Title: Those who will share in salvation
Contents
2007.03.04 Word
Matthew 22:1 ~ 22:14
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a king who prepared a feast for his son. The son symbolizes Jesus Christ, the heir of the king who gave the wedding feast, and some kings mean God.
Heaven is portrayed as a reality in relation to wedding ceremonies or feasts. Generally speaking, Christ is the bridegroom and the church is the bride (Revelation 21:9).
In a word, this parable of the wedding feast shows the folly and fate of those who do not realize or ignore the value of the gospel of the kingdom presented by Jesus because they are entangled only in the life and greed of this world.
Many were called, but few were chosen (Matthew 22:14). There are conditions for those who will participate in salvation.
First, we must respond to God's request. (2-10)
In the past and now, it is customary not to invite anyone recklessly to a wedding banquet.
Usually, only those who know the owner well, are close, and are close friends are invited to the feast. But God, the King of kings, has sent an invitation to all of us to the feast (John 3:16).
At that time, it meant that the Jews rejected Jesus Christ to us as Gentiles, but the invitation to the Gentiles to the heavenly banquet was already when Abraham was chosen (Genesis 12:3).
1. Behavior of those who decline invitations (3.5.6)
The man who did not want to come (verse 3) went to his field, the other in his commercial vehicle (verse 5), and seized his servants, insulted them and killed them (verse 6).
These words are the image of a person who, despite receiving the evangelism of the gospel today, repeatedly rejects them with a hardened heart, and eventually perishes. The above three are the causes of unbelief.
2. The person who accepted the invitation (verses 8-10)
The one who refused to attend the wedding was not worthy, so the king told his servants to go to the crossroads and ask people to come to the wedding banquet as soon as they met. .(8-10)
God's calling has nothing to do with the good and evil of the past. Only God's calling is by the pleasing will of God.
Today, the seat of the heavenly feast is the church. Even in the church, you can't enjoy the joy of the heavenly banquet by staying in the back seat.
There is joy when we come to the center and fellowship with the saints and serve. Also, the eternal kingdom of God must be guaranteed.
Second, you must wear a robe.(11-15)
In the Near East, it was customary to give gifts to invited guests at a feast for the wealthy or the royal family (Esther 2:18).
And it was one of the etiquette for the guests who received the clothes as a gift to put them on on the spot and brighten up the party. If you refuse the gift or don't improvise, you are blaspheming the owner.
In the text, the king came in to see a guest, and there was a man not wearing a robe. When I asked him why he didn't wear it, he was kicked out as he could not speak even though he had a mouth. So what is Ebok?
It is the garment of righteousness that those who come before God should wear. (Isaiah 61:10) Righteousness means the right deeds of repentance and faith (Romans 10:9, Revelation 19:8). Even if you are invited, you will be kicked out.
In other words, it is the garment of faith that God has clothed with righteousness. For many are called, but few are chosen. (Verse 14) The number chosen is less than the number called.
When invited, the members of the church must look back on themselves, repent, and show the right deeds of faith.
Conclusion How grateful are you for exposing the heavenly feast for us and sending invitations? Do not refuse the invitation, but accept the invitation, taste the joy of the feast, put on the robe, and live in gratitude for the merit of the precious blood of Jesus Christ who saved us.