The Invitation of Grace

Text: Matthew 22:1-14

Introduction: RSVP in Heaven? Revelation 21:27, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Context: Religious leaders, people, and everyone (from ESV Global Study Bible)

• 21:43 The leaders have failed to carry out their obligations to God both in their personal lives and in leading the nation of Israel. Therefore their privileged role is being taken away and given to a people producing its fruits. The church will be a new “people” consisting of both Jews and Gentiles.
• 22:1–14 The parable of the wedding feast describes the judgment of irresponsible religious leaders.

Main Idea: Explain the parable.

• Grace No. 1 – chosen to be invited (v. 3); not coming is already a direct insult and a challenge to his authority.
  • Humanity’s response: not attending
• Grace No. 2 – get an invitation again (v. 4); rejected and killed his servants (vv. 5-6); deserving a punishment (v. 7)
  • Humanity’s response: rebellious, corrupted, and violent
• Grace No. 3 – invited everyone (vv. 9-10); many came and filled the wedding feast
  • Humanity’s response: entitlement, pride, ignorance, and indifference
• Grace No. 4 – called him a friend (v. 12); proper clothing was given to the guests; punishment (v. 13)
  • Galatians 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
  • Joseph’s family (Gen. 45:22); Mordecai (Esther 6:8–9); and future wedding in Rev. 19:6-9

Explanation

• Invitation to God’s kingdom of heaven signifies the reward of partaking in the wedding feast. (Rev. 19:6-9)
• Punishment is death (v. 7) and sentenced to the outer darkness with there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (v. 13)
• King = God
• Son = Jesus
• Servants = Prophets of God/ his messengers/ further, the disciples
• Invited guests = Israelites, Jewish people, and the religious leaders
• Extended invitation = Gentiles, the church, and Christians

Conclusion:

Verse 14, the elect = invited ones. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Ephesians 1; Romans 8)

• Matthew 11:27, “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
• How do we know? Those who believe (Ephesians 1)

Grace comes to them in the form of a feast. They rejected it. Likewise, grace always comes to us—we hear sermons on grace nearly every Sunday and yet the rest of the week we try to earn God’s favor. God’s grace comes to us free of charge, no strings attached, on the house.

“You need not be a Christian to build houses, feed the hungry, or heal the sick. There is only one thing the world cannot do. It cannot offer grace.” – Gordon MacDonald

Application:

Have you responded to the invite?

• Not yet? Accept God’s grace and be saved.
  • Mark 16:16, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
• Yes, but not sure.
  • 2 Corinthians 13:5, Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
• Yes, 100%.
  • Obey verse 9 in our sermon’s passage.
    • Matthew 22:9, Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’

Pastor John Paul Arceno

UCBC New Jersey | September 3, 2023