WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.720 Well, I just want to make sure you all know who Jiwon Rai is. 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:08.720 So Jiwon, who led us this morning in worship, he and his wife, Caitlin, down here yonder, 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:12.859 they recently came to our church. 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:18.400 Jiwon is from Nepal, and the way we like to think about it is we are praying for a worship leader, 00:00:18.500 --> 00:00:19.800 and God sent one from Nepal. 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:28.780 But they are a dear couple. Their son Sammy is precious, and they've been staying with us for a little while. 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:33.359 And so Jiwon and I were riding our bikes over here this morning, and at one point Jiwon says, 00:00:33.780 --> 00:00:36.520 looks at my tie and is like, do I need to wear a tie this morning? 00:00:38.060 --> 00:00:39.920 And I said, no, of course not. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:46.460 Have you ever been turned away from somewhere because you weren't wearing the right thing? 00:00:48.299 --> 00:00:56.700 Or maybe you've shown up somewhere before and you realized within a second, you're like, I am so overdressed. 00:00:56.700 --> 00:01:00.660 Or it's like, oh no, I shouldn't be wearing flip-flops. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:07.159 Maybe you get, that wasn't aimed at you. 00:01:07.620 --> 00:01:08.439 It wasn't aimed at you. 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:12.740 Now, if God wants to do a work, let him do the work. 00:01:12.859 --> 00:01:13.980 But it wasn't aimed at you. 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:27.240 Well, maybe you get an invitation somewhere, and the first question you think of is, well, what am I going to wear to this? 00:01:30.580 --> 00:01:35.159 Something happened in my life 22 years ago that changed how I dress. 00:01:35.159 --> 00:01:37.579 I married Jenny. 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:51.900 With surprising regularity, I get a question on my way out of the house that goes something like this. 00:01:53.979 --> 00:01:55.379 Are you really going to wear that? 00:01:55.379 --> 00:02:00.420 We all know it's not a question. 00:02:05.959 --> 00:02:06.920 God is at work. 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:15.439 Well, this morning, Jesus asks a question via a parable. 00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:17.759 And here's the question that he asks. 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:30.199 There's this king in this wedding feast, and a guy walks in, and this king says to him, friend, friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment? 00:02:31.239 --> 00:02:34.379 In other words, did you not know there's a dress code? 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:39.079 Did you not know there's a dress code to this wedding ceremony, this wedding feast? 00:02:39.080 --> 00:02:46.560 Brothers and sisters, friends, did you not know there's a dress code to this wedding feast? 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:47.380 To the kingdom of heaven? 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:52.240 In order to enter the kingdom of heaven, there's a dress code. 00:02:54.880 --> 00:02:59.740 Do you know what you need to put on in order to enter the kingdom of heaven? 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:06.600 Do you know what to wear in order to come under God's saving reign? 00:03:06.599 --> 00:03:11.280 Well, this morning, we're going to look at a parable. 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:19.900 And this parable tells us how to rightly respond to the gospel invitation that God the king is making to all sinners. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:24.280 And he's saying, come into this party of salvation. 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:28.120 So what are you wearing? 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:35.280 Would you open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 22, verses 1 through 14? 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:43.579 And I'll just read through this, and then we'll talk about how we're going to proceed. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:47.620 And again, Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 00:03:47.740 --> 00:03:51.620 The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:59.879 And sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, and they would not come. 00:03:59.879 --> 00:04:05.159 Again, he sent other servants, saying, Tell those who were invited, See, I've prepared my dinner. 00:04:05.740 --> 00:04:10.139 My oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. 00:04:10.579 --> 00:04:11.799 Come to the wedding feast. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:16.759 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:20.899 while the rest seized the servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 00:04:21.339 --> 00:04:26.040 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:30.700 Then he said to his servants, The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:36.140 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find. 00:04:37.080 --> 00:04:42.020 And those servants went out in the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:44.759 So the wedding hall was filled with guests. 00:04:45.660 --> 00:04:52.000 But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:56.920 And he said to him, Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment? 00:04:58.040 --> 00:04:59.519 And this man was speechless. 00:05:00.660 --> 00:05:05.500 Then the king said to the attendants, Bind him hand and foot and cast him in the outer darkness. 00:05:06.139 --> 00:05:09.420 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 00:05:09.540 --> 00:05:13.579 For many are called, but few are chosen. 00:05:13.579 --> 00:05:24.599 Listen, this passage is all about how we are to rightly respond to the invitation to come to the party of salvation. 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:26.879 And so here's how we're going to go through this morning. 00:05:26.979 --> 00:05:29.479 We're going to, I'm just going to walk you through the parable. 00:05:29.659 --> 00:05:33.319 So I want to make sure all of us are on the same page of what Jesus is saying here. 00:05:33.779 --> 00:05:35.819 And then we're going to ask the question, what's the point? 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:37.860 What's the point of this parable? 00:05:37.860 --> 00:05:44.680 And then we'll close by saying, what does this mean for us today here in Kenosha, 2017? 00:05:45.139 --> 00:05:45.780 So what? 00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:54.480 Again, this is all about how to respond to God's gracious invitation to come into the wedding feast. 00:05:55.900 --> 00:05:57.600 So let's look at this parable. 00:05:57.699 --> 00:05:58.620 Let's walk through it. 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:03.759 In 22.1 we see, and again, Jesus spoke to them. 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:10.500 The them are the Jewish leaders, both the religious leaders and civic leaders. 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:11.920 They're in the temple. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:13.420 We saw this last week. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:17.540 Jesus is speaking directly to these Jewish leaders. 00:06:17.840 --> 00:06:20.280 And it's to them he's going to speak this parable. 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:24.620 Now remember, this is Tuesday of Passion Week. 00:06:24.620 --> 00:06:29.620 And it turns out that Tuesday is an extremely long day for Jesus and his teaching. 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:31.759 So he goes back in the temple. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:33.420 He teaches these three parables. 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:38.540 And then he's going to kind of respond to some questions of these religious leaders. 00:06:38.860 --> 00:06:43.199 And then if that weren't enough, he leaves Jerusalem, goes to the Mount of Olives, 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:48.560 and he speaks what's known as the Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24 and 25. 00:06:48.840 --> 00:06:50.399 It all happened on Tuesday. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:56.099 And then three days later, Jesus is going to get railroaded by the Jewish leaders, 00:06:56.259 --> 00:06:58.299 and he's going to be hanging on a Roman cross. 