. “This was Jesus’ reply to the hatred of the chief priests and Pharisees. He answered them by going on with his ministry. For them and for the people also, he spoke again by parables. They came to him with quibbles, he replied by parables.”

This parable is about the invitation to come to the Messiah for Jesus is speaking to the Jews and inviting them to receive Him as Savior.

I. THE MARRIAGE BANQUET

A. The banquet is intended to honor the King’s Son, vv. 1-2; Revelation 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

1. It is the Father’s will that all men should honor the Son, John 5:23, “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”

2. Those invited are blessed, Revelation 19:9, “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

3. It is a time of rejoicing, 1 Peter 1:8, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

B. Everything was ready, vv. 3-4.

1. The King sent out his servants to invite the guest [Israel], v. 3; Psalms 68:11, “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.”

2. The King was patient, and gave the disloyal people a FURTHER OPPORTUNITY to come to the wedding feast and yet they resisted, Acts 7:51-52, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:”

C. Those invited MADE LIGHT of the invitation, vv. 5-6; Psalms 106:24, “Yea, they DESPISED the pleasant land, they BELIEVED NOT his word:”

D. The rejection was gross discourtesy and insult, v. 7;

1. The indifferent unbelievers are contemptuous scorners, Jude 8, “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.”

2. The other is absolutely hostile, a bitter persecutor, Acts 7:58, “And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.”

E. The King sends his army and burns the city, v. 7; Matthew 21:40, “When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.”

Note: Jesus is doubtless speaking prophetically about the people of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, which was fulfilled in 70 A.D., when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.

II. OTHERS ARE INVITED TO THE FEAST

A. Go into the highways and invite whosoever will come, vv. 8-9; Mark 16:15-16, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

B. When the King was angry, even then he was gracious, 1 Peter 2:3, “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

III. THE ROBE OF GLADNESS

A. This robe is provided by the King, Isaiah 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

3. It is a white garment, Ecclesiastes 9:8, “Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.”

4. It is a robe washed in the Blood of the Lamb, Revelation 7:14, “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

5. It is a garment fit for the bride of Christ, Revelation 19:8, “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

6. It is a garment that is UNDEFILED, Revelation 3:4, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have NOT DEFILED THEIR GARMTS; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are WORTHY. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will CONFESS his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

7. Now there were guest from every kindred and nation present to be received by the King, Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”

CONCLUSION

The conclusion of this message will be heard tonight at 6:00 PM.

There is a guest that is not dressed for the occasion. Come and hear the outcome of this great marriage feast.