Invited And Yet Unwelcomed

  1. INTRODUCTION:
    1. SCRIPTURE READING:

      2. Matthew 22:1-14 = "And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and
      said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.      " [Especially notice verses 12-14].

    2. A KING MADE A MARRIAGE FEAST FOR HIS SON AND BADE MANY TO COME.

      3. Matthew 22:1-4 = "And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and
      said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.      "

      1. Some slighted the invitation:

        2. Matthew 22:5-7 = "But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city."

      2. Some accepted the invitation:

      Matthew 22:8-10 = "Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but
      they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.      "

    3. THE KING PROVIDED EACH GUEST THAT ATTENDED THE FEAST WITH A
      GARMENT DESIGNED FOR THE OCCASION:
      1. It was usually a very radiant robe.
      2. It was manifestation of the king’s royal favor.
      3. One found without this garment of special favor was treated as one that was disrespectful
        to the king and considered an intruder and treated accordingly.

      Matthew 22:11-14 = "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man
      which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest
      thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.      "

    4. TODAY JEHOVAH HAS PREPARED A FEAST FOR HIS SON:
      1. Jehovah invitation is to "whosoever will":

        2. Revelation 22:17 = "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that
        heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let
        him take the water of life freely.        "

      2. The invitation is to the "marriage supper of the Lamb":

        3. Revelation 19:7-9 = "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the
        marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.        "

      3. Jehovah gives to those who come a wedding garment of righteousness.

        4. Isaiah 61:10 = "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my
        God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.        "

      4. Jehovah has a right to see us wearing these garments of salvation and righteousness when we come into His presence.

        5. Galatians 3:26-27 = "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
        For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.        "

        Ephesians 4:24 = "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
        righteousness and true holiness.        "

        Revelation 6:11 = "And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was
        said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow
        servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be
        fulfilled.        "

        Revelation 7:13-15 = "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are
        these which are arrayed in white robes?         and whence came they?And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.        "

      5. If we refuse to put on this God given garment we will be classed as an intruded and cast out.

      Matthew 7:23 = "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart
      from me, ye that work iniquity.      "

      Matthew 25:30 = "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:
      there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.      "

    5. THIS LESSON IS TAKEN FROM ONE OF THE LORD’S PARABLES THAT WE
      HAVE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY AND I FELT THAT A REVIEW OF IT IN LIGHT
      OF SOME TOPICS PREVIOUS DISCUSSED WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
      1. Especially the topics of What is expected of me by God, Church, family and world.
      2. Also the study of "What I will be responsible for at Judgment?"

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. THE INSPECTION OF THE GUESTS:

      2. Comment: The dignity of the king forbid his entering before the guests and sitting with them at
      the feast. The king’s appearance was after all of the guests had arrived and then He would make
      his appearance and after looking over the guests would express His pleasure or displeasure to
      those assembled.

      1. The king makes entrance in the midst of the guest.

        2. Matthew 22:11 = "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a
        man which had not on a wedding garment:        "

        Note: This should remind us of the coming of the Lord.

        Matthew 16:27 = "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with
        his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.        "

        2 Corinthians 5:10 = "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
        that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he
        hath done, whether it be good or bad.        "

      2. The king sees a man not wearing the royal garment of respect to the king.

        3. Matthew 22:11 = "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a
        man which had not on a wedding garment:        "

        Note: This should make us fully aware:

        1. That we do not escape the eyes of the Lord.

          2. Revelation 2:2 = "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and
          how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them
          which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:          "

          Proverbs 5:21 = "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD,
          and he pondereth all his goings.          "

        2. That God is concerned with the appearance of each individual.

          3. Romans 14:12 = "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
          God.          "

        3. That God’s is interested in not just the outward appearance alone, for the robe is
          the outward appearance of the man’s character or heart.

      Luke 16:15 = "And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

    2. THE KING’S QUESTION:

      3. Matthew 22:12 = "…. How camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? … ."

      Note: We have but one requirement and that is to "Put on Christ".

      Galatians 3:26-27 = "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For
      as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.      "

      1. The man could not say he was unaware of the garment, or did not know about it as it
        was known by all that the king on such occasions required each guest to wear the
        wedding garment.

        2. Acts 17:30 = "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now
        commandeth all men every where to repent:        "

        Luke 6:46 = "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

        John 14:15 = "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

      2. They did not have to purchase the garment as it was provided free by the king.

        3. John 3:16 = "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
        that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.        "

        1 Peter 1:19 = "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
        blemish and without spot:        "

      3. The only possible conclusion was that the man was satisfied with his own garment.

      Comment: Men do not put on Christ today, as provided by God, because they are satisfied
      with their own self-righteousness.

      Romans 10:1-3 = "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." [See also II Timothy 4:1-4]

    3. THE GUILT, OR FAILURE TO PUT ON THE PROVIDED GARMENT, IS EVIDENT:
      Matthew 22:12       = " …. And he was speechless."
      1. The man is self condemned.

        2. Titus 3:11 = "Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being
        condemned of himself.        "

        Isaiah 64:6 = "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses
        are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind,
        have taken us away.        "

        Matthew 12:34-37 = "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good
        things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man
        out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil
        man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.        "

      2. Sin is indefensible -- there is no excuse:

        3. Luke 13:3 = "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

        Luke 6:46 = "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

      3. The preparation must be done before the arrival of the king.
        1. The five foolish virgins of Matthew 25:1-13, can well testify of this.
        2. The failure to do so will find us "speechless".
    4. THE KING’S DISPLEASURE:

      5. Matthew 22:13 = "Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and
      take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.      "

      1. "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away"
        1. Render him powerless and keep him away from any opportunity to return to the
          king’s presence.
        2. This speaks loud and clear against:
          1. Death bed repentance.
          2. Praying someone out of purgatory.
        3. Remember what Abraham said to the rich man: Luke 16:26 = "And beside all
          this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which
          would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that
          would come from thence.          "
        4. The man having failed to comply by the allotted time, his expected welcome to the
          feast was rejected.

          5. Remember: The one talent man in the parable of the talents had his one talent
          taken away from him .Matthew 25:28 = "Take therefore the talent from him,
          and give it unto him which hath ten talents.          "

        5. The abuse of showing respect to the king will forever keep you out of his presence.
          Matthew 25:41 = "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,
          Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
          and his angels:          "
    5. "CAST HIM INTO OUTER DARKNESS; THERE SHALL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH" = Matthew 22:13.
      1. Because he had not seen fit to please the king by putting on the provided wedding
        garment -- thus manifesting his rejection of the king.
      2. Because he wanted to enter just like he was. Think:
        1. If this individual garments were acceptable to the king why did he provide this
          garment?
        2. The answer is plain -- THE KING SAID TO WEAR IT.
        3. If may can be saved out of Christ and not put Him on, they why did God send
          His Son to die for man?

        Galatians 3:26-27 = "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
        For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.        "

      3. Because in our present state we are unfit to come into the Divine Presence of God.

    Revelation 22:14 = "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. "FOR MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN" = Matthew 22:14 .
      1. The invitation of the Lord is sent out to everyone as is evident from the great commission
         in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-16
      2. There are many that will want to come, but only as they are.
    2. CONSIDER CAREFULLY THESE VERSES:

Matthew 7:21 = "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

I Peter 4:17-18 = "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

Luke 6:46 = "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

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