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:08.500 This parable is a third parable in a trio of parables that Jesus spoke to these leaders. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:12.439 And so they are very much confrontational. 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:17.779 They're very much Jesus asserting his messianic authority. 00:07:17.779 --> 00:07:20.859 And there's this one other thing I want you to be aware of. 00:07:21.159 --> 00:07:26.519 There is this huge kind of sea change going on with Jesus right now. 00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:31.000 Up until this point, John the Baptist was the last prophet of the old covenant. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:35.799 And Jesus' coming has come to initiate a new covenant. 00:07:36.359 --> 00:07:39.919 Do you remember in Matthew 26, just a couple days from where Jesus preaches, 00:07:40.359 --> 00:07:43.959 he's going to be doing the Passover with his disciples, 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:46.319 and he's going to hold up a cup, and he's going to say, 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:50.239 this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:52.959 And so he's inaugurating a new covenant, 00:07:53.060 --> 00:07:57.439 a new way in which God will relate with a new people, the church. 00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:00.719 And so here we are on this kind of, 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:04.079 the old covenant is gone out, 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:06.019 and the new covenant is coming in, 00:08:06.099 --> 00:08:07.879 and Jesus is bringing it in. 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:15.420 So all this to say, there's a lot going on. 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:19.399 And when we turn our attention here to this parable, 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:23.339 you've got to know up front, this is a rather elaborate parable. 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:28.100 In fact, Jesus develops this parable along three stages. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:32.379 The first stage, he addresses this invitation malfunction, 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:34.220 verses 2 through 10. 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:37.560 And then he addresses this wardrobe malfunction, 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:39.200 in verses 11 through 13. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:42.080 And then he addresses some thinking malfunction, 00:08:42.540 --> 00:08:43.300 in verse 14. 00:08:44.060 --> 00:08:45.460 It's his concluding statement. 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:47.160 So let's dig in. 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:49.340 Verse 2, Jesus begins the parable by saying, 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:52.340 the kingdom of heaven can be compared to. 00:08:53.060 --> 00:08:55.000 And so, right out of the gate, 00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:57.300 we've got to remember that this parable 00:08:57.300 --> 00:08:59.340 is making a point about something. 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:02.879 Jesus is using the parable to teach about a reality. 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:05.100 The reality of the kingdom of heaven. 00:09:05.439 --> 00:09:09.059 The kingdom of heaven is God's active, saving reign 00:09:09.059 --> 00:09:12.299 in which God is bringing people to himself 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:15.879 and entering into a saving, life-giving relationship 00:09:16.539 --> 00:09:17.600 with the living God. 00:09:18.580 --> 00:09:21.059 When you come under the saving reign of God, 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:22.340 you get rescued. 00:09:23.059 --> 00:09:24.700 You're delivered from sin 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:27.240 and delivered into life. 00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:30.000 The life of God in Christ. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:35.299 And so, what we see here is, 00:09:35.580 --> 00:09:37.100 Jesus is setting up this whole thing 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:40.019 by saying the kingdom of heaven can be compared to, 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:41.740 and then in verse 2, 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:43.440 we read what he's going to compare it to. 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:46.679 The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king 00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:51.100 who gave a wedding feast for his son. 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:56.000 The salvation is being compared to a party! 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.320 A wedding party. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:00.240 And back in the day, 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:03.960 these wedding feasts would go on for days. 00:10:05.299 --> 00:10:06.220 They were big deals. 00:10:06.820 --> 00:10:09.279 But this is no ordinary wedding feast. 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:13.000 This is a royal wedding feast. 00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:17.139 This is a wedding feast a king is giving for his son. 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:20.759 For us, this would be like a once-in-a-lifetime event. 00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:22.460 Back in July 1981, 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:25.240 I'm not sure of those of you who would remember this. 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:27.040 Princess Diana, 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:28.580 Prince Charles got married. 00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:29.420 Do you remember that? 00:10:30.280 --> 00:10:31.940 Big deal for those of you who do. 00:10:32.300 --> 00:10:32.840 Remember that? 00:10:32.900 --> 00:10:34.240 That was a big deal. 00:10:35.280 --> 00:10:37.200 And it wasn't a wedding feast, 00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:39.019 but in St. Paul's Cathedral, 00:10:39.180 --> 00:10:42.800 there's this video of the guests 00:10:42.800 --> 00:10:43.900 who were there, 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:47.420 who were watching Diana come down that red carpet. 00:10:47.419 --> 00:10:52.740 And those guests were the privileged invitees 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:54.079 of this wedding event. 00:10:56.299 --> 00:10:56.779 Unforgettable. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:59.079 It was a royal event, 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:00.819 and the whole world watched. 00:11:01.699 --> 00:11:03.679 It was once in a lifetime. 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:06.500 And so what is going on here, 00:11:06.599 --> 00:11:08.779 this parable of a wedding feast 00:11:08.779 --> 00:11:10.779 thrown by a king for his son? 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:12.279 If we were living there, 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:14.659 it would be like this is the event of our lives. 00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:20.539 The king's son is getting married, 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:23.939 and it's a picture of salvation. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.240 In verse 3, 00:11:26.339 --> 00:11:28.059 we see the king sending out his servants 00:11:28.059 --> 00:11:31.259 to call the privileged who had been invited, 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:32.579 literally called, 00:11:32.839 --> 00:11:34.339 to this wedding feast. 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:35.860 Now, you've got to remember, 00:11:35.959 --> 00:11:36.659 back in the day, 00:11:36.939 --> 00:11:38.759 they did not have cell phones. 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:40.799 There was no email, 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.500 no watches. 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:44.299 And so what would happen is, 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.139 the protocol is, 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:47.480 for an event like this that happened, 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:48.700 you're the host, 00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:50.019 you send out invitations, 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:52.120 and then the day of the event, 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:53.879 you send out your servants to say, 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:55.480 hey, it's happening today. 