Matthew 22:1-14
~16 min read
SERMON OUTLINE
- 💭 Consider this: How did you respond when you first heard the gospel, and how does that initial response compare to your attitude today? Where might busyness, priorities, or comfort be causing you to “make light of” Christ’s call without openly rejecting Him?
- I. The Outright Rejection
- II. The Excuses
- III. The Hostile Ones
- IV. The Church
💭 Consider this: How did you respond when you first heard the gospel, and how does that initial response compare to your attitude today? Where might busyness, priorities, or comfort be causing you to “make light of” Christ’s call without openly rejecting Him?
TRANSCRIPT
Our text for tonight’s message is taken from Matthew 22:1-14. And the title of our message is ‘Parable Of The Wedding Feast’. In the preceding chapter, the Gospel of Matthew recorded the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32) and the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33-41). All these three parables were connected with judgment.
But just because they are similar, we must not dismiss it as yet another parable. Because if we believe that “[all] scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [that] the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17) then it must mean all Scriptures. And that must also include this parable because there are valuable lessons for us to learn.
The Parable of the Two Sons was about hypocrisy. The first son gave the impression that he was righteous, religious, holy, and obedient. But in reality, he was not. The Parable of the Wicked Tenants went beyond hypocrisy and onto wickedness. The progression of wickedness was unbelievable. Initially, they beat up the servants. Then they started to kill. Eventually, they stoned the servants which implies a slow and torturous death. And finally, they killed the only son of the landowner which represents the Lord Jesus Christ.
What about this third parable: the Parable of the Wedding Feast? The focus of this parable was about the different responses to the king’s invitation to attend his son’s wedding feast. Let us look at the different responses.
I. The Outright Rejection
Firstly, the outright rejection. Look at verse 1 of Matthew 22, “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding, and they would not come”.
Basically, this parable is quite easy to understand. The king is God sitting on His throne. The son is Jesus Christ. The wedding is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb where the believers would feast in the Kingdom of God. It is a reference to salvation. The servants are the prophets and preachers of the Gospel. Those who were invited were the Jews. And those who eventually came to the feast were the Gentiles.
Remember, John 1:11-12 says, "Jesus came unto His own, the Jews, and His own received Him not, but as many as received Him, the Gentiles, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even unto them that believe on His name".
Note in verse 3, they were already invited to the wedding feast. They received the invitation, accepted it, did not reject it, and it was presumed that they would be coming. So, the king was simply sending his servants to remind them when the actual time came. But they refused to come.
Throughout the Old Testament, you will notice that the Jews did not outrightly reject God. They appeared to accept Him. They appeared to believe in Him. But when the actual time came for them to receive the Messiah, they did not believe in Him.
Their rejection of the servants was not a rejection of the servants per se. It was a rejection of the one who sent those servants to beckon them to come. Just like those people who reject the preacher who faithfully declares the Word of God, they are not actually rejecting the preacher per se. They are rejecting the One who sent the preacher.
James Monger Manry, the late Presbyterian minister, once said, 'When I stand up to teach the Bible, if I do it rightly and faithfully, it is not my word you are hearing. It is the Word of God. And the voice you hear in your heart is the voice of Christ. So, if you do not like what I am saying, do not get angry with me. I’m only the postman. My job is just to deliver the letters. And when you respond, do not think that you are responding to me. You are responding to Jesus who is calling you through the preaching'.
Notice I use the phrase faithfully declares the Word of God because there will be preachers who are not faithful to the Scriptures. They will twist the Word. They will compromise the Truth. They are men-pleasers, not God-pleasers. Such preachers, we must reject.
The only way we are able to discern such preachers is when you and I are grounded in the Scriptures. And the only way we can do that is to "[study] to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
II. The Excuses
Our second point is the excuses. God is so gracious. He first issued the invitation. Then He reminded them by sending His servants. And when they refused to come, verse four says, “Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen, and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come [onto] the marriage.”
Verse 5, “But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.” Whenever the Gospel or the Word of God is preached, the responses can be so different, so diverse, so manifold. Some of the responses are outright rejection. “Don’t tell me the gospel. I don’t want to hear it.” Some responses may be gentle, polite, or even diplomatic. They do not want to offend you, so they give excuses. Matthew did not elaborate on the excuses. He simply said one went to his farm, another went to his merchandise or business.
But if we read the other Gospel in Luke 14:18, we get a better idea of the different kinds of excuses. One says he has just bought a piece of land and he has to go and see it. Another has just bought five yoke of oxen. Yet another has just got married and he could not attend the wedding. They were all giving excuses.
