Jesus: The King

They were focusing on another parable of Jesus, these are stories and that this is a very unusual story. It's a story about a wedding. Weddings are times of joy at times of celebration tons of Great Lakes others. The tremendous drama in weddings, particularly when the brain and all the beauty of work setting the audio and even the toughest of bridegroom's as they stands are moved to tears as the we present were tears of joy, tears of gratitude. I think often tears of unbelief at this incredibly beautiful woman has agreed to be the wife, and then there's great tenderness weddings on Thursday, but I do and the groom look into each other's eyes which great floods of emotion God has ordained marriage and so were not surprised that weddings are characterized by joy, by excitement by celebration, thankfulness, or loving God who gives us the gift of holy matrimony. Of course, sometimes things go wrong, it weddings I think about the best man who was 6 feet six and about 260 pounds. Deciding to faint. During the ceremony was tough, catching him, but I am stronger than I look. Then I think a bridesmaid.

Some of them trying to be the start of the show.

Sometimes whining about their shoes thinking why did you check that up before you can remember one wedding in Seattle Washington was in an old church was all just is very hot in Seattle was no air conditioning and the doors were open and in the middle of the sermon is on giving some profound advice return. I forgot to a couple a homeless man came and one daughter walked right in front of us and right together. Sometimes candles lights weddings are very inopportune times. I succeeded one time as we were signing the wedding start writing the wedding certificate setting it on fire. As I forgot there's a candle nearby. It was a great beginning to the wedding as we saw a drop in ashes fairly recently. Not the wedding where the bridal party and myself. What were caught in a sudden rainstorm absolutely drenched but in every case, the couple got married and most cases live happily ever after.

One thing I noticed in the in the in the years I've officiated at many weddings in different settings that what people where has changed you business when I was a little boy to danger going to where there was a big events and the if we're ever going to get a new suit. It was for the wedding. Perhaps a new pair of shoes a new shirt new tire.

I love wearing ties. People say you look so uncomfortable when you type. Just don't tighten it so tightly and will be much easier.

So is a little boy. I've always worn times and often at the wedding.

That was the first time we wore the suits are the pair shoes of the time was that special occasion, but now it seems that people turn up to weddings as if they just came in the backyard.

I've seen people coming closer very casual, very rumpled, even even dirty and we think that they realize this is a wedding I think of this was in the other church.

The groom's father as we were standing in the guest were coming he was getting angrier and angrier because he paid the money for the wedding and think about some of the people the way they were dressed and he said to me pastor don't. They realize this is a wedding is on the ballgame barbecue in the backyard but changed were going to hear Jesus tell the story and his fellow stories of unusual story and as we come to the end of the story will will find that there's a man there who was inappropriately dressed and wedding feast. This is no ordinary wedding.

In the story is a wedding given by King for his son.

I think of I was invited lighted by King to be at the wedding of his son the prince I would make sure I was dressed appropriately. I would check the wedding protocol. So as we read the stowed immunity to what's all this about Jesus as of the beginning of it. The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who gave a wedding feast for his son. Remember this is going to tell a story about a man who gives a wedding feast for his son and from that is going to teach us about the kingdom of heaven.

This is the third parable we thought of to them last week. Some of your baby. Remember that two parables.

This is the third in the triage is a fascinating parable on the contacts is must always think of the context of Scripture. The context is that Jesus is in conflict with the Pharisees and the elders and chief priests is telling the story. The parable to them ready for your Bible with me to Matthew chapter 2200. The first 14 verses which is the story of the wedding feast.

Matthew 22 verse one and again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, the kingdom of heaven. It is may be compared to a king who give a wedding feast for his son and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast but they would not come again he sent other servants, saying, tell those who are invited.

See, I prepared my dinner, my oxen and my five tariffs to be slaughtered and everything is ready come to the wedding feast, but he paid no attention and went off one threes farm, another to his business while the rest sees the servants treated them shamefully and kill them. The king was angry.

He sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

Then he said to servants, the wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both by in good so the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king when the king came in to look at the guys he saw there a man would know wedding garment this afternoon friend.

How did you get in here without a lightning garment. He was speechless and the king said to the attendants, bind him hand and fruits and cast them into the outer darkness in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called but few are chosen.

