ARE YOU READY FOR

THE WEDDING?18th Sunday after Pentecost

12th October 2014

What’s up with us today?

Not sure where are we? Not sure who we are? Not sure what to do?

Matthew 22: 1-14• 22:1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in

parables, saying:

• 22:2 "The kingdom of heaven may be

compared to a king who gave a wedding

banquet for his son.

• 22:3 He sent his slaves to call those who had

been invited to the wedding banquet, but they

would not come.

• 22:4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell

those who have been invited: Look, I have

prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat

calves have been slaughtered, and everything

is ready; come to the wedding banquet.'

Quick contemplation…LAW

Odd, who turns down royal summons?

Second call with more descriptions, still they did not care?

As parables go, this seems strange, yet at one level, it makes sense,

even today… people reject the call of God

Or are too busy to be impressed with the call of the King to celebrate with

him

Are WE too distracted with life today to heed the call to the wedding feast?

PART 1

Matthew 22: 1-14• 22:5 But they made light of it and went away,

one to his farm, another to his business,

• 22:6 while the rest seized his slaves,

mistreated them, and killed them.

• 22:7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops,

destroyed those murderers, and burned their

city.

• 22:8 Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding

is ready, but those invited were not worthy.

• 22:9 Go therefore into the main streets, and

invite everyone you find to the wedding

banquet.'

Quick contemplation…LAW

The people murdered the servants of the King?

PART 2

The King got angry and torched the city! After disposing the murderers!

Weirder still, dinner still on!

But now the King invites the people from the main streets, to the ends of

the territory, meaning EVERYONE else!

Remember, writer was to the Jews, so is it about God calling Israel first,

then to the rest of the world because of how they treated the call of God?

2 themes:

A. The people’s rebellion cannot interfere with the love of God for His son

and the wedding feast prepared for the people

B. We are all undeserving subjects of God’s hospitality

Matthew 22: 1-14• 22:10 Those slaves went out into the streets

and gathered all whom they found, both good

and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with

guests.

• 22:11 "But when the king came in to see the

guests, he noticed a man there who was not

wearing a wedding robe,

• 22:12 and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you

get in here without a wedding robe?' And he

was speechless.

• 22:13 Then the king said to the attendants,

'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the

outer darkness, where there will be weeping

and gnashing of teeth.'

• 22:14 For many are called, but few are

chosen."

Quick contemplation…LAW

PART 3

Of course he was not dressed properly, he was dragged from the streets!

Warning against self satisfaction?

Be on your guard against complacency.

Even if you are invited, you are still in the home of the King

There are standards to be observed.

This is not your run off the mill party!

We are at the wedding banquet of the Son of the King!

Not only are we to accept the invitation, we are to come accordingly as well.

Philippians 4: 1-9• 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love

and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord

in this way, my beloved.

• 4:2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the

same mind in the Lord.

• 4:3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion,

help these women, for they have struggled beside

me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement

and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in

the book of life.

• 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say,

Rejoice.

• 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The

Lord is near.

Quick contemplation…

We are too often:

PART 1

Focused on sin instead of celebrating that we

are forgiven

Frustrated by feelings of weakness instead of

being delighted about the strength of the Holy

Spirit working in us

We need to be reminded to REJOICE

from the confidence that, no

matter what happens, we are

inseparably connected to God

and saved

Philippians 4: 1-9• 4:6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by

prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your

requests be made known to God.

• 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all

understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds

in Christ Jesus.

• 4:8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is

honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,

whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if

there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy

of praise, think about these things.

• 4:9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned

and received and heard and seen in me, and the God

of peace will be with you.

Quick contemplation…

Do not worry…

PART 2

trust in God leads to prayer…

referencing what Jesus had said in the Sermon on the Mount:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or

what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear” (Matthew

6:25)

In the midst of the current reality, how do we attain the peace of God?

There is another… the one of God’s rule… think of these things

How then do we behave?

GOSPEL

Prayer

Thinking about the

things of God

How then shall we live?

Help one another whom are in ministry (Phil 4:3)

As a FAMILY in Christ

Stand firm in the Lord (Phil 4:1)

Therefore….

[So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also

send you.”] John 20:21

Engage Him as a family…. And go change your world…