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Text: Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24
Title: “Jesus’ Parable of
the Wedding Dinner on Earth”
Thesis: That the Kingdom of Heaven is like…a wedding
Intro.: The Bible says,
“And he saith unto me, ‘Write, Blessed are they which are called unto
the marriage supper of the Lamb’…” (Rev. 19:9)
Our
text today is a parable. The word “parable” has a couple not-so-
different meanings. 1) “A placing of one thing by the side of another,
as of ships in battle”; 2)
metaphorically, “a narrative, fictitious but agreeable to the laws and
usages of human life, by which either the duties of men or the things of
God, particularly the nature and history of God’s kingdom are
figuratively portrayed”; or 3) the easiest to remember, “an earthly
story with a heavenly meaning.”
This
parable, as well as others, was directed at the religious leaders of the
Nation of Israel, but present and listening were Jesus’ disciples.
We
might ask “Why” did Jesus speak in parables to the legal representatives
of Israel? Jesus answers
that question in Matt. 13:13-15,
“Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is
fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, ‘By hearing ye shall
hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not
perceive’: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are
dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they
should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should
understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal
them”
Their hearts
were hot toward keeping the smallest requirements of the Law, but cold
toward the Messiah who came to fulfill that very Law.
The Bible says,
“And he saith unto me, ‘Write,
Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb’…”
The
marriage has two phases; 1) the heavenly phase when Christ’s churches
are united to Christ in marriage; 2) the earthly phase when the Nation
of Israel’s takes its place at the earthly wedding dinner. This dinner,
which is represented in the Gospels, as the kingdom of Heaven/God, is
the 1000 yr. reign of Christ on this earth (millennial kingdom).
Tonight, we will consider the earthly wedding dinner, so this parable is
going to give us insight into the Nation of Israel’s present dilemma,
and future kingdom.
Text: Matthew 22:1-14 -- “Jesus’ Parable of the Wedding Dinner on Earth”
– prayer
I. JESUS REVELATION OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (v2)
A. The kingdom which has its
source in Heaven, i.e., the millennial (1,000 yr) kingdom of Christ
Note: The greater context is all-important to understanding the
parables.
1) From Matt. 1:1 to Acts 21:16 (“disciple”)/19:4 (the baptism of
John) is a transition period between the O.T. and the epistles/letters
of the N.T.;
2) the 4 Gospels are inherently Jewish, presenting Jesus as the
promised Jewish Messiah. The book
of Acts is the continued establishing of Christ’s churches;
3) the original 11
disciples (not Judas), were saved in the O.T. way by placing their faith
in the promise of God for a Deliverer (grace).
James 2:23 says, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, ‘Abraham believed God, and
it was imputed unto him for righteousness’: and he was called the Friend
of God.”
When that promised Deliverer arrived on the scene these saved O.T.
saints had to recognize Jesus as that Messiah, which they did, but they
did not recognize Him as their Saviour until after His resurrection;
4) The original
disciples were not permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit until
Pentecost;
5) so the subject of
the Gospels is the anticipated kingdom of Heaven/kingdom of God which is
the earthly reign of Christ on this earth;
6) the expectation of
the Messiah & His kingdom were rampant, in the chosen nation, during
Christ’s earthly ministry.
Let’s
confirm this in the Word of God (read, Acts. 3:18-26)
1. This parable is the 2nd call of God to the Nation
of Israel “to come,” which is completed in Acts 3 (see the 1st
in Matt. 10:5-15).
II.
JESUS’ PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE
(v2-14)
A. The Participants (v2ff)
1. A certain King, i.e., God the Father (2)
2. The certain King’s son, i.e., Jesus the Christ (v2)
3. The certain King’s servants, i.e., the godly remnant of Israel
(v3ff)
4. Those bidden (“call/invite”) who would not come, i.e., the
ungodly majority of Israel (v3ff)
5. Those gathered who would come, i.e., the bad & good (v10)
6. The man without the wedding garment, i.e., an example of those
expecting to, but not prepared to enter the millennial kingdom (v11-14)
(see Matt. 25:32)
III.
THE OCCASION
(v2)
A. The Marriage of the King’s Son
1. Israel is referred to as Jehovah’s wife by Jehovah
Jer. 3:14 in part, “Turn, O
backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I Am married unto you:…”
a. So we know that Israel is not the Bride of Christ
b. So we know that Israel will be the guests at the wedding
dinner
2. There is no mention of who the bride is
IV.
GOD’S PREPARATION FOR THE MARRIGE (v4)
A.
Everything was provided by God
1. The dinner was provided by God (“My dinner”)
2. The food was
prepared by God (My oxen/fatlings)
This reminds us of Ps. 23:5, “Thou
preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…”
3. The circumstances were made ready by God
Note: This is a reference to the O.T. prophecies of the suffering
Servant & His finished work on the Cross. All was made ready by God to
receive the Nation of Israel into the Kingdom of Heaven.
V. GOD’S INVITATION TO ISRAEL TO ATTEND (v3ff)
A.