Story think about as we think of. I don't remember that Jesus has told us this is what the kingdom of heaven is like there's a comparison between the earthly story and the kingdom of heaven kingdom of heaven is being compared to a man giving a wedding feast for his son not Matthew frequently mentions the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God would back to chapter 21, for example, verse 31, saw this last week. In the story Jesus said to them, middle of the verse. Truly I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. You religious leaders remember this, that the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of heaven before you, and then again in verse 43 therefore I tell you speaking to his room. Religious leaders the kingdom of God. There is the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. I mentioned Jesus taking a little children unless he did that again is making art from partisan a truth about the kingdom of heaven. You can learn about the kingdom of heaven in the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who like little children totally dependent on others.

When John the Baptist comes. Matthew tells us the beginning of his public ministry.

What does he say repentance for the kingdom of heaven is near. That's his message, a message of repentance a message that you must get right with God. Why because the kingdom of heaven is near. Similarly, when Jesus comes back to the closet in chapter 4 verse 17 when Jesus comes. What does he say repentance for the kingdom of heaven, you're going to enter the kingdom of heaven. Repentance is absolutely essential so central to the message of Jesus is the kingdom of heaven. And here is a say he's comparing the kingdom of heaven to a king who give a face for his sons. The invitations are sent through his servants. Verse three and very surprising lay those who are invited, Jesus says, but they would not, I thought you getting an invitation by the king to come to the feast what you want, all right.

The message was art again. The Kings is not when you ask people this time, I want you to emphasize this is going to be a great feast, but all of these fat animals and everything is ready. It is free. All they need to do is come, but they don't come with increased some pay no attention. Think of some problems with the kingdom of heaven is story. Your nose is something absolutely no attention, and some say that it taken my farm other say about this business deal about to do and then others are better very hostile to the servants. They treat them shamefully and in fact they kill them think this the Pharisees and the chief priests and understandably the story. The king is very, very angry. Not only have data choose to come. Guilty servants so he sends his troops destroys the murderers and burns or studies of any powerful man is much more powerful than they are and just this is quickly executed. The culprits on organization death row for 20 years know the right targets are judged then the king changes his tactics as a work is as well. Obviously, those who didn't accept the invitation to win, not worthy never shows my gracious invitation.

So now my servants, I want you to go out and all of the roads and I want you to invite everyone you would use sending wedding invitations are counting how many people into the clip, you will pay for was a set number of people are going to come to the wedding was a space issue. How many people can the reception accommodate timely people you want to pay for but this came Haas as a what infinite resources and he says invite everyone you can. I'm ready abundant provision, and as you go, you invite.

This is fascinating isn't it.

Did you notice in verse 10, they gathered all whom they found, both by good so there will come the reception was absolutely packed with people. People who think the really good people who think the very bad people or religious people who are really just the good about that all their and so the king goes and looks run and there is one individual sticking out like a sore thumb is not wearing a wedding garment. I saw that he's naked, please understand that the king provides the wedding garments in our culture. No factors we understand invite you to wedding the king is there may take some care which address numbers nine comes is not clean is not respectively. Not decent.

He wants to be part of the party is aware, but he showing no respect for the king and not culture.

He's not wedding the right close to the king goes to verse 12 speaks very graciously is a friend I did you get here without a wedding garment and the man is speechless. The king is giving them an opportunity you have and follow the protocol you shown disrespect using. You can do things her own way, I'm giving you an opportunity to explain yourself and the man is speechless and the king says buying them cost them into the darkness, the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth is really good as we think manqué is a bit disrespectful.

You could have told him to leave, but God is doing that you're cussing him out into the outer darkness seems very severe for a man who just got the wrong jacket on is aware member.

This Jesus is not teaching about wedding protocol. This is not a formula as you have a wedding is not the point, et al. again. Verse two the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son Jesus in this wonderful way in his brilliant story is teaching us about the kingdom of heaven so wanted teacher from the story by the kingdom of heaven, and about three licensee points. The first one that the author to enter the kingdom of heaven goes to everyone and good incredible here is Jesus teaching about the kingdom of heaven, and the offer to enter the kingdom of heaven is given to everyone with a good or bad. I think of the two articles before the last week thing of the parable of the two sons, and where Jesus is saying is the kingdom of God is preached by John the Baptist. The people you think would go into at first the religious people don't last shall be first on the very people you think they're not worthy of the kingdom of heaven. They can't enter that know they're the ones who do the corrupt tax collectors. The immortal prostitutes repent and enter the kingdom of heaven.

