Introduction

I

Imagine you get a formal letter in the mail. You look at it and there’s a big stamp on the envelope that says, “jury summons.” You open up the letter to see and it says where you have to be and when. You also see some major consequences including a fine and some jail time if you don’t show up.

Imagine you make all the right plans to show up. You make sure to get that day off of work and notify them why. But when the day finally comes around, you just don’t go. It’s not about being busy. It’s not about forgetting. It’s about refusing authority.

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And if we’re honest, were not as foreign to that tendency as we would like to think. We often treat rightful authority as optional when it becomes inconvenient.

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Jesus tells a parable about people who respond in exactly the same way.

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Matt. 21:1-14

O

Refusal, Reception , Removal

Refusal

Matthew 22:1–7 ESV

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.

Revelation

Jesus is again speaking to the chief priests and elders of the people in the temple in Jerusalem. He was originally teaching a crowd, but was interrupted by these leaders who wanted to challenge him, as we will see they will continue to do. He speaks in parables to drive the meaning deeper into the hearts of those who hear.

In v. 2, we see two main characters, the king representing God, and the son representing the Messiah, Jesus himself. In v. 3 this king sends servants to call those, notice what they text says, “who were invited to the wedding feast.” So let’s clarify this picture, guests in the story were previously invited to this feast, and now the servants are coming and announcing, “The feast is happening now! Come on!”

And this is emphasized in v. 4, “I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready.” The king is being generous, he is prepared, he has the food ready. Hardly anyone would refuse a king’s request; even more unlikely would someone refuse a king’s request that included a free and generous banquet.

And this is what makes v. 5 so startling. The first few words, “But they paid no attention. . .”

These special guests that the king has selected turn this celebration into sorrow. Because their apathy towards the invitation reveals the apathy they have toward the king. And more than just apathy, but outright rebellion.

And what is the king’s response? He sends his soldiers to burn the city, likely a prophetic reference to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70AD.

Relevance

Imagine you are going to get married. You send out all the invites. You get 200 RSVPs. Then the wedding day comes and no one shows up. You think there must of been a printing error and so you call and text around. But every one who picks up says they just didn’t want to come. What would be your next natural question: “Then why did you even bother to RSVP?”

And I think that’s the question this text leaves us with. All of these guests were invited and accepted the invite, but when the call came that the feast has arrived, they couldn’t be bothered to come.

And it seems as though the arrival of the banquet is the catalyst for all this apathy and rebellion coming to the surface. Everything seems to be going fine. Clearly, they have already accepted the invitation to come to this wedding feast, but when the feast finally arrives it’s as though all the rebellion comes out.

Why is that?

Well, we have to say that the guests who were invited were willing to say yes because it benefitted them. They maintained their status with the king which game them certain benefits. But when it actually came to do something about it, they would rather attend to their own affairs or fight than honor the king and his son.

Their response to the invitation revealed what was in their heart. These guests always had themselves on the throne of their life. They were willing to use the king and what he offered as long as it benefited them in some way. But as soon as it was inconvenient, rebellion was ready to pounce.

And I think this is the most cutting thing for us in the text.

It’s easy for us to go along with the song and the dance. The evangelist tells a moving story and its easy to be overcome with emotion and say yes to the first invitation. A problem arises in your life that seems to big for you to handle and so you pray, you go to church more, it’s easy to say yes to the first invitation.

Think about how many kids have walked the aisle, prayed the prayer and been baptized. Where are they now?

It’s easy to say yes to the first invitation.

But when it actually costs you something. When God finally demands something from you. When God brings you to a place that you have to recognize he is God and we are not. That’s when the apathy comes out. That’s when the rebellion comes out.

And the most frightening thing about it is that God does not let such a people off the hook. God does not throw himself a pity party when his guests fail to arrive and rebel against him. He brings judgement. Not vindictive, not out of spite, but just judgement because God is the king of the universe.

Bridge

But God does not just throw away his feast, he makes sure that there’s someone who will enjoy it.

Reception

Matthew 22:8–10 ESV

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.

