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MOTIVATE

The commanding officer was furious. 100 midshipmen had just finished plebe summer and were permitted weekend liberty. They were all ordered to return Sunday evening and be ready for Monday 6am roll call. Yet, it was after 7am and the midshipmen were missing except one.

The Commander faced the young man and asked why he was late. “I’m sorry, sir. I was at the bus station and the bus broke down. Determined to return on time, I called a cab, but the cab driver got into an accident. I went to a farmhouse and persuaded the farmer to borrow their horse. I was riding back to the Yard, but the horse fell over dead. I walked the last 10 miles and just arrived.”

The Commander was skeptical but allowed the solo midshipmen to get off with a heavy reprimand.
In 10-minute increments, 98 other midshipmen returned with a similar story: bus broke down,
cab driver accident, horse died, walked 10 miles… The Commander moved from skeptical to irritation to anger and rage with each midshipmen.

Upon the 100^th midshipmen, the Commander asked, “Why were you late?” The story goes: “My bus broke down, so I hired a cab…” And the Commander immediately stopped the young man, saying,
“Let me guess. Your cab broke down.” The midshipmen replied, “No sir. The cab did not break down. But my cab driver kept being re-routed because there were so many dead horses on each detour.”

We can judge a person’s character by examining their choices and their excuses. People are free to make any choice, but they are not free from the consequences of those choices. And once faced with their circumstances, how they respond reflects their character.

Today’s text is about an invitation that goes forth far and wide to many people. When you receive an invitation, you can accept or decline, with the latter usually having some excuse. Let’s look at Matthew 22 for why we should eliminate our excuses for ever declining Jesus’ invitation to follow Him.

EXAMINE: Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus Invites (Resurrection Sunday)

¹ And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

We’ve been studying Matthew’s Gospel, which is a first-hand eyewitness account on the life of Jesus. One of the features of Jesus’ public ministry is that He taught not just with sermons but stories. His stories were parables, which was a word that means to cast something alongside – like a story that relates to something else. But further, stories are powerful.

• Romeo & Juliet
• Cinderella
• A Christmas Carol
• Chronicles of Narnia
• Lord of The Rings
• Harry Potter

And not just popular stories but personal stories. It is meaningful to hear how God has changed one’s life from addiction to overcoming grace, from hostile to gentle, from broken to hopeful. Jesus is not only a master story-teller but the marvelous story-maker.

Jesus is not only a master story-teller but the marvelous story-maker.

² “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to

Most of Jesus’ parables relate to the kingdom of heaven. This phrase extends beyond a future home to the present life with God as king, provider, and healer.  

² “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,

Comparing the kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast is ordinary and distinctive. It’s ordinary for almost anyone can relate – you’re either married or know someone who is married. Yet, it’s distinctive because it shows that faith in God is not an abstract religion but a tangible relationship. Specifically, the king is God the Father with the wedding feast for Jesus and the church as His bride.[1]

³ and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

The king sent servants to invite others to the wedding feast. Isn’t this marvelous? Usually, the royal wedding guest list is reserved for prominent individuals. In this case, it seems the king is generous to invite broadly.

Yet, we observe the decline of the invitation. We are not informed of the excuses.

• Busy with alternate priorities.
• Don’t know who else is going.
• Flossing turtle’s teeth… AKA don’t want to go!
• We don’t know the excuses. They just decline.

It’s not obvious, but the context of the parable is that this represents the OT prophets.^[2] Israel had numerous prophets with invitations to repentance, reconciled relationship and renewed faith, but they went their own way. Jesus’ language in the parable is in a verb tense emphasizing God’s recurring invitations with Israel’s repetitive unresponsiveness.

Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it. How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not. See, your house is left desolate.” (Mt 23:37-38)

Personally, this is both heartening and heartbreaking. The encouraging aspect is that we can identify with Israel in the Bible. We mess up just like they did, and God continues to extend invitations. Our readings of the OT are meant to learn from Israel’s letdowns to mature and overcome from their failures (1 Cor 10:6). So, while it’s heartening it’s also heartbreaking because we fall into similar doubts, disobedience, and depravity, and we are undeserving of the ongoing mercy and grace offered to us through Jesus Christ.