However, even on the part of bullets clear that the kingdom of heaven is open to everyone. Everyone that is who humbles himself everyone to become like a little child everyone who repents and believes the gospel in the second parable of the end of chapter 21 that we thought of Mesa point even stronger there. The sun remember he goes to the yard and he is thrown out of the bin yard. The skilled side of the vineyard with his eyes are like sons Jesus is going to be through nights thrown out of the city were God places his name the city were those the temple and is going to be cast out lad outside the wall place called the place of skill and says Jesus in a previous parable.

The kingdom of heaven of God is taken away from you and is being given to a people. Verse 43 of chapter 21. I tell you the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its roots verse 45 when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived he was speaking about that yes they they know the Old Testament Scriptures, they should know better by now the kingdom of God has come because Jesus is the king and the standing right in the very midst. He is the Messiah on the long promised Messiah, if seen his medicals, the parties teaching and instead of embracing him and entering the kingdom of God.

They are so hostile going to kill her wonderful, but in this parable of the king and the feast when he sends his messengers younger there ones who are first invited, as it were those that you think would come in the story the religious people but did you notice how strong it is there diversity, but they would not come.

He's talking to the Pharisees is talking to the chief priests, the king has come, and there is an offer to you to enter the kingdom of God.

If you repent and believe in me, the Messiah, but you would not Lord is going to weep over Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stones those who would come to how often I would've gathered you as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not come to face no will or something else to do, really kill your very messengers to the nation of Israel especially chosen by clot.

There are three people chosen by God. God's people living greatly privileged Paul writes in Romans nine versus four. He says they are Israelites and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants and giving of the law the worship and the promises to them, belong to patriarchs, and from the race. According to the flesh is the Christ, who is God overall blessed forever imminent was pulsing in Romans nine Israel of all of the nations of the art has been greatly privileged to have the patriarchy of the covenants them.

The law and fact from them comes the Messiah. Matthews begun by telling us that Jesus is the son of David, the son of Abraham is an Israelite, he's Jewish identity comes he comes first wall of the nations of all of the places where Jesus would who where he could have been born his barn and little is satiety nation, isn't it. When we go there to clear Americans were used to the shoes country that amazed her small business is a small country right. However, in the very middle of the end is there that God chose his son to be born will think of that evening and as a gospel comes it comes first to Israel. So Paul can say in Romans 116.

I'm not ashamed of the gospel for this, a part of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the Greek and the progress of revelation, then the gospel the offer of the kingdom of God comes first to the Jew and then to the Gentiles the invitation. First is to come Israel come to the Messiah. They say no killer what does he then say goal. Therefore, verse nine. Did you notice go therefore to the member votes. What the Lord Jesus Christ going to say before he ascends to his father and his God. In Matthew chapter 28 was he going to say to his followers yes Jewish man.

The disciples go and make disciples of all first comes these wonderful whoever I'm so glad that in this parable in verse 10 it says they gathered all whom they find both bad and good good people here today will think you're very good when compared with other people. You'll still get. I keep the commandments. Your good neighbor will think well of you invite to the Christmas party. Your good person to know sentences that you think are pretty good urologist. Perhaps you didn't tell the church is pretty good. It's pretty impressive.

All the things you could be doing on a Sunday morning at home watching Manchester United play right at this moment you can be doing that good this message is for you to must repent belief is amazing how much effect on pretty bad if you knew I did this week. If you know my thoughts this week you be absolutely shocked my using pretty bad person and you are rapture deceptive rapture steel pressure tomorrow rapture having an affair and covering it up. Rapture stealing from your employer. Perhaps you betrayed your friends rapture and nasty mean person ends up one honest person here there's a website you ever you, whoever you this message comes to you, whoever you are they going to the highways and byways and everyone they find good or bad comes to the feast on the totem.

