The Invitation to Come is Open

N.T.#249 "The Invitation to Come is Open"

Feb. 22, 2024 

Matthew 22 

LET IT GLOW 

It was not the priests and elders confronting Jesus this time, but the Pharisees were back. They were masters of hypocrisy with murder on their minds. Their desperate plot was to snare Jesus by His words and actions. They were trying to find a weak spot in Jesus' armor and lunge their dagger of deceit swiftly and mercilessly. However, nothing the religious leaders did or said fooled Jesus. After hearing the two previous parables, the chief priests and Pharisees understood Jesus was speaking about them. (21:45)

In the third parable, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a king which made a marriage feast/supper, and sent his servants to invite people to it. People invited to a royal wedding would have been the wealthy, political, social, and religious leaders of high standing. We would call it the VIP-only kind of event. 

What happened?

• The king prepared a fantastic feast/dinner of oxen and fatlings  (grain, wheat, corn) and everything was ready. (Maybe there was a huge, luscious cake.)
• His servants were sent out inviting the elite, but they refused their invitation several times, snubbing the king.
• This resulted in the invitees being disloyal to the king and his son. 
• Other servants were sent out inviting people to the wedding feast, but those light of the invitation and went about their work.
• Some people even killed the king's servants. (verse 6)
• This made the king wroth (enrage, be angry, provoke), so he sent his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city.
• In 70 A.D., the Jews revolted against the Roman rule and Jerusalem was captured and destroyed. Only one wall remains as a result. Christians fled for their lives.  

LET IT GROW

 What is this about?

• The king represents God and the son stands for Jesus.
• The elite invited to the banquet were Jewish leaders.
• The Old Testament prophets foretold of the Messiah. John the Baptist invited the people to repent and believe in Jesus as Savior. Jesus came performing miracles, signs, and wonders.
• The Jewish religious leaders ignored these invitations or actively attacked those who extended them.
• God had been patient and graciously waiting for repentance, but soon His wrath will be taken upon those who reject Jesus as His Son and Savior.

The hardness of the Jew's hearts was given an opportunity to change with Paul's preaching and the disciples' words. By their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles. (Romans 11:11)

Christians have the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations. (28:19)

Like in the parable, when the invitation was opened to all people to come to the banquet, heaven will be filled with guests of all nations.(verse10)

Friend, you are invited to go with us believers to heaven, to spend eternity with the Savior. Have you accepted the invitation/salvation call? Have you experienced God's grace through faith in Jesus?

LET IT GO

Thank You Father for eternal life through faith in Jesus.

Help others let go and let Jesus come into their heart.