But Matthew emphasised the attitude of the heart when he said in verse five, “They made light of it.” In other words, they were careless with the gospel invitation. They paid no attention to it. Each time we share the gospel, we are issuing an invitation. And is it not true that people will give all kinds of excuses to reject the invitation?
Sometimes, the moment we say to someone, ‘Can I share with you the Gospel’? The response is, ‘Oh, I’m not free at this moment. I need to fetch my children from school. I need to go back home to attend to certain things. I need to work. I need to travel. I will get back to you when I have the time’. What does it tell us? People are just too busy for spiritual things. ‘The Gospel is not as important as my farm. Salvation is not as important as my business, my children, my work, my holidays, etc’.
Charles Spurgeon once shared about a rich businessman who was invited by his Christian friend to a gospel rally. The friend asked, “Well, sir, what is the state of your soul?” The rich man replied, “Soul? I have no time to take care of my soul. I have enough to do just taking care of my business.” But he was not too busy to die, which he did a week later. Sometimes we wish we could tell the people, “Are you too busy to die?” I know it is a little bit rude to say it this way, but isn’t it true? No one is too busy to die.
Dear friend, you may be a believer, but are you too busy for God? Are you too busy reading the newspaper, listening to the news, and surfing the internet that you do not have time to read your Bible? Are you too busy rushing here and there, fetching your children to tuition and piano lessons, that you do not have time to attend the fellowship meetings? Are you too busy working on Sundays to earn double or triple salaries that you are not able to attend the Lord’s Day worship services?
Sadly, there are many professed believers who will spend all their time on things that will eventually pass away. And they are too busy for God and spiritual things. Do you think God does not know all these excuses? He knows.
III. The Hostile Ones
So, the first group of people outrightly rejected the invitation. The second group gave excuses that they could not attend the wedding. Let us look at the third group of people. We call them the hostile ones. Verse 6, "And the remnant took His servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them". These were the people who would reject the gospel in the most hostile and violent way.
Just before Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was killed, he said in Acts 7:52, “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". In other words, Stephen said to the Jews, “Your forefathers had persecuted all those prophets of old. They had killed those prophets who proclaimed the coming of the Messiah. And today you are the ones who have murdered the Messiah.”
Just take a moment and think about all those missionaries who brought the gospel to the foreign lands, and they lost their lives. What have they done to deserve death? Preaching the gospel, which is the good news, sending the invitation. Can you imagine that? Sometimes we just cannot understand. If they don't want to receive the invitation, why must they kill the missionaries? Why must they kill the prophets, the pastors, the preachers?
Recently, we heard in the news that thousands and thousands of Christians were killed in Nigeria. Can you see the wickedness in the heart of unregenerate men? They took His servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
In the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, remember ultimately they killed his only son. The son represented the father, the king, which means they actually despised and hated the king so much that they wanted to kill Him. What do you think the king would do?
Verse 7-8, “But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy”. Verse 9-10, “Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So, those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests".
Now take note of the phrase in verse 8, “They which were bidden were not worthy.” Who was the king referring to? To those who responded with outright rejection, to those who responded with excuses, and to those who responded with hostility and violence. They were all not worthy. So, whether they are gentle, polite, or even diplomatic in giving their excuses, or they are hostile, they are all the same. It is still rejection. Once they have rejected the Gospel invitation, they are all the same. They are not worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Once they are not worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, they will be sent to eternal hell.
Perhaps you have been sharing the gospel with your unbelieving parents or grandparents, and they have rejected the gospel, though very politely. Please do not think, “Well, at least Grandpa was not angry. He was not hostile. He was very gentle and polite in his rejection.” But it is still rejection. And any rejection is not worthy of the kingdom of heaven.
There’s a limit to God’s patience. There will come a time when God will say, ‘Enough is enough. You have rejected the gospel invitation again and again and again, until a point of no return. You are not worthy. Now you are going to face My judgment for all your sins’. It will be too late.
Is it possible that God will be disappointed and no one will be saved? Can Jesus die in vain? Can Jesus be risen in vain? If Jesus died and no one received salvation through His completed work, what would happen? Satan will be victorious. That kind of outcome is impossible. Jesus Himself said, “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
You see, God’s plan and purpose will never be frustrated. It will never change. What will change is the people who are invited. If the Jews did not want to come despite the gracious invitation of God time and again, His invitation would be changed. It would be extended to those who were once not His people, those who did not expect to be invited—the Gentiles, those in the highways and byways.
It is a reference to the church, to you and me. If we are true believers, notice Matthew used the phrase both bad and good. In our modern-day language, perhaps we will say the good law-abiding citizens and the bad criminals in prison—they are all invited.
You see, morality is not the issue. God is not seeking for moral people. He is seeking for anyone who will come to Him in repentance and in faith. Some people may say, “But these are not important people. They are not the wise, the strong, the mighty. They are the weak, the rejected, the despised. Will God not be dishonoured if He invites this kind of guest?”
Do you realise that when God calls such people of low estate and transforms their lives, and they glorify Him, can you see how highly honoured God would be? When those religious leaders who expected to enter God’s kingdom—let us say they enter into His kingdom—what do you think will be their attitudes? They will be proud, right? When those people who did not expect to be invited enter into His kingdom, what do you think will be their attitudes? They will be so grateful, and that gratefulness will cause them to live their lives for His glory.
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God [have] chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.”
Dear friend, the only attitude we should have towards God is this attitude—that we are most undeserving. But yet God has invited us. He has called us.
When you have a pastor or a preacher who thinks he deserves to be in a ministry just because he is knowledgeable and equipped, or a brother who thinks he deserves to be a leader just because he is senior, or a sister who thinks she deserves to serve in a particular fellowship just because she is capable, when we have such people serving in the church, we are in deep trouble. Because they have the attitude of those religious leaders who think they are deserving.
But when we have people who understand that they are most undeserving—who are we? We are nobody. We are unworthy. But God is gracious—then we will be so grateful and thankful to live our lives for one reason and one purpose only: to glorify the One who has invited us in spite of us.
Someone once said, in life there are many surprises, which is true. When I look back at the church and the ministry, truly there are many surprises. I have encountered some people who have amazing abilities to comprehend many things—difficult things. And I thought to myself, they would surely come to understand and believe the gospel, but they did not.
There are some people who have a good knowledge of the Bible and are able to articulate biblical truth in ways few people are capable of. And I thought to myself, they would surely serve God in great capacities. But they did not. Strangely, the people whom God chose to believe in Him, the people whom He chose to serve Him, are people whom we least expected. Do you realise that?
Like the religious leaders who expected to be saved and enter into God’s kingdom, but they did not. Yet the Gentiles who did not expect to be saved—how much more to serve—and they did. What about you, my friend? What kind of attitude do you have? An attitude that you deserve what you have or what you should have, or an attitude that you are totally undeserving of what you have and it is all because of God’s grace?
IV. The Church
So, there are four responses. The first group outrightly rejected. The second group gave excuses. The third group was hostile. The fourth group did not expect to be invited and they came. Now, it is interesting that Matthew included this last section about someone who tried to enter into the banquet and was rejected.
Look at verse 11-12, “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless". Verse 13, “Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth". This is a reference to hell. Finally, verse 14, “For many are called, but few are chosen”.
Just a short note. There are two kinds of calls: a general call and an effectual call. Whenever the Gospel is preached—come and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved—that is a general call to salvation. An effectual call is one in which the Holy Spirit will convict the heart and supernaturally cause the person to turn to the Lord Jesus for salvation. That is an effectual call. It is a call that saves. The call in verse 14 is a general call. Many would hear the Gospel, but few are chosen, because only the chosen—the elect—would experience the effectual call.
What is this wedding garment? This is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is the righteousness that God provides to all who repent of their sins and trust in His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for their salvation. So, when God sees us, He sees us clothed with the righteousness of Christ and washed by His precious blood.
Isaiah 61:10 says, “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”.
It is interesting that when the king questioned him about not having a wedding garment, he was speechless, he did not know what to say. Have you ever tried to share the Gospel by asking the people, 'Suppose you were to die tonight and appear before God, and God were to ask you, What right do you have to enter into My heaven? What would you say'?
There are three possible responses.
Firstly, the person may say, “I’ve done the best I can. I’ve not done anything particularly bad.” This is an appeal to the person’s moral record—look at my moral record. When you hear such a response, you can reply by telling the person what the Bible says about our moral record: that we have all fallen short of the glory of God; there is none righteous, no, not one; and the wages of sin is death.
Secondly, the person may reply, “I have nothing to say.” He will be just like the man in verse 12. He was speechless. In life, we may get away with many things. But come judgment day though, when we stand before the Almighty God, “What right do you have to come into My heaven?” we will be speechless.
The only right response is: 'As far as my righteousness is concerned, I have none. But Jesus died for my sins, and He has given to me the covering of His righteousness, in which alone I can stand before God. I have heard the Gospel invitation. I have repented of my sins. I have responded in faith, and I have come clothed with His righteousness'.