You are invited to the greatest party and I work one of the likely part Christmas parties last night and was pretty good but I'm going to better part one where there is think of this on ending joy a tremendous celebration of the marriage feast of the Lamb. And there will be incredible. I want to tell you if you're not a follower of Jesus Christ going to buy into the consensus that Christians are kind of dull nasty people. Yes, on the morrow I could tell you some who are believed to followers of Jesus Christ experience a joy, a deep, lasting joy, which is not dependent on our temporary circumstances which can be very difficult and very disappointing but other the source of our joy is not in the world is not our achievements, but it is in Christ and Christ alone and if you follow Jesus Christ you will never ever ever regretted Julie experience a joy that the world has never give you your think of the wedding. Jesus went to a can of garlic member what he said when he turned the water into wine. You've The best wine, marmalade as you drinkers know you give the best wine first then when your guests are a little tipsy if you do the bad stuff might was the point. The point is this, that if you enter the kingdom of heaven. It gets better and better you go the way of the devil. He will give you the best first and the more you follow the devil, and the more you continue to fill your on loss gets tougher and tougher and tougher and you wake up one morning you look in the matter. You sit on out that I ever get like this often.

You're very physical appearance may change on your right. Have a continued relationship. All the ones believed was important, has gone in the pursuits of our dream a false dream that the devil holds the reverse is following Jesus wine is better and better. The proverb says that the path of the righteous is like the dawn, which gets brighter and brighter and brighter. So you saw the sun come up this morning just a little bit and then gets brighter and brighter in brightness with this, enter the kingdom of God. The wonderful thing is that the offer comes to you. You forgot so loved the world.

One time someone said to me when I said that Jesus loves attorneys about it. I know you love the children of the children are relaxed. Lord loves all children is love goes through all the world listen to Paul. It is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God wants you, my dear friend. He wants you to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Peter puts it this way, the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promises as some kind slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance on the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, that wonderful dad is sufficient to save all who will come to him that his abundant provision in our Lord Jesus Christ.

He never runs out of grace. He never runs out of love. You never runs either forgiveness and if you, whoever you are. If you repent and come to him, he will receive you magnificent city is the first lesson we offered to enter the kingdom of God goes to all good, but the second lesson is this not everyone will be in the kingdom of heaven. I realize belief in their society. When you talk to people is always nice as I join the year following Jesus at that time so so wonderful is that your truth but you know my own way and I was little difference but it doesn't really matter because this is my truth and with all due respect to follow Jesus to live my own life and ultimately whatever we believe are all going to end up in the kingdom of heaven. After all, all are going to be saved were churches here in Charlotte.

The priest said Universalists don't know what to do with his portable catheter to the Bibles of this verse 14 for many are called but few are chosen. Yes the call goes to everyone. The whole world good and bad, but few are chosen. Not everyone will enter the kingdom of God.

Illustration dramatic illustration in the parable, the man without a wedding garment. The man who comes the wedding on his own terms, in his own ideas.

Not only is so note of the widening is cast into darkness, reverse weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Those who refuse the invitation to come. Those who refuse to repent of no part in the kingdom of God.

The tenants in the parable that we thought of last week. Chapter 21 verse 41 do notice that put to a miserable day God's judgment comes on those who reject his son will love John 316 we teach it to our children is probably the first verse I ever learn with implicit in John 316 is that if you do not believe you will perish for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life if you don't believe you will perish and what is implicit in John 316 is explicitly stated in John 336 whoever believes in the son has eternal life.

Whoever does not obey shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. Now this is the teaching of Jesus is not something we had called the church of this is the teaching of the word of God the mind without the wedding garment is to face the king he may deceive others. He cannot deceive the king.

John know that I was standing on the Postal Service as he writes the last book of the Bible is an old man. He writes about that day window be the great white throne and John writes those whose names were not written in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire. When Jesus returns as King of Kings and Lord of lords. We read he will come with a sharp sword coming out of his mouth with which to strike the nations. And he will rule them with a rod of iron.

Jesus that that's not really my Jesus. That's not my truth I don't believe that only God will judge people visit you with the freedom to believe what you want you can believe what you want. It doesn't alter the truth of the word of God. If you're sitting here and you refuse to repent and continue to refuse to repent. I have to warn you, as a preacher of the gospel that you will be thrown into the lake of fire like this manual will be spatial as you have no excuse. You've heard the gospel and you reject judgment, is the second lesson that everyone will be in the kingdom of heaven. Third last letter lesson. Not all who profess salvation possess salvation right this man. I can see him coming in with the cars into the marriage feast. No one sees anything different about him. He's there to enjoy himself about when the kingdom comes in.

