The Wedding Banquet
Matthew 22:1-14
During Lent, we are answering this question– What does it mean to be a disciple?
Matthew 22:1-14
1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: See, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
5 “But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged, and he sent out his troops, killed those murderers, and burned down their city.
8 “Then he told his servants, ‘The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ 10 So those servants went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests. 11 When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Outline of this Parable:
• The king has a banquet for his son (Revelation 19:9)
• Sends out servants (#1)
• Those invited didn't want to come.
• Sends out servants (#2)
• Those invited paid no attention– mistreated and killed the servants.
• The king is enraged and burns down the city.
• Sends out servants (#3)
• Invite everyone- good and evil
• Now the banquet was filled with guests
• Odd guest- "...was not dressed for a wedding."
Theme of Matthew:
God enters through the brokenness–always surprising, always transforming grace of God.
Matthew 22:10 So those servants went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests.
"...gathered everybody they found, both evil and good."
Col 3:8-9
8 But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices
Col 3:12-15
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.
"Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet."
Matthew 22:14
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