God Sent Forth His Servants
Note:
This is not a new call. God’s servants included the O.T. prophets. The
expected kingdom of Heaven is a recurring theme in the O.T.
1. To call them (Nation of Israel) (v3)
a. That were bidden (an action completed in the past) to the
wedding
b. They would not come
1) See why in Malachi
2. To bid them (v4)
a. They made light of it (“were careless”)
b. They went their ways (read the O.T.)
1) One to his farm
2) One to his store
c. Those left [without an occupation] took the servants (v6)
1) Entreated them spitefully (1 word) (“to treat shamefully”)
2) Slew (“killed”) them (see how the prophets were treated)
VI.
GOD’S RESPONSE TO ISRAEL’S REJECTION (v7-8)
A. When the King heard, He was
Wroth (“provoked to anger”)
1. Sent forth His armies (in the O.T. God often used the Gentile
nations around Israel to punish Israel)
2. Destroyed the
murderers (in the O.T. God often employed capital punishment on evil
doers)
3. Burned up their city (in the O.T. God often used destruction to
punish wickedness)
a. This prefigures the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70
B. Those Bidden Were not
Worthy (not fit)
1. Though everything is ready & all are invited, there comes a time
when the door is shut (Noah’s ark, the 5 virgins, Matt. 25:10)
VII. GOD’S INVITATION TO THOSE
NOT INVITED
(v9-10)
A. God’s Instructions to the
Servants (v9)
1. Go ye therefore (because the called with not
worthy)
2. Go into the highways (“entrances into the
city”)
a. The trade routes
3. Go to as many as ye shall find
4. Bid (“invite,” a new invitation) to the
marriage
Note: Christ’s death has come, so the door is opened wide to
“whosoever will may come” Rev. 22:17. Jews
& Gentiles alike.
Jesus told His
church, “And Jesus came and spake
unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go[ing] ye therefore, and teach[ing] (“make disciples”)
all nations, baptizing them in the
Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them
to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I Am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen”
(Matt. 28:18-20)
B. The Servants Obedience
(v10)
1. They went where they were told
2. They did what they were told to do
3. Both bad (“full of labours, annoyances, hardships”) and good
(“pleasant, agreeable”). Jews & Gentiles
Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all ye
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”
(Matt. 11:28)
4. The wedding was furnished (“filled”) with
guests (“those that sit at meat together”)
XIII.
GOD’S INSPECTION OF EACH GUEST
(v11-12)
A. When the King Came in
(before the wedding feast began)
1. To see (“view attentively”) the guests (God notes all)
2. He saw a man (God sees men individually)
a. The man was not discovered till the King Himself saw him.
The Bible says, “Judge not, that
ye be not judged” (Matt. 7:1)
Note: This man never had the wedding garment, the robe of
righteousness, but he talked his way into the midst of the wedding
guests (Wheat & tares, Matt. 13:29-30; judgment of the Gentiles, Matt.
25:31-46)
3. Inappropriately “dressed” for the occasion (a robe of
righteousness)
Note: At wedding feasts in ancient times there was a certain garment
peculiar to the occasion provided by the King and those who came without
it were considered intruders.
B. When the King
Questioned the Man (v12)
1. Friend (“a kindly address”)
a. This could be a Jew or Gentile
b. Jesus uses this term 11 times in the Gospels
2. How came thou in? (a
personal address)
3. Not having a wedding garment? (a searching address)
a. Totally unprepared
C. When the Man Faced the
King (v12)
1. He was speechless (“to close the mouth”)
a. As all men/women will be at the judgments
IX. GOD PRONOUNCES JUDGMENT
(v13)
A.
Authorizes the Servants (13a)
1. To bind (“fasten with chains”) him hand and
foot (just as Christ was bound to the Cross)
2. To take him away (“carry him off”)
3. To cast into outer darkness (Hell)
a. In outer darkness there shall be
1) Weeping (“lamentation”)
2) Gnashing of teeth (“used to denote extreme anguish and utter
despair of men consigned to eternal punishment in hell”)
X.
GOD’S CONCLUDING STATEMENT OF FACT
(v14)
A. Many (“a large group”)
[O.T. Jews] are Called
(“invited to the dinner”)
1. But few (“a limited number”) [O.T. Jews] are chosen (“picked out
by God”)
a. In the context, these are O.T. Jews chosen to attend the
marriage supper.
Concl.:
The marriage of Christ is under the authority, direction and mandate of
God. We live in an age where men tell God what He may or may not do, but
God remains sovereign and demanding in the exactness of how men approach
Him. Though all men/women are invited to the wedding, few there be that
accept the invitation. And so it is the responsibility of the members of
Christ’s churches to press home the gospel message, remembering that it
is God who gives the increase.
I
wonder, do you carrying tracts to hand out or leave in places humans
congregate? Do you add
tracts to your outgoing mail?
Do you speak a word for the Lord as the occasion arises?
Do you support Marion Baptist church’s world-wide missions
program?
God
has given us grace to appear & time to prepare. Have you?
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