In this sermon we are going to take a closer look at the parable dictated by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the book of Matthew. Matthew 22 in verses 1-16 has buried within it fundamental truths and principles that must be unlocked by the Christian Nation as we look toward our Lord’s second coming.
The truth is Church, we are livening in the last days. Destruction is happening all around us in plain sight. There is constant war in the Middle East, terrorist actions and worldwide there is the existence of natural disasters. Other sure signs of Jesus’ imminent return are the fact that people in the world are turning to God, while the people of God seem to be fighting and clambering towards the world and worldly possessions which are temporal.
We as a Church and as individuals (for salvation is a personal thing) need to make our calling an election sure, for when Jesus Christ comes again – He who is righteous let him remain righteous and he who is unjust let him remain unjust. The probation period would have ended and the time of judgment would be upon us.
When one reads Matthew 22:1-14
In reading those verses we see the entire plan of salvation neatly packed into a parable of simply 14 verses. We are reminded that the plan of salvation was conceived a long time ago and it was initiated by a covenant between God and His son Christ Jesus.
Question: What was that covenant?
Answer: Jesus Christ would die on behalf of mankind that all those that believe on Him would not perish but have everlasting life.
In verse three of Matthew 14 we see that the king sent out His servants. The sending out of His servants is symbolic of the prophets that Jehovah God raised up to bring light to those that live in darkness. We know about Moses, Joshua, Elijah & Elishah. These are prophets of the Old Testament, who have represented God in the way they live their lives and have been the shepherd to the sheep.
What was interesting though is that the people who were the natural guest of the wedding (the expected guests), they refused to come. For the bible said “to call them that were bidden”. What this means is that it is not the people, who did not know Christ that refused him, but it was the people who knew Him, they refused Christ. For example, the pharaoh refused to let God’s people go when Moses came to Him. Elijah sought to bring conviction to Ahab and those that worshipped baal. It was the people’s choice to live and be of the world, rather than to live their lives in preparation for the Marriage. (The marriage is symbolic of eternal salvation).
But God is a persistent God, He is the true embodiment of Love. He does not give up on His creations even when we give up on Him from time to time; what a wonderful God. And we see His fatherly love explicitly as the King (God) again sends out servants telling those who are invited (those who have known about Christ) that things are ready. The dinner has been prepared, the oxen and cattle have been fatted and killed. All these are symbolic of the work that had been carried out by Christ and His disciples. Christ had been preaching and admonishing all to watch and pray for their redemption is nigh.
But they refused him and went their own way to deal with matters of the world rather than accept a life prepared for them by their Lord and Savior. And there were those that slew the servants of the King. (Verses 5 & 6)
This resulted in destruction and wrath being sent from the King Himself. For the death of His servants was His to avenge.
Verse 7 foretells of the destruction of Jerusalem which took place forty years after the crucifixion of Christ. Jerusalem was besieged at the time of the Passover, when millions of Jews were assembled within its walls. The destruction that took place was unimaginable and appalling. Yet, Christ had prophesied this destruction so it is no surprise.
The Jews were the people who were supposed to be waiting for the coming of their Messiah, yet when He came they welcomed Him not. They expected someone more comely and of high estate. The Jews were the ones who were bidden to the wedding, they were the ones who crucified Christ and tortured His prophets, and ultimately they were the ones who brought destruction and death to themselves.
The fact remains that God had made a covenant with Christ that He should die so save all that should believe on His name. Thus, who shall come to the wedding feast? Looking in verse 10, we see that the King sent His servants into the Highways. This is the admonition that we have been given, that we are to the everlasting gospel throughout the world.
The wedding feast was furnished with both bad and good. (Wheat and tares will grow together, but only for a time.) Now the culmination of this parable is in the last verses. This here is a condensed version of the judgment that we are to be a part of, let us be wary.
Ministers, when casting “the net of the gospel”, enclose both good fish and bad; but the Lord of course knows who are His. The case of hypocrites, who are in the church but are not of it, who have a name to live, but are not alive indeed, is represented by the guest that had not on a wedding garment. His discovery, how he was found out, Matthew 22:11
The king came in to see the guests, to bid those welcome that came prepared, and to turn those out who came otherwise. Note, The God of heaven takes particular notice of those who profess religion, and have a place and name in the visible church. Our Lord Jesus walks among the golden candlesticks and therefore knows their works. Man can deceive man, but they cannot deceive God.
As soon as the king came in, he presently espied the hypocrite; He saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment; though but one, he soon had his eye upon him; there is no hope of being hid in a crowd from the arrests of divine justice; Just as Adam and eve could not hide from God so are we unable to do the same.
The wedding feast was the Gospel therefore the wedding garment must be a frame of mind and heart. Service to God in spirit and in truth, this is what is acceptable to Jehovah. But this man was not naked, or in rags. He had on raiment, but not a wedding garment. His outward appearance was that of righteousness whereas his inside was as filthy rags. Those, and those only, who put on the Lord Jesus, that have a Christ-like mindset, and are adorned with Christian graces, who live by faith in Christ, and to whom he is all in all, have the wedding garment.
After the discovery came the trial.
Verse 12 states, “friend how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?” We see here that God does not chide the servants for letting the man in. (Remember, the servants are like ministers and evangelists). This man was a deceiver, he had on an outward appearance but God knows the heart. So God had ought with the hypocrite and not they that gathered the guests. This man had no right being in the feast, he wanted to partake of the blessings of such a feast yet he did not have on the wedding garment. He did not live Hi life according to that which was required of him. The day is coming soon when all shall be called to give an account of him or herself.
He was convicted:
The man was speechless, the man stood mute upon his arraignment, bein gconvicted and condemned by his own conscience.
His Sentence:
Matthew 22:13 said , Then the king said, Bind Him hand and Foot, and take him away and cast him into outer darkness.
My friends, how many of us will be able to stand in the day of Judgment:
- Upon which ground are you standing upon?
- What is your foundation?
- What manner of garment have you covered your body with?
These are questions for us today, for as each day goes by, we are drawn one day closer to the coming of Christ. How many of us will count this to be a joy, and unfortunately how many of us will count this to be a sorrowful day.
Matthew 8:11, 12 states: “And I say unto you, that many shall come form the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.“
It can be put no other way, your life is not in the pastors hand, and it is not even in Gods hands. God is able and willing to forgive us of our sins and to impart His righteousness upon you. Your life is in your hands. God has already committed Himself to the covenant with Christ to save all that believe on Him. The only job, therefore is to believe. Faith, however requires action and it is this that separates the sheep from the goat.
May God Bless us all as we continue to keep walking on the straight and narrow path, and may we from time to time assess ourselves to ensure that our garments are white, and that our foundation is Christ.
God Bless!