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:56.580 Come on, it's ready. 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:57.200 Let's rock. 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:00.980 And so what we see going on here 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:03.019 is that the invitations have gone out, 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:04.580 the host, the king, 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:06.860 sends out his servants 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:08.500 to go invite, 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:11.340 to call these people to the feast. 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:11.480 Christ. 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:17.500 But the first surprise that we see is, 00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:21.100 the privileged invitees 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:22.840 would not come. 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:28.500 They were unwilling to come. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.740 Now, just to give you a sense already 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:34.519 of who the characters are in this parable, 00:12:34.800 --> 00:12:36.600 the king, of course, is God the Father, 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:38.660 the son is Jesus, 00:12:38.900 --> 00:12:40.220 the guy speaking this. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:43.300 This is kind of like an autobiographical parable. 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.680 You know, he's referring to himself. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.580 The privileged few 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:48.160 who are inviting to the wedding feast 00:12:48.160 --> 00:12:50.580 are represented by the Jewish leaders, 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:54.220 the one Jesus is actually speaking to. 00:12:55.580 --> 00:12:57.759 And it's them that are unwilling 00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.100 to come to the party 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:02.920 that the king is throwing for the son. 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:06.500 This wedding feast is a picture of salvation, 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:09.419 and at the center of this feast is the son. 00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:13.580 Jesus is at the center of our salvation. 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:16.120 In verse 4, 00:13:16.460 --> 00:13:18.620 after the king gets word back 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.519 that nobody's coming, 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:22.179 he resends graciously, 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:24.440 reinvites everybody, 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.639 sends his servants back out, 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:27.240 and he says, 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:28.779 make sure you make it sound really good 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:29.240 what it is. 00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:29.519 He's like, 00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:31.519 tell them about the oxen 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.539 and the fattened calves, 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.840 tell them everything's ready, 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:35.500 it's going to be a blast, 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:37.399 tell them that it's all ready to go. 00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:39.740 Come to the wedding feast 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:41.180 in honor of my son. 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:42.300 Make sure they all know. 00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:45.840 What we see here is this king 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:47.200 wanting to share, 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:49.000 these people to share in his goodness. 00:13:50.300 --> 00:13:53.360 Come into my celebration over my son. 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:56.680 Come into this wonderful event. 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:59.120 I've provided everything you need. 00:13:59.180 --> 00:14:00.200 You just come. 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:01.200 Come into this. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:02.379 And what's shocking is that 00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:03.520 these people don't come. 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.120 In fact, 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.460 in verses 5 and 6, 00:14:07.300 --> 00:14:09.560 we see descriptions 00:14:09.560 --> 00:14:11.300 of their not coming. 00:14:13.540 --> 00:14:14.940 In verse 5 we read, 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.300 but they paid no attention 00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:20.280 to the servants, 00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:21.980 and they went off, 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.120 one to his farm, 00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:25.020 another to his business. 00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:29.500 It's essentially saying, 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:29.799 you know, 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:30.439 I've got more, 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:32.019 thanks for the invitation, 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:33.259 I'm sure it's going to be a blast, 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:33.699 but really, 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:35.079 I need to get back to my farm. 00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:37.960 I need to get back to my business. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:39.879 That's got priority 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:42.139 over this once-in-a-lifetime event 00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:43.960 thrown by the king of all. 00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:45.639 I'm just going to say no. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.500 And then the rest 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:51.340 of those invitees, 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:52.559 we read in verse 6, 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:54.719 that they treated 00:14:54.719 --> 00:14:56.379 the servants shamefully, 00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:58.579 even killing them. 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:00.459 Now that should ring 00:15:00.459 --> 00:15:01.719 a little bell from last week 00:15:01.719 --> 00:15:03.299 in the parable of the tenants. 00:15:03.819 --> 00:15:04.639 In the parable of the tenants, 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.419 we have this father 00:15:06.419 --> 00:15:08.759 who sends these servants 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.519 to the vineyard, 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:11.319 and those working the vineyard, 00:15:11.579 --> 00:15:12.339 remember what they do 00:15:12.339 --> 00:15:12.819 to the servants? 00:15:12.939 --> 00:15:13.699 They beat them up, 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.399 they kill them, 00:15:14.479 --> 00:15:15.659 like whatever. 00:15:16.619 --> 00:15:17.959 And so what we have here 00:15:17.959 --> 00:15:19.259 is a thread being Jesus 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:19.939 is pulling through 00:15:19.939 --> 00:15:20.679 these parables. 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:23.699 And so what these servants 00:15:23.699 --> 00:15:25.500 represent are the Old Testament prophets. 00:15:31.439 --> 00:15:32.839 John the Baptist, of course, 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:34.339 was the last prophet 00:15:34.339 --> 00:15:35.659 of the Old Covenant. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.659 And do you remember 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:38.939 how he died? 00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:42.019 He had his head removed 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:43.219 because he was speaking 00:15:43.219 --> 00:15:44.620 to Herod 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:46.099 about the unrighteousness 00:15:46.099 --> 00:15:47.479 of taking his brother's wife, 00:15:47.579 --> 00:15:48.079 Herodias. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.639 And it was John the Baptist 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.180 who was proclaiming, 00:15:52.300 --> 00:15:53.879 repent for the kingdom 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:56.000 of heaven is near. 00:15:58.780 --> 00:16:00.680 So we see these responses 00:16:00.680 --> 00:16:04.480 and they're surprising responses. 00:16:05.520 --> 00:16:06.560 And then in verse 7, 00:16:06.780 --> 00:16:07.680 if you look at verse 7, 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:08.680 the king was angry 00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:10.080 and he sent his troops 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:11.540 and destroyed those murderers 00:16:11.540 --> 00:16:12.600 and burned their city. 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:16.120 their rejection 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:18.279 and their treatment 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:20.040 of the servants 00:16:20.040 --> 00:16:23.500 kindled the king's wrath. 00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:25.100 So in this parable, 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:25.920 we see God's, 00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:28.399 this gracious invitation 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:32.420 as well as authoritative justice. 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:35.940 He sends a detachment of soldiers 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:39.639 who kill those people 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:41.120 who murdered the servants 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:43.720 and he sets ablaze their city. 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.259 And I don't know about you, 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.519 but when I was initially reading 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:46.899 about this, 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:47.480 I'm like, man, 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:50.639 that's a seriously strong reaction 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.679 for people not coming 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:52.379 to your party. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.679 But it's more than that. 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:01.299 There's more going on here 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:02.220 than people refusing 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:03.120 a party invitation. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:08.019 This is more than saying no 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:08.640 to a party. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:11.480 This is a rejection of authority. 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:13.720 This is a rejection 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:16.220 of the authority of the king. 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.759 This is a rejection 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:20.059 of a gracious invitation 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:21.900 from the one king 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:23.140 to come and participate 00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:26.140 in the events of the lifetime. 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:29.380 What it is, 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:31.779 is rebellion. 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:34.200 It's insurrection. 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:36.799 The killing of his servants. 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:41.299 It's an unwillingness 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.799 to live under the king's reign. 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.779 The reference Jesus makes 00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:47.019 to the setting ablaze 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.599 of the city. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.139 Some theologians believe 00:17:49.139 --> 00:17:50.460 that it's an allusion 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.339 to the destruction 00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:52.180 of Jerusalem, 00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:53.279 which will just take place 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:53.960 a couple decades 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:55.440 from Jesus saying this 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.259 in 70 AD. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:57.799 And I'm a little bit, 00:17:58.099 --> 00:17:58.720 I'm a little bit, 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.140 I lean that way 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:01.620 because Jesus, 00:18:01.860 --> 00:18:03.319 on this same day, 00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:05.140 on the mountain of olives, 00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.799 speaks of the destruction 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.640 of Jerusalem 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:09.880 in Matthew 24, verse 2. 00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:12.519 There's judgment 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.799 in the air 00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:14.900 with these words. 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:17.339 And what our sense is, 00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:18.460 the backdrop here, 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:20.799 is God is turning away 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:21.740 from the people 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:23.559 under the old covenant 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:25.200 who've refused him 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:27.200 over and over again. 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.279 And he's now 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:30.379 turning to a new people 00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:31.619 of a new covenant 00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:33.359 who will receive him. 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.419 But what we see 00:18:35.419 --> 00:18:36.079 going on here 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.139 is a God who is, 00:18:37.679 --> 00:18:39.039 a God who invites, 00:18:39.659 --> 00:18:41.299 come to the wedding feast. 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:43.359 And then there are consequences 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:44.799 for rejecting 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:46.179 his invitation. 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:49.000 Verse 8, 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:51.039 the king says to his servants, 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.359 the wedding feast is ready, 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:53.279 but those invited 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.240 were not worthy. 00:18:54.899 --> 00:18:56.279 Referring to all those people 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.699 who've rejected the invitation. 00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:00.419 They were unwilling to come. 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.740 That word worthy 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.699 shows up in Matthew 00:19:03.699 --> 00:19:04.679 a few different times. 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:06.399 And there's one point 00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:07.500 where it shows up 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.319 in concentration. 00:19:08.659 --> 00:19:10.299 Listen to Matthew chapter 10, 00:19:10.699 --> 00:19:12.339 verses 37 through 38. 00:19:12.699 --> 00:19:14.479 Whoever loves father or mother 00:19:14.479 --> 00:19:15.099 more than me, 00:19:15.159 --> 00:19:16.079 this is Jesus speaking, 00:19:16.699 --> 00:19:18.659 is not worthy of me. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.699 And whoever loves son 00:19:20.699 --> 00:19:21.979 or daughter more than me 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:24.140 is not worthy of me. 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.220 And whoever does not 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.299 take his cross 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:27.120 and follow me 00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:29.640 is not worthy of me. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.940 If you reject 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.980 the invitation of God 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:34.620 to come to the wedding feast 00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:35.539 of the son, 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:37.579 you're not worthy of the son. 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.759 Verse 9, 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.400 after rejecting those 00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:44.620 who were initially invited, 00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.700 he says something, 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:49.259 another surprising thing 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:49.960 to his servants. 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:50.700 He's like, 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:50.900 okay, 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.819 these folks aren't going. 00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:53.100 Let's regroup. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.600 Here's what I want you to do. 00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:56.120 Go, therefore, 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.480 to the main roads 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.579 and invite, 00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.779 literally call, 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.200 to the wedding feast 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:03.279 as many as you find. 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.660 Those main roads, 00:20:04.860 --> 00:20:05.600 those would be like 00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:06.380 the distance road. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.779 That's like the, 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.860 that would be like 00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:09.519 the intersection 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:12.299 on 94 and 75. 00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.779 Way out there. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.860 That big intersection, 00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:16.319 those crossroads, 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.980 the byways 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.740 and the highways. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:19.759 Jesus is like, 00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:21.759 you guys go out. 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.419 The king's saying, 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.419 you go out 00:20:23.419 --> 00:20:24.740 and you get as many 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.519 as you're willing 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.299 to fill this, 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:28.079 this marriage hall 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:29.139 to celebrate 00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:30.259 this wedding feast 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.460 of my son. 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:35.259 In verse 10, 00:20:35.419 --> 00:20:36.579 we see the servants 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:38.099 go out into the roads, 00:20:38.179 --> 00:20:39.299 into the crossroads, 00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:40.500 and they gather 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.339 whom they found. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.500 And what Jesus 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.240 in this parable 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.120 makes clear is 00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:45.180 they're both 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:48.000 bad and good. 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.099 And what that 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:49.960 is getting at is 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:51.200 there's a mix 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.180 of guests 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:53.339 in the wedding hall. 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.539 They have responded. 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:57.059 They have come, 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.059 but it's a mix 00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:58.500 of people 00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:59.319 in the wedding hall. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.120 So the king 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:02.420 fills the wedding hall 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.519 in verse 10 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.740 with those 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.460 who've responded 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:07.339 to this second invitation 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:09.019 to a bigger group 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:09.579 of people. 00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.460 And by this point 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:11.859 in the parable, 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.880 we've had three surprises. 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.420 Surprise number one, 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.140 those who were 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:16.359 originally invited 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:17.799 refused to come. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.599 Second, 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:20.920 those who refused 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:21.480 to come 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.940 were destroyed. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.480 Third, 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.920 their judgment 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.799 and destruction, 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.880 their refusing, 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.940 it opens the door 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:33.019 to a whole new group 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.539 of people 00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.680 on the crossroads 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:35.700 to be invited 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.839 to the wedding feast. 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:43.359 the first invitation 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.839 to that original group. 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.859 Think of that 00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:47.240 as like the old covenant 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:49.779 established in Moses. 00:21:50.659 --> 00:21:52.659 And this second invitation 00:21:52.659 --> 00:21:54.720 is the new covenant, 00:21:54.939 --> 00:21:56.439 the gospel invitation 00:21:56.439 --> 00:21:58.099 that goes to everyone 00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:59.099 on the planet. 00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:04.699 The parable doesn't end 00:22:04.699 --> 00:22:05.519 here though. 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:07.079 The parable continues. 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.459 So there's a second stage 00:22:08.459 --> 00:22:08.939 of the parable 00:22:08.939 --> 00:22:09.639 and that's in verses 00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:10.519 11 through 13. 