Revelation

The king in this parable says that those who were invited are unworthy. Their unwillingness to come revealed their rebellion and showed how unworthy they were. No king wants rebellious subjects to come to a feast to honor his son. That’s not just a feeling a king would have, but anyone.

Because of the original invited guests unworthiness in this matter, he gathers an indiscriminate crowd. “The main roads” and “as many as you can find” in v. 9 were a part of the king’s instruction. The king is going to gather anyone and everyone for this feast. And notice in v. 10 the servants “gathered all whom they found.” Then it says, “Both bad and good.” What does that mean? Within the context of Matthew and the context of this parable, this does not mean that repentance is not required to be saved. This does not mean wicked, unrepentant sinners will find themselves in heaven. But look at what Jesus said earlier about those who responded to John the Baptist in 21:32, “The tax collectors and the prostitutes believed.” So when the servants are gathering the “good and the bad” this is based on reputation, those who appear to be good in front of others, and those who are notorious sinners such as tax collectors and prostitutes.

We know theologically, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). All are invited to the feast, but even among these new guests, there may be some who are unworthy as we will see in the next portion.

But what is the point of this section? Look at the end of v. 10, “So the wedding hall was filled with guests.”

At the end of the matter, the king gets what he wants. He has guests who honor his son, guests who want to be there to enjoy the feast.

The problem with the old covenant was that God’s law was written on stone. It could be learned, and people could attempt to follow it, but it did not have the power to change people’s heart. Under the New covenant, God’s law is written on the heart.

Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, because of the Holy Spirit’s power, when the gospel goes out, people’s hearts can actually change. Like in Ezekiel’s vision, dry bones can become alive again.

Relevance

What does that mean? That means there’s hope for every single one of us.

There is an invitation for you. And invitation to trust in Christ and be apart of the marriage supper of the lamb. There is an invitation for you to this wedding feast in heaven, to be with God, to be a part of his people. There is an invitation to turn from your sin and trust in him. There is an invitation bought with the blood of Christ. We could never live a life that would please God on our own, we could never live a life that could make up for our sins. Jesus lived that life for you. He never once sinned. The invitation is open, do you trust in him? We could never bear the punishment for our sin, eternal separation from God under constant torment. Jesus bore that punishment for you when he suffered on the cross. The invitation is open, do you trust in him?

Our invitation to the king’s feast is not based on pedigree, status, or performance. It’s not based on our record. It’s not based on how many laws you kept. It’s not based on how many times you sinned or not sinned. It’s not based on how long you’ve heard of Jesus or how many times. It’s not based on how many times you’ve been to church. It’s not based on if you walked the aisle or talked to the preacher. It’s not based on how well you have you life together or how you feel like your life is falling apart.

Do you hear this text? Do you feel this text? Listen again, “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.”

Can you hear my voice? This invitation to trust in Jesus, to trust in what he did for you, to turn from your sins, to acknowledge Christ as Lord, this invitation is for you.

Bridge

But we are left with a sober warning. That even some who appear to accept this invitation, truly haven’t. Look at v. 11

Removal

Matthew 22:11–14 ESV

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.”

Revelation

In the time that Jesus was telling this story it would have been a major issue to not show up to a wedding or funeral in proper attire. Our society has grown a little more casual in how we approach funerals and weddings. But even in our own society for the longest time there were certain things we would be expected to wear when in mourning.

For a funeral in Jesus’s time, it would be expected to wear simple black clothing. And it would be the same for a wedding except it would be white.

Notice some of the details in the story. The king looks at the guests, immediately notices the person standing out without the proper attire, then questions him. His question presumes innocence as he says, “Friend” The question “How did you get in here without. . .” assumes that the king has servants at the entrance ensuring everyone had a wedding garment coming in the room. But the guest without the proper attire was speechless.

So what does the wedding garment represent in this parable that Jesus is telling?