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.

The parable continues with increased servants and enticing invitations. This offer persuades with the dinner menu: meat! Jesus wasn’t trying to persuade anyone with quinoa, kale, or tofu. – – I mean, if these are your preference, it’s likely your sin nature that you’ll one day be redeemed from – –  So, the bbq had roasted and brisket was smoked, and all of it was ready to eat.

– – – Some wedding receptions take forever.
The couple has 654 pictures still to take. The dj has a dozen announcements to make. The wedding planner designed it so only water can be served, and each table is going by numbers with your table #89.

But still the people decline the king’s invitation. This time we observe some excuses. Some paid no attention. They were close-minded to royal decrees, indifferent to the king’s voice, and lukewarm to kingdom priorities. Others were laboring for their own kingdom farms and businesses. And still others were so audacious and abhorrent that they mistreated and murdered the king’s servants.

These royal servants are the Apostles, who dedicated their life and legacy to calling people to enter God’s kingdom. Yet, all of them were persecuted and martyred.

⁷ The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

We misunderstand the king’s anger. Eastern culture would have first experienced shame from the decline of invitation. Shame culture receives its affirmation from the community. In this instance, the king’s repeated invitations reflected abundant generosity to his own humiliation. Yet, after continued rejection the king would have been unthinkably mortified and wrath set in.

We also know that in 70AD, Rome sent soldiers into Jerusalem, and they ransacked the city, raided the temple, burned homes, and murdered citizens. Jesus predicted this saying about the temple, “Truly I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (Mt 24:2)

Undoubtedly, this was a deserving discipline upon a nation that had crucified its Messiah and God’s messengers.

This is a reminder to us that every invitation has a deadline. God has exercised sovereign discipline that has inspired individuals and moved nations to discern spiritual realities. God can collapse an economy, capsize leadership, and even crush a nation if it reached its limit of evil and denial of God.  

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.

The king’s desire for a full guest list to bring glory and honor to the Son’s wedding is remarkable. He commands servants to go out beyond the highways to the side streets, dirt roads, and the dark alleys and invite everyone they could find and anyone willing to come.^[3]

We believe this represents the fullness of God’s kingdom with people from every tribe, all known and unknown languages, each of the 7 continents and
24 time zones, in over 193 nations surrounding the beautiful and beckoning throne of Jesus Christ.

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.’

Finally, the wedding feast was full. The king makes an appearance to set eyes on all in attendance. But apparently one of the guests was without their wedding garment. Scholars are not entirely certain what this means but it is believed that ancient royal tradition was for the king to provide his guests with royal attire.^[4]   

• Isa 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.”
• Ezekiel 16:8-12, 14 “When I passed by you, you were at an age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into covenant with you, declares the LORD God, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and jewelry on your neck. I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head… And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through splendor that I had bestowed upon you, declares the LORD God.”

In that same Ezekiel passage, it goes on saying,
“But you trusted in your [own] beauty and played the whore… You took the beautiful jewels, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them you were promiscuous. You used my gifts as a sacrificial aroma to idols… And in all your abominations, you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were neglected and empty, and wallowing helpless.” (adapted Ez 16:15-22)

In other words, our wedding garments are not about self-righteousness in good deeds and church attendance. Instead, we are clothed in Christ

• Gal 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”
• Rev 7:9, 13, 14; (cf 19:8) “The ones coming out of the great tribulation have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”
• Ro 13:14 “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh”
• Col 3:12 “Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience”

The person without the wedding garment was speechless. There is no excuse or justifiable defense before the king. You see, according to Jesus Christ the Son of God and king of kings, religious preferences and spiritual indifference ends when someone rises from the dead. When you see Jesus and stand before God’s throne, you will not be able to persuade Him with life works and personal beliefs – no matter how educated you think you are. Jesus is the only way, only truth, and only life, and no one comes to the Father except through Christ (Jn 14:6). Salvation is found in no one else but Jesus (Ac 4:12).  And apart from received grace and repentant faith in Jesus Christ, there will be eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Religious preferences and spiritual indifference ends when someone rises from the dead.

¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

 This last line to close the parable almost does not make sense. It would seem better if Jesus said, “Many are invited but few accept.” Instead, Jesus describes this sovereign election that points to God’s ways being higher than our ways and beyond our finite understanding.

For Jesus, “chosen” means “persevering to the end.”^[5]

• Mt 10:22 Jesus encourages disciples to endure persecution, because you will be hated for His name’s sake. “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
• Mt 13:21 The seed that is without root and only endures for a little while, for when tribulation and persecution arises, immediately it falls away is not saved. But the seed that remains in good soil will bear fruit for God’s kingdom.  
• Mt 24:13 Jesus says don’t be alarmed by worldly chaos, earthly conspiracies, physical suffering, or eschatological tribulation. Instead, “the one who endures to the end will be saved.”  
• In Scripture, the apostle Paul used the word chosen to speak of divine sovereignty, while Jesus used the word to speak of human responsibility.^[6] Both were speaking of the same reality but from different perspectives. Paul used the word to pull us to the upward call, whereas Jesus used the word to push us onward through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. What we cannot miss in this passage is the king’s multiple invitations to guests from all walks of life and scandalous backgrounds being offered generous grace.
  Just because one hears the gospel call, does not mean they will receive it or genuinely believe it. Many are called but few chosen.

APPLY/THINK

• God pursues. He is the king of kings initiating conversations, cultivating relationships, and creating opportunities for us to know joyful life and steadfast love. God’s patience is not delay but so that no one would perish but repent and receive grace (2Pet 3:9).
• Heaven is a party. It’s compared to a wedding feast with love & laughter, family & friendship, music & a dinner menu to entice crowds of people. Whatever the best place or experience you have encountered here on earth still fails in comparison to heaven. For some, earthly circumstances will be as close as they get to heaven, but for Christians earthly circumstances will be as close as we get to hell. Heaven is an astonishing destination with unending wonder and unyielding joy. All beauty is measured by heaven’s brightness. It’s a place without fear, shame, guilt, sickness, sad tears, pain, depression, surgeries, disease, grief, or death. There good news of the gospel has redeemed all the bad news, so that everyone has made peace with their past and regret is erased. Love never grows cold or diminishes because the presence of Jesus permeates the air you breathe and the source of every blessing – – – you see, heaven would not be heaven if Jesus were not present. Jesus went away to prepare a place for His bride, so that we can enjoy Him forever.
  Friend, you will miss heaven if you miss Jesus. Don’t miss Jesus.

• The Cross Mosaic is an invitation for you to know Jesus hears your cries and offers embracing love. But the cross also shows us that Jesus did not come to coddle our sin but conquer it. He’s a Savior not a sin manager. We cannot enter the wedding feast without Christ’s garments of purity and redemption.

This past week we all witnessed the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. It’s fall was shocking and sad because bridges represent a helping hand. People cross bridges to exchange goods and services that nurture relationships and communities. Bridges are landmarks to help navigate to desired destinations. The Key Bridge was what engineers call “fracture critical,” which means if one support beam failed, they all collapsed. Likewise, our lives are fracture critical. We are designed to lean on the cross beams of grace in Jesus Christ.

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[1] See Isa 54:5; 62:5; Jer 16:9; Mt 9:15; 25:1-10; Jn 3:29; Eph 5:32; Rev 19:7; 22:17.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e5EaQnLFxk&t=10s

^[2] Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14–28, vol. 33B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995), 629.

^[3] Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14–28, vol. 33B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995), 630.

^[4] Leon Morris, The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992), 551.

^[5] Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Matthew: All Authority in Heaven and on Earth, ed. R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013), 631.

^[6] Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Matthew: All Authority in Heaven and on Earth, ed. R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013), 631.