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MATTHEW 22a
THE PARABLE OF THE ROYAL WEDDING
Intro: Chuck Smith entitles this chapter as “The gathering Storm.” The enemies of Christ are at this writing plotting, planning and preparing the end of His ministry.
The Chief Priests, the Elders, The Pharisees, and the Sadducees have seen the transformation in the lives of the Tax Collectors, the prostitutes, and the sinners who have changed their ways, repented, and are now living for Jesus! The religious leaders are choosing NOT to admire Jesus, but to fear Him and His followers.
They have been getting rich selling the religious “stuff” to the people… Jesus called them out on it. Jesus disrupted their religious industry and encouraged prayerful ministry in its place.
The response of the Jewish leadership was to plot how to kill Him.
By way of review… Matthew 21 was a busy and full chapter… David Guzik outlined like this:
Matthew 21 Summary –
THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ LAST WEEK
A. The triumphal entry.
1. (Mat_21:1-6) The borrowed foal
2. (Mat_21:7-11) Jesus receives and encourages adoration as the Messiah.
a. Hosanna to the Son of David!
B. Jesus cleanses the temple.
1. (Mat_21:12-13) Jesus forcibly stops the commercial desecration of the temple. (Turning over of the tables)
2. (Mat_21:14) In contrast to His work of tearing away evil, Jesus carries on God’s compassionate work in the temple.
3. (Mat_21:15-17) The indignation of the Jewish leaders.
C. The lesson of the fig tree.
1. (Mat_21:18-19) Jesus rebukes a fig tree.
2. (Mat_21:20-22) How did Jesus do this?
Jesus explains that this miracle was really the result of a prayer made in faith, and He encouraged His marveling disciples to also have this kind of faith, trusting that God will hear them also.
D. Jesus answers the Jewish leaders.
1. (Mat_21:23-27) Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders as He comes back into the temple.
2. (Mat_21:28-32) The parable of the two sons.
3. (Mat_21:33-41) The parable of the wicked servants.
4. (Mat_21:42-46) Jesus warns them of the result of their rejecting Him.
CHAPTER 22
Matthew 22:1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
· Wiersbe points out that in chapter 21, the Jews rejected the Father – The Parable of the owner of the vineyard… THEN, they rejected the Son whom the Father had sent… In this parable in Chapter 22 – They reject the Holy Spirit – The One sent to “Call” us to repentance.
· In Acts 2 - The Holy Spirit falls upon and fills a room full of Jewish preachers… Instead of Israel becoming the missionaries to the world – The Jews persecute their own Spirit Filled Apostles, rejecting the ministry of the Holy Spirit… And… The Church is born.
· Jesus continues to warn them against rejecting the Gospel He is bringing…
4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' 5 But they (The Jewish nation) made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, (The Apostles) treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (40 years from this time, Jerusalem was burned)
8 Then he said to his servants, (The Disciples) 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, (Gentiles) invite to the wedding.' 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. (IE, he wasn’t clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ) 12 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
· Twice, The Apostle Paul uses this terminology of “putting on” the righteousness of Christ:
o Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
o Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
o The Jews to this day are working on their salvation by doing good deeds, good works, performing charitable acts, You see bumper stickers that encourage you to perform random acts of kindness…
§ And you should!
§ BUT… NOT to get into heaven.
§ There is only one way in to heaven…. His name is Jesus.
· John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
§ BUT… Of course, Religious Jews mock that truth. They mocked it in Jesus’ day, and they still mock it today.
· They are like the man who tried to go to the wedding without the garment that the Father had provided for all of his invited guests.
o He was being nice by attending the wedding…
o BUT… He refused to honor the groom by putting on the required wedding garment…
o You see… Being nice was not enough! Obeying the Father IS what is required, and the Father sent His Son, His Son died to bring us righteousness, and WE become righteous through the sacrifice of the Son.
· 14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
o We believe that all are called - 1Timothy 2:4 (God) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
o BUT… We also believe that the chosen are those who have accepted the gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
o People who are chosen are those who have had a life changing transformation in their mind and heart.
o Paul described it in Romans 12 :1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
· What does it feel like?
o It feels like you realize how much trouble your soul is in and that you have to take care of this sin problem before it dooms you.
· What does it seem like?
o Like the first time you get reading glasses and everything is clearer…
o It’s like reading the Bible for the first time and understanding that there is a tutor inside of you.
o It’s like watching HD TV for the first time…
o It is like finding your flash light during a midnight loss of power…
o It is like driving out of a 5 kilometer long tunnel…
o It is like a cavern tour when the guide turns off the lights… then turns them back on…
o It is like the Doctor saying, You are free of cancer…
o It is like the walk from the front of the church to the reception hall with your new bride or groom.
o EVERYTHING is different! From now on, you are never the same.
If you haven’t made a decision for Christ that has caused a life changing result… For heaven’s sake – Make one. The groom, Jesus Christ is getting ready to return for His bride, the church… and soon, it will be too late!
OR… YOU COULD RESPOND LIKE THE PHARISEES…
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.
· You CAN argue that the Bible is not true…
o That it is NOT really the word of God…
§ That it has been mis-interpreted by well intentioned men and women who were willing to die rather than recant one single word of what they wrote that they witnessed with their own eyes…
o Maybe you were able to entangle a preacher, or a relative, or a coworker on their talk ABOUT the Bible….
BUT…
You will not be able to entangle the Lord Jesus Christ in HIS talk about you…
HE LOVES YOU!
THE TAX TRAP
16 And they (Pharisees) sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, (The arch enemies of the Pharisees) saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. (IE, You are afraid of no man) 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
If “NO” the Romans will arrest Him. If “Yes” the Jews will hate Him.
· It is amazing whose team you end up on when you oppose the Spirit of God…
o This would be like Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton putting their heads together to take down a common opponent…
§ Who on earth could be so dangerous as to create a conspiracy like that?
§ They thought Jesus was…
· The Pharisees hated being ruled by Rome and resented having to pat Rome’s taxes.
o The Herodians had come to terms with Rome, paid the tax, and were given honored places in the Roman ruled government.
§ They hated each other almost as much as they hated Jesus!
§ So… They come with compliments on their lips…
§ Kind of like the Doobie Brother’s singing that Jesus is just alright with them… He wasn’t, but they like the sound of the song…
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
· The word “Marveled” means to admire
· They admired the way Jesus was able to get out of their trap…
· But, was admiration enough to save them?
· Surrender to Jesus is what He wants…
Perhaps you have been a secret admirer of the Lord Jesus Christ…
It is not enough Friend. Make Him your Lord today!
Smith 28