In the simplest way:

MatthewExegesis

the wedding garments portray giving proper honor to the king and his son

John who wrote Revelation associated white wedding garments with the righteous deeds of the saints (Rev. 19:8)

MatthewExegesis

Thus, the soiled everyday garments of the man represented evil behavior and speech, which demonstrated that he had not truly repented and did not belong to the kingdom (7:17–18; 12:34–35). He did not honor the king (God) nor his son (Jesus)

This man was a wedding crasher. He thought he could enjoy the celebration, eat the finest of feasts for free, drink as much as he wanted, and just have a good time without actually respecting the king and his son.

But his punishment points to the eternal punishment endured by all those who are not “the chosen.” It’s more that just being cast out of the wedding feast, it’s being bound and thrown into the outer darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This invitation goes to all without discrimination, but it does not mean there are no expectations.

Jesus says, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” The words “called” and “chosen” sound similar in the original language, and I think the word choice both starting with “C” is supposed to help us. But the word “called” is the word “invited” used throughout.

Many are invited. The invitation went to everyone. It went to these original guests who refused, then it went to anyone who would listen.

But few are the chosen. What does this mean?

Remember that Jesus is telling this story to the chief priests, the elders of the people, the Pharisees.

They would be the first to confess, “We are the chosen people.”

Consider this Scripture:

Deuteronomy 7:6–7 “6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,” Deuteronomy 7:8 “8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

The representatives of the people in Jerusalem would have quickly said, “We are God’s chosen people!”

But Jesus in front of everyone is saying, “No, you are not chosen, you were invited but refused the invitation.

So what does it mean to be the chosen? The same thing it has always meant in all of Scripture. Here’s how one commentator put it:

MatthewExegesis

that kingdom entrance requires repentance (3:1; 4:17), faith in Jesus as Lord, commitment to do the Father’s will as expressed in the teachings of Jesus (7:21), and the character and behavior that displays this repentance, faith, and devotion

A life reflecting repentance, faith, and devotion. That is the chosen people.

Relevance

So what is the call of this text? I believe the call is clear: check your garments.

Search your hearts

Are you invited? Many are invited. But that’s not enough.

The question is are you the chosen?

Do you have a life, not perfect, but one marked by, in your deepest self, marked by repentance, faith, and devotion?

Or, do you carry around an invitation and hope to get into heaven just to enjoy eternal bliss. If you are hoping in the invitation, let me tell you, friend, that your garments are soiled. The chosen don’t hope in the invitation, they hope in the king.

Bridge

Application

Summary

So we looked at this one parable in three ways. We saw the original guests apathy and rebellion when the feast came. We saw the new guests who were invited from any and everywhere. Then we saw the guest who was expelled for failing to honor the king and his son. Jesus concluded this parable, and really all three parables with that saying, “Many care called, but few are chosen.”

Here’s what God has always wanted, “I will be your God, you will be my people, and I will dwell in your midst.”

Tell

We’ve all heard the invitation to be God’s people. And if your not clear here it is again, repent, turn from your wicked ways, turn from trying to rule over your own life and instead, trust in Christ. He lived a life that was worthy before God. He died a cruel death that we deserved. He invites us to trust in him. We believe in him and receive his righteousness as a free gift. We believe in him and he takes away the punishment of hell we deserve.

This is the invitation, repent of sin and believe in Jesus.

Now, the question is, what will you do with that invitation?

Show

There were three main responses to the invitation in this parable.

One group said yes, but then didn’t bother to go.

One man showed up, but was still saying no in his heart

The rest at the banquet were there, honoring the king and his son.

Which are you?

Have you outright rejected the invitation?

Have you believed you said yes, but you still are not trusting in Christ and just expecting the banquet?

Or do you have your proper attire and you are waiting for that day that Christ will return?

Image (Gospel)

Where do you get this attire?

The difference between the invited and the chosen is not effort— it’s whether you have been clothed by the King.

You don’t bring your own garment. You don’t clean yourself up.

Christ is the garment. His righteousness. His obedience. His perfection.

And those who truly receive Him—are changed by Him.

Challenge

So if you are not saved, not truly a believer, the call is to accept the invitation. Turn from your sin, place your trust in him.

If you are a Christian, wake up every morning choosing repentance, faith, and devotion. Live as if you are chosen.