Invitation
Responding to the Father's Call
SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 22:14 CSB - "For many are invited, but few are chosen."
OBSERVATION:
In Matthew 22, Jesus shares a parable about a wedding feast. In the parable, a king hosts a wedding for his son and invites many to attend. This parable illustrates how people respond to the gospel. The Father has prepared a wedding feast for Jesus, His Son. The first guests invited are the Jews. The second group invited includes the Gentiles and those who arrived without an invitation.
In this parable, we observe three kinds of guests.
Matthew 22:14 CSB - "For many are invited, but few are chosen."
OBSERVATION:
In Matthew 22, Jesus shares a parable about a wedding feast. In the parable, a king hosts a wedding for his son and invites many to attend. This parable illustrates how people respond to the gospel. The Father has prepared a wedding feast for Jesus, His Son. The first guests invited are the Jews. The second group invited includes the Gentiles and those who arrived without an invitation.
In this parable, we observe three kinds of guests.
Those indifferent to the gospel, those antagonistic against the gospel, and those unchanged by the gospel share the same fate. None of them enjoyed the king’s feast. – David Guzik.
Instead of debating whether these verses teach predestination or free will, that's not our focus today. I want to share one comment: At the entrance to heaven, there's a sign hanging above. It says, “All who will come.” When you go in, turn around and look at the door you've come through. Written on it are the words, “Chosen before the foundations of the world.”
The main idea of this parable is the three types of guests. We should examine our hearts to see if we belong to any of the three.
APPLICATION:
Jesus said in John chapter 3 - John 3:16-17 NKJV - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
The question is, what have we done with the invitation?
Are you indifferent to the gospel? Is it just something that sounds nice but hasn't taken hold in your heart? Is it something that “you will get to when you get older"? The Bible clearly says.
Hebrews 3:7-8 NKJV - Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness.
Are you antagonistic toward the gospel? Have you been convinced by those around you, including influences, that Jesus was arrogant in His claims?
John 14:6 NKJV - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Jesus is either a liar, lunatic, or Lord. A liar and a lunatic cannot save you. But the LORD Jesus Christ can.
Are you unchanged by the gospel? Have you believed that the gospel is just your fire insurance (there is some truth to that)? Do you actually want things to stay the same in your life? Are you still the same person you were when you were saved, or can you say, with Paul, that you are a new creation?
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Suppose you find yourself among any of these three types of guests, good news! The invitation remains open to everyone who chooses to come. Come to Jesus and accept His invitation. Discover grace, mercy, and forgiveness at the foot of the cross.
Romans 6:23 NKJV - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for inviting us to the wedding feast. Thank You that, by Your Spirit, You call each of us personally. Thank you for opening my ears and heart to that call. I pray that many will recognize that You saved a wretch like me and understand that You invite everyone to come to You.
The main idea of this parable is the three types of guests. We should examine our hearts to see if we belong to any of the three.
APPLICATION:
Jesus said in John chapter 3 - John 3:16-17 NKJV - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
The question is, what have we done with the invitation?
Are you indifferent to the gospel? Is it just something that sounds nice but hasn't taken hold in your heart? Is it something that “you will get to when you get older"? The Bible clearly says.
Hebrews 3:7-8 NKJV - Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness.
Are you antagonistic toward the gospel? Have you been convinced by those around you, including influences, that Jesus was arrogant in His claims?
John 14:6 NKJV - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Jesus is either a liar, lunatic, or Lord. A liar and a lunatic cannot save you. But the LORD Jesus Christ can.
Are you unchanged by the gospel? Have you believed that the gospel is just your fire insurance (there is some truth to that)? Do you actually want things to stay the same in your life? Are you still the same person you were when you were saved, or can you say, with Paul, that you are a new creation?
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Suppose you find yourself among any of these three types of guests, good news! The invitation remains open to everyone who chooses to come. Come to Jesus and accept His invitation. Discover grace, mercy, and forgiveness at the foot of the cross.
Romans 6:23 NKJV - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for inviting us to the wedding feast. Thank You that, by Your Spirit, You call each of us personally. Thank you for opening my ears and heart to that call. I pray that many will recognize that You saved a wretch like me and understand that You invite everyone to come to You.
God’s invitation is extended to all, but true life begins when we respond with an open heart.
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