Will God reject a person who comes to Him in this way? Most certainly not. Because this is the only way you and I can come to Him. Not the one who outrightly rejected, or the one who gave excuses, or the one who was hostile, or the one who came with his own self-righteousness. But the one who came by faith, clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, indeed, who are we? We are nobody. We are unworthy. What right do we have to come before Thee and to enter into Thy kingdom? It is only through Thy only begotten Son. And therefore, we do not want to be like those who outrightly have rejected the Gospel, or those who always give excuses, or those who are hostile—God forbid—or those who come trusting in their own self-righteousness. But we come by faith, clothed with the righteousness of Thy only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So, through this parable, Thou has taught us the different responses to the Gospel message. And this is also whenever we preach and share the Gospel, people will respond so differently, so diversely. And we understand because Thou has taught us, there will be many who are outrightly reject, many who will give excuses, many who are hostile, many who are self-righteous.
But the only ones who are truly saved are the ones who come by faith, trusting in no one but in Thy only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And such a one will be clothed with His righteousness. So, when we stand before Thee, Thou will see us clothed with the righteousness of Thy Son, washed thoroughly through His precious blood. This is the only way. We give Thee thanks, and we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
THE BOOK OF MATTHEWAcknowledging God's PresenceAcknowledging God's PresenceMatthew 1:23
Where is He that is Born King of the Jews?Where is He that is Born King of the Jews?Matthew 2:1-12
30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Services - Message: Thirty Significant Years30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Services - Message: Thirty Significant YearsMatthew 3:15
Simply Speak The TruthSimply Speak The TruthJames 5:12; Matthew 5:33-37
Love Your EnemyLove Your EnemyMatthew 5:43-48
Do Not Blow Your Trumpet In CharityDo Not Blow Your Trumpet In CharityMatthew 6:1-4
Message 2: The Preface of the Lord’s PrayerMessage 2: The Preface of the Lord’s PrayerMatthew 6:5-8
The Lord’s Prayer (Part 1): The PrefaceThe Lord’s Prayer (Part 1): The PrefaceMatthew 6:9a-9b
The Lord’s Prayer (Part 2): The First Three PetitionsThe Lord’s Prayer (Part 2): The First Three PetitionsMatthew 6:9c-10
Hallowed Be Thy NameHallowed Be Thy NameMatthew 6:9-23
Message 3: The Pattern from the Lord’s PrayerMessage 3: The Pattern from the Lord’s PrayerLuke 11:2-4, Matthew 6:9-13
Give Us This Day Our Daily BreadGive Us This Day Our Daily BreadExodus 37:10-16; Matthew 6:11
The Folly Of Worry And AnxietyThe Folly Of Worry And AnxietyMatthew 6:25-34
Christian ParentingChristian ParentingPsalm 127:3-5; Matthew 10:37; Matthew 6:32; Psalm 113:9; Psalm 128:3
Should We Judge Or Not?Should We Judge Or Not?Matthew 7:1-6
Our New Year’s ResolutionOur New Year’s ResolutionMatthew 7:7-12
The Folly Of A False ProfessionThe Folly Of A False ProfessionMatthew 7:21-23
Labourers for the HarvestLabourers for the HarvestMatthew 9:35-38
Christian ParentingChristian ParentingPsalm 127:3-5; Matthew 10:37; Matthew 6:32; Psalm 113:9; Psalm 128:3
Message 1: The Parable of the SoilMessage 1: The Parable of the SoilMatthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Christ Will Build His ChurchChrist Will Build His ChurchMatthew 16:18-19
Seminar: The Role of the Sunday School Teacher (Part 1 of 2)Seminar: The Role of the Sunday School Teacher (Part 1 of 2)Matthew 18:1-6
The Forgiven Is ForgivingThe Forgiven Is ForgivingMatthew 18:21-35
Message 6: The Parable of the LabourersMessage 6: The Parable of the LabourersMatthew 20:1-16
The Triumphant EntryThe Triumphant EntryMatthew 21:1-11
God Sent His SonGod Sent His SonMatthew 21:33-46
Parable Of The Wedding FeastParable Of The Wedding FeastMatthew 22:1-14
Dual Citizenship?Dual Citizenship?Matthew 22:15-22
Am I Ready For Christ's Second Coming?Am I Ready For Christ's Second Coming?Matthew 25:1-13
Can I Know I am Ready?Can I Know I am Ready?Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the TalentsThe Parable of the TalentsMatthew 25:14-30
Message 7: The Parable of the TalentsMessage 7: The Parable of the TalentsMatthew 25:14-30
Rise, Let Us Be GoingRise, Let Us Be GoingMatthew 26:36-46
What is So Miraculous About the Death of Christ?What is So Miraculous About the Death of Christ?Matthew 27:45-54
The Death of ChristThe Death of ChristMatthew 27:50-56
He Is Not Here, He Is Risen!He Is Not Here, He Is Risen!Matthew 28:1-7
Go and TellGo and TellMatthew 28:18-20
