Matthew 22:1-14 (NKJV) 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 hall was 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.”
The kingdom of heaven is like, a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son. The hospitality of a king, a royal feast would be given, no expense would be spared. Servants were sent out to call those who were invited, but they would not come, they were not willing. This is a picture of God stretching out his hands, offering the invitation to eternal salvation.
What was this invitation in the parable
It was to come to the royal wedding, to have a royal banquet, Grain fattened cattle. All things were ready.
The Invitation is the call to come to God, A call to Eternal life, And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. An invitation into the family of God, accepted by God, and if Children then joint heirs with Him. We shall be with Him for ever and ever. In his presence Light where there is no darkness. Where there is no presence of evil or sin or sickness. Only the Lamb of God, God my father shining in the brightness of His glory for ever and ever, and we shall be with Him for ever and ever.
What a wonderful invitation! to be invited to all this. It is hard to think and believe that some would refuse it.
v5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
To these people their livelihood was more important; more worthy of their time. I’ll give my strength to these things, they thought these things would bring me success in life. By their actions they despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance and long suffering….
No time for God, I’ll make good profits and make a lot of money. If I have a lot of money I can have whatever I want. If I need a car I can buy one, if I need a new suit I can buy one. To them life consists of only what they can get. They see and think of only this world’s goods.
They are driven to make more and more. Driven for more and more success.
Even way back in Bible days, Some loved money so much that the wages of the Labourers who mowed their fields they kept back by fraud. But the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord. Oppression is marked by God, He does not forget the cry of the humble and poor and suffering. What if the poor cry out to the Lord against you, and it be sin to you. God will surely hear their cry, and the bible says my wrath will become hot and I will kill you with the sword.
These people are selfish and think only of their own wellbeing they never care about others. It’s only about them what they can gather , what they can get. They even say, God has blessed me God made me rich. But really its only their ruthless business principals that have gotten them money, but really they are not rich. Or others simply work hard and get much gain, They are just Luke warm neither hot no cold. Listen what the bible says.
Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
the next verse speaks of white garments to cloth you, and keep the shame of your nakedness being seen. And anoint your eyes with eyesalve that you may see.
Blinded people have no perception of eternal matters they live only for now, only for this worlds things, they don’t know that there is more to life.
They say, I have so much, I need to pull down my old storehouse and build bigger ones, so I have place for all of my wealth.
The bible parable found in . Luke 12:19-21 (KJV) 9 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Now this night this man is going to meet the one who sent the wedding invitation.
What will he say to the king, he who refused? What will the Luke warm say, what will the oppressor say. This night will arrive for every one of us, we cant avoid it.
Do you remember the kings response it is in verse 7 of the parable. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. Angry with all those who refused his invitation; now they are facing the the one whose invitation you refused, The man who said Ive married a wife. Simply said no I can not come. What will he say when he sees the king face to face?
Those that did not come at the appointed hour were shut out. They did not partake of the feast. Those that made light of the divine invitation will perish miserably in famine and want. Therefore whenever God calls Let us follow. Let us come and not refuse.
Oh listen to His invitation, If you feel Him drawing your heart to salvation, If you feel Him inviting you to eternal life. Do not reject his grace, do not make light of the Gospel. Do not despise his goodness and kindness.
What is your response to His invitation?
The invitation went out to so many to both to the bad and to good, to the highways and the byways, as many as you shall find invite them… and the wedding was filled with guests. Whether you are bad or good in mans eyes is not the question. There is none righteous no not one. We all need a wedding garment. We all need Salvation in Christ Jesus. The wedding garment is both faith and a holy life. It speaks of being renewed by the holy spirit after His image.
Christ has supplied the wedding garment. There is much theological debate as to what this wedding garment is but let’s look at it is general . To see a truth.
A special garment reserved for weddings. If one was dressed in this dress everyone knew just by looking at them, aaa yes they are going to a wedding there was no question, the distinguishing mark was the garment.
For the Christian what is the distinguishing mark you are a child of God?
Can people tell by one glance? Is it obvious you are born again. When people look at you is it plain is it clear, do they say they used to be bad but now they are good. Now we see Christ in them. They used to lie now they tell the truth, they used to steal now they are honest. Their lives are new and changed. A changed life is Proof you have the wedding garment on. A new life in Christ Jesus is proof. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
It should never be that someones life has to be closely examined under a microscope to try find a tiny bit of evidence you are a child of God. It should be as plain as someone dressed to go to a wedding one look and you know. Does the common person in the street know you are a believer know you are a child of God by one quick look at your life.
In the parable we read “But when the king came in to see the guests, there was just one man without a wedding Garment. You see they were all sitting enjoying the feast, the grain fattened meats, The king in His brightness and His glory filled the place. In the brightness and glory of the king nothing was hidden. Everything was open and bare before Him to whom we must give an account. Why was he not wearing what was provided? Why was he not wearing what was given so freely! Why didn’t he put on the garment? He did not respect this king, he had no honour for Him. He was not obedient to the kings ways. He said to Himself I don’t need all this religion…. I am good enough.
When the King saw him, He said friend how did you come in here without a wedding garment… and the man was speechless. the man was also terrified. The king said bind him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness.
Is your faith shown clearly by newness of life. Let us not trick ourselves with just the title of christian, but let every walk in newness of Life that they may be pronounced to be one of the lawful guests at the wedding; Fully clothed with the wedding robe.
The conclusion of the parable is For many are called but few have chosen. Many are invited but few choose to put on Christ. Few choose to walk in His ways. Few live in such a way as to please the Living God.
What a tragedy when He makes it all possible. When He has given us all things according to His DIVINE POWER pertaining to life and Godliness.
The limitless resources and Grace of our saviour are ours by them we can live and should live.
Do you feel your heart moved? Do you feel your heart warmed. This is the precious Holy Spirit drawing you unto Himself. Oh receive His wonderful invitation. Ask and receive and put on the wedding Garment. Clean and white and pure .
The wedding Garment speaks of, a new life in Christ, a living relationship with the Lord.
Say to yourself I will not only look to this world only. I will not be blinded. I will look to the Lord. I will not refuse Christ Jesus who has paid the price for my salvation. I will not deny myself a friend in Heaven, I will not put off Him cleansing me of my sin. Oh friend Refuse not the Lord , refuse not the call of the bible, Refuse not the call of God to your soul.
I will not be without a saviour, I will not cut myself off from all His wisdom and Knowledge, I will not cut myself off from His blessing and all of His help. I will not cut myself off from Eternity. Determine I will not refuse the invitation. I will not be removed from God.
Oh Lord receive me – Forgive me all my sin, ( think and review, feel them now, and tell Him you are in need of cleansing). Change my life, Lord Make me yours, – I believe in Christ my only hope, Jesus who suffered and died for sinners, I place my faith in you now. Refuse a limited empty life focused only on earthly things. Refuse a life without God. That’s the parable friends. Receive the invitation. Put on the wedding Garment.