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.659 Verse 11, 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.459 the king comes 00:22:13.459 --> 00:22:14.339 to the wedding hall 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:16.579 to survey all the guests 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.240 that his servants 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.699 have brought. 00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:19.519 He wants to check it out. 00:22:20.439 --> 00:22:20.939 And the part 00:22:20.939 --> 00:22:21.559 of the parable, 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.839 this part of the parable 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:24.699 has some similarities 00:22:24.699 --> 00:22:25.939 with some other parables 00:22:25.939 --> 00:22:26.399 in Matthew, 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.159 Matthew 13. 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.799 The parable of the weeds 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.399 in the parable 00:22:29.399 --> 00:22:30.079 of the dragnet. 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.220 And what happens 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.960 in those parables 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:33.059 is that there's 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:34.099 this big harvest 00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:36.779 of something 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:39.259 and it's a mixed harvest 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.240 and as a result 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:42.799 there is a sifting out, 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:44.099 a sorting out. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.240 And so what it looks 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.159 like is going on here 00:22:46.159 --> 00:22:47.680 is there's a bringing together 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.359 of a mixed group 00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:48.859 of people 00:22:48.859 --> 00:22:50.019 and now what we're going 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.879 to see this king do 00:22:50.879 --> 00:22:52.220 is do a little sorting out. 00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.539 It happens 00:22:58.539 --> 00:23:01.319 when the king's eyes 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:03.139 fall on those invited 00:23:03.139 --> 00:23:05.079 and one stands out 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:07.240 because he's not wearing 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.279 a wedding garment. 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:12.000 Now, I'm sure you've got 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.899 an invitation before 00:23:12.899 --> 00:23:13.579 to go somewhere. 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:15.420 And on those invitations, 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.019 oftentimes, 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:17.259 there's some instructions 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:18.599 for what you should wear. 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:19.740 For example, 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.659 you might read something 00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:23.279 like business casual dress 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:23.940 requested 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:25.799 or formal attire 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:26.820 necessary 00:23:26.820 --> 00:23:29.279 or just come as you are, 00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:30.039 very casual. 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.460 The attire 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:34.620 of a first century 00:23:34.620 --> 00:23:37.080 royal wedding feast 00:23:37.080 --> 00:23:37.960 would be 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.580 you wear 00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.440 a wedding garment. 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:41.720 you wear 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:43.220 something different 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:44.440 than your normal 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.840 everyday work clothes. 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.000 You've got to change 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.559 out of your sweat outfit 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.980 and you've got to change 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.620 into 00:23:50.620 --> 00:23:52.019 some clothing 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.759 that's appropriate 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:54.620 for this event. 00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:59.479 And so, 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:02.399 as the word went out 00:24:02.399 --> 00:24:03.099 to invite 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:04.619 all of these people 00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.779 from the byways 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.259 and highways 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:07.339 and crossways, 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:09.759 it would have been 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.739 understood 00:24:10.739 --> 00:24:12.179 that to come 00:24:12.179 --> 00:24:13.219 to a royal 00:24:13.219 --> 00:24:14.379 wedding feast, 00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:15.799 you've got to change 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:17.179 before you come in. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.079 You've got to put 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:18.919 something else on. 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.039 Well, 00:24:19.560 --> 00:24:21.779 if you didn't, 00:24:23.060 --> 00:24:24.000 it would insult 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.580 the host. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.640 It's like this 00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:31.700 man at this wedding feast 00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:33.259 is saying, 00:24:34.320 --> 00:24:34.580 hey man, 00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:35.180 I don't have to change 00:24:35.180 --> 00:24:35.600 for you. 00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:36.640 Oh, 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.800 but you know what? 00:24:37.860 --> 00:24:38.660 Those bacon wrapped 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.340 water chestnuts, 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:39.880 I love them. 00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:41.259 I'll have another one 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.640 of those, 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:43.500 but I'm not changing. 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.400 In verse 12, 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.500 look at what the king does. 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.480 He asks 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:51.039 for an explanation. 00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:52.819 He asks 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:53.960 for an accounting. 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.680 He starts with 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.339 friend. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.660 How did you get in here 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.660 without a wedding garment? 00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.759 Did you not know 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.559 about the dress code? 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:04.119 Did you not know 00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:05.400 that a wedding garment 00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:06.140 is required 00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.680 to enter 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.680 this wedding hall 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.900 in order to celebrate 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:10.279 the wedding 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:11.279 of my son? 00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:14.380 And what we read 00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:15.039 in verse 12 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.839 is that this man's 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.500 response is 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.779 he was speechless 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.879 and the original 00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:20.079 language behind that 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:21.200 is he's muzzled. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:22.579 He didn't have 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.180 anything to say 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.579 and it wasn't 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.339 a speechlessness 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:25.859 like, 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:26.599 oh, 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.099 I had no idea. 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.599 Mom's the word. 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.480 Not that kind 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:30.980 of speechlessness. 00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:32.279 It's not the kind 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.940 of speechlessness 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.279 that comes from saying 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.240 he couldn't afford 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:36.139 his wedding garments. 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:38.039 That's not the issue here. 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.279 He was speechless 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:41.599 because he thought 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.680 he could skip 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:44.079 over the need 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:44.759 to change 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:47.200 and he didn't think 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.099 anyone would notice. 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:50.220 But who noticed? 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.759 The king noticed. 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:56.200 It's another snapshot 00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:56.819 of judgment. 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.019 There's a requirement 00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.859 to enter into the 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.299 wedding feast 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.779 of the son. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.339 There's a requirement 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:04.019 to enter the kingdom 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.559 of heaven 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.579 into salvation. 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:09.240 What is it? 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:13.039 Do I have to do 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.640 good works? 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:16.319 Do I need to show 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:18.400 myself as worthy 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.500 and so live 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.319 this perfect life 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.660 and maybe 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.740 he'll let me in? 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.339 John the Baptist 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:27.960 and Jesus, 00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:28.599 when they started 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.579 their public ministries, 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:31.160 they started preaching 00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:32.019 the same thing. 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:33.640 Repent 00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:35.319 for the kingdom 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.120 of heaven 00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:37.079 is at hand. 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.620 Repent. 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:40.259 Repentance 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.679 is a kind 00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:41.319 of change. 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:43.000 Repentance 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.899 is a change 00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:44.619 of heart 00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:45.500 from trusting 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.179 in something 00:26:46.179 --> 00:26:47.159 that is unable 00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:48.119 to save you. 00:26:48.459 --> 00:26:48.819 In fact, 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:49.639 if you're trusting it, 00:26:49.879 --> 00:26:51.159 it condemns you 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:52.399 and so you move 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.559 from trusting 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.500 in something 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.939 other than God 00:26:55.939 --> 00:26:57.859 to trusting 00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.879 in the only one 00:26:58.879 --> 00:27:00.000 who can save you. 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:04.079 It shows up 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:04.759 in things like 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:06.019 from trusting 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:07.519 in alcohol 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.900 to make everything 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.940 just right. 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.579 You turn from that, 00:27:11.639 --> 00:27:12.639 you repent of that 00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.720 from trusting 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:15.920 and buying things 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:17.200 in order to scratch 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:17.900 that itch 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.619 you got inside. 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.180 That's not going 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:19.839 to save you. 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.779 Trusting in the next 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:23.119 sexual encounter, 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.799 that's not going 00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.879 to fulfill your life. 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.639 You've got to turn 00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:30.519 from trusting 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.879 in your own obedience 00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:33.279 to God's commands 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.279 in order to make you 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.779 acceptable in God's sight. 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:37.319 You've got to repent 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.500 of that kind of thinking. 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:42.319 This man is in 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:42.980 the wedding hall 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:44.720 but he's not wearing 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:46.000 the right clothes. 00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:48.779 He didn't come in right. 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.819 He didn't come in 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:52.500 with the right clothes, 00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:54.220 posture of heart. 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.399 His confidence 00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:57.599 was in something else. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.759 His sense of calling 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.779 was somewhere else. 