Mt 22
Scripture:
The parable of the wedding feast. vs. 1-14
Observation:
[2]“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
Jesus says this story is analogous to getting into heaven.
[3]He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
God the father calls us and invites us to eternity at his side.
[4] ..‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner..
The place is prepared, time to make a move
[5] “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.
People were more concerned with doing their own thing. This is simply not important enough.
[6]The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.
Some even worse than just ignoring the call, persecuting and killing the servants.
7]The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
The king exercised necessary judgement.
[10]So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
The good and bad were called.
[11] “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.[12]He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.
A man showed up but was not prepared.
[13] “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Final judgement from the king.
[14] “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
The invitation was sent, the table was set, but still some refused to come.
Application:
God choses us and invites us to eternity with Him in heaven. For those without faith, or those choosing to ignore His Truth by going about our own business because eternity with the Lord is just not important enough to think about, His grace will be lost.
He has prepared a place for us but we need to take action and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Judgement day will come for all, and God’s righteous judgement will be applied. We are blessed enough to know the end of the story. Eternal damnation far worse than the judgement of the king in the parable, will be set for those who do not follow the Lord and sadly to say, that includes those who show up for the feast but who aren’t really prepared – this could be the unsaved Christian who talks the talk but who has never really given their life to the Lord.
Prayer:
Lord thank You for choosing me. I don’t deserve it and couldn’t earn it. I pray that I glorify You in obedience as I try to do my part in sharing the Gospel. In Jesus holy name I pray. Amen.