Parable of the Wedding Banquet Matthew 22 1

Parable of the Wedding Banquet Matthew 22: 1 -14

I. Sometimes the Lord’s Parables are Difficult A. Matthew 13: 10 -17 B. NOT the case here!! 1. Parables of Matthew 21 -22 ALL TOO CLEAR! a. Story about Israel – Many parables are… i. Who is the King? ii. Who are the Nobles? iii. Who are the Messengers? iv. Who is the Son? v. What is the Wedding Feast? vi. Who are the People from the Streets? C. Parable NOT just about Israel… II. A Gracious Invitation from the King A. A High Honor! B. The Sovereign’s Command! (Acts 17: 30) 1. Willful Refusal (Rebellion) a. What could be more important!? i. Trivial Excuses

“Today this same class will be found among the children of godly parents; dedicated from their birth, prayed for by loving piety, listening to the Gospel from their childhood, and yet unsaved. We look for these to come to Jesus. We naturally hope that they will feast upon the provisions of His grace, and like their parents will receive Jesus; but alas! How often is the case they will not come… A Preacher may be too rhetorical: let a plain speaking person be tried. He may be too weighty; let another come with a parable and anecdote. Alas! With some of you the thing wanted is not a new voice, but a new heart. You would listen no better to a new messenger than the old one. ” -- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

III. The King Invites Others – the Riffraff A. Not worthy but Grateful 1. I Corinthians 1: 27 -29 IV. A Man without a Garment A. A Case of Inverse Pride (Dishonors the King) 1. You must be properly attired! a. Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf (1700 -1760)

Matthew 22: 15 -46 “Through Many Dangers, Toils and Snares”

I. Three attempts to Entrap Jesus A. Jesus has enraged the Religious Leaders 1. Declared Himself to be the Messiah – 21: 1 -11 2. Cleansed the Temple – 21: 12 -17 3. Accused them of “fruitless” religion – 21: 18 -22 4. Taught Kingdom would be taken from them a. Parable of Two Sons – 21: 28 -32 b. Parable of Tenants – 21: 33 -44 “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet. ” – Matt 21: 45 -46

II. First Attempt: Paying Taxes A. An Unholy Alliance: Pharisees and Herodians B. Crafty and Dangerous Question C. A Brilliant Response 1. Jesus upholds Caesar’s Authority a. I Peter 2: 13 -14 b. Romans 13: 7 2. Placed Limits on Caesar’s Authority

D. Four Options for Christians in dealing with State 1. God ALONE has authority – Monastic Option a. Anchorites 2. Caesar ALONE has authority – Secularism a. Most Dangerous option (Caesar needs checks) i. American System of Government 3. Caesar AND Christ have Authority (Caesar Dominant) a. Coward’s Option – Pilate’s Option 4. God AND Caesar have Authority (Christ Dominant) a. Biblical Option – Peter’s Option i. Acts 5: 27 -32 (Same Peter who wrote I Peter 2: 13 -14)