You’re Invited
Everyone needs the message of the gospel of the good news of Jesus the Christ, the son of the living God. In Matthew 22, Jesus confronted the Pharisees and told them a parable about a wedding feast. The Pharisee’s were the religious leaders who did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. In the previous chapter Jesus had said that he was the chief cornerstone which the builders had rejected. The Pharisee’s perceived that he was talking about them when he said that they would break themselves by opposing the cornerstone. A parable is an earthly story that illustrates a spiritual truth.
In Matthew 22:2-14 Jesus said: 2. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4. 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 unto the marriage. 5. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:”“And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10. 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. 11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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. 14. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The people of this culture were familiar with wedding feasts. The wedding celebration of a prince could last as long as a week. According to verse 3, the king invited many to come to the wedding feast of his son. However those who were invited were unwilling to come. God originally called his people, the children of Israel to hear the word of God and God’s message of salvation. In verse 4, he sent his servants to tell those who were invited. However, some of them seized the king’s slaves, arrested them, and killed them.
Today’s culture has evolved from a nation that considered itself one nation under God to a culture where many Americans think that quoting scripture is an example of “hate speech.” Many in today’s culture believe that eternal life is on their own terms instead of God’s terms. They reject the truth of the Word of God that salvation is by grace alone thought faith alone in Christ alone.
Ezekiel 33:11 says that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. However, God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. The context of John 3:16 says that Even though the son came into the world to show them the light of the truth, they who loved evil hated the light because they preferred the darkness rather than the light.
A diagnostic question for husbands and wives is, “if I could change anything about myself that would meet your needs, what would it be?” One guy said, I hate to ask my wife that question because she’ll tell me things that she’s already told me to change.
Repentance is the first requirement to salvation. Repentance means to change my mind… It means to turn from my own way and unto the Lord Jesus Christ. The world calls evil good and good evil. Turning to the Lord is the meaning of repentance. Lord means owner. I’m no longer my own Lord, he is. Christianity is not who we are but whose we are.
To approach our Heavenly Father, we must be clothed in the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our righteousness and our redemption. He is the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be the righteousness of God in him. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. We’re forgiven not because of who we are but because of who God made us through his son Jesus Christ when we were born again of God’s spirit.
The Pharisees and devout Jews were called to the king’s son’s wedding. However, they rejected the invitation. The Gentiles were the ones in the highways and byways that were called to the wedding feast when the Jews rejected the king’s invitation.
Jesus said, whosoever will may come. The bible says that all scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Those whom God has called are eager to forsake their own way and turn to God’s way when they hear the truth of the Word of God. Godly correction means to return to an upright position.
God is faithful to his Word. Philippians 2 says that even though we were saved by grace, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…with awe, respect, and reverence for God. Our responsibility is our response to his ability. Our ability is the Holy Spirit…Christ in us the hope of glory that we received when we were born again. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, when we make his delight our delight and his will our will, then according to Philippians 2:13, it is God who works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. His good pleasure is that we should be without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom we shine as lights in a world of darkness holding forth the word of life.
God asks, “despite the troubles of this world, will you praise me anyway?” If the gospel is everything, then our assurance is that he works all things for his own good and for our own good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Our purpose is to share the gospel of Christ and to use words where necessary. We are the only bible some people will ever read. He has called us as his living epistles, his love letters known and read of all men.
Jesus said, whosoever will may come. Our Heavenly Father has given us an engraved invitation. How we RSVP to his invitation will determine our eternal destiny.
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael