Matthew 22:1-22 Parable of Wedding Banquet & Render to God what is God's by Tiong Tung Hui dated 11.9.16

The context of this sermon was the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  It took place a few days before Jesus went to the Cross, so you can imagine the importance of this occasion and the events that followed.

September 11 is a significant day because it was 15 years ago this day when two planes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York where more than 3000 people died and more than 300 firemen died rescuing others.

What is a parable?

It is a story that Jesus used to tell heavenly story for earthly gains.  Some said it was to reveal as well as to conceal the meaning of a story.

Jesus told the parable of the wedding banquet.  In the wedding banquet God invited the people to attend.  It is like inviting all of us to attend.  Jesus also spoke about the kingdom of heaven,

Mark 1:15“The time has come, the kingdom of God is nearRepent and believe the good news”. God invited people to come to the banquet, but the people refused to come.  The central of His teaching, to repent and enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Vs 1-3 Invitation to the banquet

2 Peter 3:9 ….He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  God is patient with us and He does not want anyone to perish.  He loves every one of us.

Messianic feast of the last day
“On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples; a banquet of aged wine – the best of meats and finest of wines…” Isaiah 25:6-8.  Here we consider the character of God.  He wants everyone to participate in the feast and does not want anyone to perish.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come,…”
Revelation 19:7-9

When we enter God’s presence it will be a great feast of celebration.  The King invited the people.  What was their response?  People do not want to come.  Who are the servants ? We are the servants.  We are empowered by God to invite people to His Kingdom.  We must obey, of course some with ignore you e.g the Middle East.

Response to the invitation

Verse 7: “The King was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.”

The King was angry as no one wants to come.

Verse 9-10:         Invitation to everyone from the street

Verse 11:             Wedding garments

                Righteousness of Jesus

Isa 64:6 Our righteous acts are like filthy rags

Isa 61:10, Psalm 132:16 – the wedding garments represented the righteousness of God.  People who attend weddings have to wear these garments.  Our own garments are like filthy rags.   The invitation to all of us reflected the character of God.  Whether good or bad He invited all.  There is no discrimination.  Salvation is for all. God heart’s for all who are down cast.  Our own righteousness will get us no way, only God’s righteousness will do.  If we do not put on the righteousness of God we will be thrown out V. 13.

Verse 14:For many are invited (called), but feware chosen

Joshua 24:15      As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord

Matt 7:13-14      The narrow gate

Psalm 139:23      Search me O God, and know my heart;

Matthew 22:15-22
Render to God what is God’s

Pharisees and Herodians
Paying taxes to Caesar
 The religious leaders wanted to trap Jesus and asked Him whether they should pay tax to Caesar.  He asked for a coin bearing the image of Caesar, and said pay to Caesar what is due to him.

Similarly give to God what is due to God.  Where is Christ in all our resources?  Let us think about these.  We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God.

Matthew Chapter 21:28-46 Are you the good son? Do you bear fruits? By Ho King Swee dated 4.9.16

Jesus faced conflicts with the religious members such as Sadducees, Pharisees, Scribes and elders of the Jews.  The religious people assumed they were the holders of God’s authority and who will instruct the Jewish people.  However, Jesus seemed to usurp their authority thus creating conflicts with them.

Conflict with the chief priests and elders

1. The question of Jesus' authority 21:23-27

2. The parable of the two sons 21:28-32

3. The parable of the wicked tenants (vinedressers) 21:33-46

1. The question of Jesus’ authority 21:23-27

Question by the chief priests and elders:

“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

What authority? To preach, heal, cast out demons, cleanse the temple?  The religious people assumed that Jesus’ power was from the devil that was why He could perform miracles and heal the sick.  They were also angry that he cleansed the temple of traders and money changers which were their source of income.

“Who gave you this authority ?”Who gave you? 3 sources of authority: 

God, human and devil. Jesus did not answer them but instead asked them a question of where John the Baptist got his power.  If they answer from God, Jesus will ask them why they did not believe.  If they said from man, people will stone them as they know John was from God.

The chief priests and elders - were wicked to trap righteous men - feared men and did things against their conscience.

2. The parable of the two sons 21:28-32

The use of parable was to reveal as well as to conceal.  The meaning was revealed to those who are from God and conceal to those who did not believe.

(a)1st son, `I will not'; but afterward he repented and went.

(b) 2nd son, `I go, sir,' but did not go.

(i) Who is doing the will of the father?

(ii) We are not perfect especially in word or speech

(iii) We must repent once we realize we are wrong

 (iv) We need to obey –be doers of the words

(iv) We need not have all the full knowledge – we obey what we know

3. The parable of the wicked tenants (vinedressers) 21:33-46

Who are the evil tenants?

35: and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

39: And they took him (the son) and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

The tenants were the general population and God had given the fruitful land to them, but they rejected the giver.  The son sent to the tenants was Jesus, and like we read in the Bible, He was rejected and crucified.  Jesus used this parable to talk about himself.

Who are the evil tenants?

Act 7:52  “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered”

Mat 21:43  Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.

Are you producing fruit?

Application

     1.       Always fear God and not men

     2.       Be humble to repent

     3.       Abide always in the Lord (obey) to bear fruit