The king immediately knows this man should not be with the crowd and the fees by doesn't belong there. The radical difference. He's not appropriately dressed.

Verse 41 for many are called but few are members and the managers. Jesus talked about two ways.

The result wide roads. Many unwanted leads to the structure.

There is a narrow lords and Jesus says there few that find yes the offer goes to everyone and their people who profess with her lips that they are following Jesus, but with the client is aware of the reality is they do not know Jesus. Jesus is in that day. Matthew seven verse 21. Not everyone who says Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, Lord, Lord, I did is I did that this is not know the part for me. I didn't know you. Those who profess salvation but do not possess a test mask you dressed for the kingdom of heaven is it what is a man there who was improperly dressed in the question is question a logical question then is this, Lord, how can I be properly dressed for the kingdom of heaven. I don't want to be three nights. If you point to yourself. If I ask you, do you think you're going to be in the kingdom of heaven, and you immediately start telling me of your achievements in your goodness and your church attendance and all the good things that you do your wearing the wrong address. The following thing to yourself to what you have done and Isaiah says in Isaiah 64 verse six, but all of the things that you think are pretty good and I human level goods. But in the eyes of God. Their filthy garments.

The polluted use in their and we hear about your accomplishments, everything. Yes, that's pretty good if I was God.

I think I do like this person to heaven, but were not God and with a different standard, and we are on holy people.

We are polluted. People all of us without exception have sinned and come short of the glory of God are the best that we do is polluted when wearing the wrong clothes in God's eyes we are without a wedding garment, spiritually naked get up.

Is it what I need. What you need arises. Garments what you need are perfect garments you can stand before God in your on efforts.

What you have done a fatal mistake is a terrible mistake. It will damn you for all of eternity, though with the gospel is not to look at ourselves to Christ and he comes in his perfection he did no sin. He knew no sin in him was no sin and then the wonder of the gospel that is this wonderful great exchange when all of my sin, my dirty garments, as it were, my dirty clothes are given to Jesus as the Lamb of God to take away my sin and in exchange he gives me his perfect righteousness, so that I am clothed in the righteousness of my Lord Jesus Christ.

So when I stand before God.

I don't say I deserve to get into heaven after all. I was a pastor and I put up with all of these people out return for many years and that you only knew why did God. Surely I can get in absolutely no point time could I is a sinful human being ever entered in to the purity of heaven of a God who is absolutely perfect and righteous and holy. I don't need better close that I can manufacture you can give me your close polluted as well. I need the close of someone who's perfect. So says Paul in the great exchange who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. And so I stand before my God, in the garments of my Savior, my magnificent Lord Jesus Christ Robert motivation puts it this way when I stand before the throne dressed in beauty.

Not my own when I see the as a lot love the with consenting heartburn. Lord joyfully know not have much all trace. This is the wonder that God takes the water so people like us. We understand that we need to repent. We can send in their own righteousness. We can stand in our own filthy garments, as it were no there put off grid on the righteousness of Christ as illustrated in baptism as in the when we see someone who is being baptized. Isaiah says chapter 61 verse 10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garment of salvation he's covered me with the role of this with Mr. John in Revelation 7 sees this great multitudes from every tribe and tongue and nation under wearing white clothes and the robes have made inmate whites. The blood through the blood of the cross through the sacrificial work of our Lord Jesus Christ the world to surprise him. They reject that stone. He becomes the chief cornerstone.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and calls on you and me to come.

That's the gospel comes as her Savior, all who are we as tabulated. I'll give you rest gives us rest for Saul, he gives us forgiveness of sin gives us this inexpressible joy so that were not saved by our words but once we are saved, we demonstrate the reality of our salvation by change life for their good works are numbered. The condition of our salvation, but they are the consequences of our salvation as we are created in Christ for good works, which stands for something that were before.

Would you say you speechless or do realize that you're standing the garments of the Lord Jesus Christ. When you repent when you come to Christ coming from your sin bracing this magnificent Christ who died for their sins and rose again father God. We pray, some hear many will even the printing of the seven entrusting the Savior. For those of us who are following Christ.

We realize that the closer we follow him more joyfully.

This will forgive us when we are distracted arise when other things, help us to walk close to her Savior.

We pray in his name