1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,
2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
4 Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."'
5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,
6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'
10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
12 And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
13 Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
(Matthew 22:1-14)
1. Those who are sent
Believers are called to be laborers v3
planters
harvesters
2. Those who hear
"Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven. Only those who do the will of my father."
Do not fool yourself. Merely "believing" is not true Christ-following.
Nor is merely "doing" Christ-following.
This leaves one conclusion. Those who have believed and then take action of their belief in obedience to God's will ....to seek thise lost and lead, persuade them toward genuine repentance and true Christ followship.
3. Those who are invited again v4
It is often said that He is a God of second chances. To be sure.... God is full of grace and mercy, and is not willing that ANY should perish. It is on us to determine to surrender to Christ, submit to God's will, and follow through with continued obedience. v4
4. Those who rejected v5
Despite many attempts scripture is clear to the evident truth that many wil hear, yet still reject, the freely given invitation to the King's wedding feast.
The wedding is His Son's. the bride is His church. Are YOU part of Christ' church?
5. Those who mistreated v6
Some even become beligerent, even violent, toward grace. This is the work of he who is in the world, the evil one.
6. The consequence v7
God's Kimgdom has a governing, and He is Governer. There are rules, His rules! Oir city's, our very lives and freedoms and liberties are His to give and His to take away. If we refuse the "goodness" of God's grace ......there is only left to be commited to the fate awaiting the rest of a fallen world.
In this God will establish His Kingdom! This t
THE good news.
7. Those called v9 - 10
God's gift of grace is open to all. He will seek those who will be sought. ANYONE is invited to His great feast!
8. Those not worthy v11-12
But.... not all who come are willing to play by the house rules. We want to make our own way ....which, by our sinful nature, is contradictory to His way. God is so graceful. He will overlook our sin nature ...if we are willing to choose His way over our way.
9. The outer darkness v13
I think that sounds like a terrific deal. Grace to eternity with Him, at no cost to me. Still.... many wil not let go of their own will. To outter darkness those are cast. God will not be blackmailed or bartered with.
10. The few chosen v14
Few chosen indeed. But don't blame God. He is not playing Russion Roulette with our lives. It's not a crap-shoot where God says..... She will go, he will not. ALL are invited to "be chosen". But once at the feast, if we are not willing to submit to the King ....we are then deemed unworthy.
"Being part of God's Kimgdom, through Christ, has nothing to do with your self-readiness, but everything to do with your submissive willingness."
Steve Terrell