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:01.440 He wasn't there 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.960 for the wedding feast 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:04.259 of the Son. 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.620 In Matthew 16, 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.799 Jesus talks about this 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.579 as, hey, 00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:13.259 if anyone would come 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.680 after me, 00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:15.579 they need to deny themselves. 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.640 Deny yourself. 00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:19.340 Take up your cross 00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:20.240 and follow me. 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:22.000 This is another way 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.460 of talking, 00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:23.779 hey, are you willing 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:25.240 to deny yourself 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:26.100 to be a follower 00:28:26.100 --> 00:28:26.660 of Jesus? 00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:26.820 Jesus? 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:30.920 And in verse 13, 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.940 what the king does next 00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:33.620 is somewhat surprising. 00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:35.060 He has his servants 00:28:35.060 --> 00:28:37.540 bind this wrongly dressed man 00:28:37.540 --> 00:28:38.800 and cast him out 00:28:38.800 --> 00:28:39.540 of the wedding feast 00:28:39.540 --> 00:28:40.779 into outer darkness 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.940 where there's weeping 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.759 and gnashing of teeth. 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.920 And we've come across 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:44.800 that phrase before 00:28:44.800 --> 00:28:46.259 in the Gospel of Matthew. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.380 And what that phrase 00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:48.060 talks about 00:28:48.060 --> 00:28:49.740 is the agony and pain 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:51.019 that takes place 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:51.960 in the place 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:53.180 of eternal judgment. 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:56.160 And so this is one 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.140 of those points 00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:58.000 in this parable 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.259 where this parable 00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:01.060 bleeds into reality. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:02.880 The consequences 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:04.019 of trying to enter 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.920 the kingdom of heaven 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:06.560 without repenting. 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:08.000 Trying to come in 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.259 on my terms, 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.740 not the king's terms. 00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.720 The consequences 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.840 of that is so severe. 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.660 Our legal system 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.220 in the United States 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:23.700 is broken. 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:25.540 I think we realize that. 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.540 Different people 00:29:26.540 --> 00:29:27.480 are treated differently 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:28.980 based upon who they are. 00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:29.960 We know that. 00:29:31.120 --> 00:29:32.160 But still, 00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:35.019 there is an intention 00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:36.640 in our legal system 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.620 to make sure 00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:38.640 a punishment 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:40.460 fits the crime. 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.740 So part of what 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:43.360 the job of a judge 00:29:43.360 --> 00:29:44.240 is to make sure 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.920 a punishment 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:46.900 fits a crime, 00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:48.560 fits an offense. 00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:49.660 And so this morning, 00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:50.860 let's just ask the question, 00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:52.459 does this guy 00:29:52.459 --> 00:29:54.019 getting kicked out 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:55.379 of this wedding feast 00:29:55.379 --> 00:29:56.079 because he's wearing 00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:56.979 the wrong clothes, 00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:59.379 is that fitting? 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:02.479 Is that fair? 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:09.799 If the wedding garments 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:11.140 represent repentance, 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.140 then yes, 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:13.640 it is fair. 00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:16.680 The punishment 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.559 does fit the crime. 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:20.799 There's more going on here 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.940 than just a wardrobe 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:22.440 malfunction. 00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:25.440 It's a posture of heart. 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:28.140 It's a willingness 00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:28.779 to say, 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.140 there is no way 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:31.420 I can get into this party 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.259 on my own. 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.559 There's nothing 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.180 I can do. 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.220 In fact, 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.320 all the things 00:30:37.320 --> 00:30:37.880 I've done 00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:39.360 would keep me out. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.100 I've got to turn 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:42.799 from those. 00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:44.279 Recognize those. 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.880 So if you're unwilling 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:48.059 to turn from your sin, 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.559 what Jesus is saying 00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:51.900 is you're not allowed 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.740 into the wedding feast. 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:56.720 You must acknowledge 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.940 your sin before God 00:30:57.940 --> 00:31:00.940 so that you can be saved. 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:04.059 So the second stage 00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:04.640 of the parable 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:06.640 focuses on one guy 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:07.640 who responded 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.720 to the invitation 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:10.140 for anyone to come, 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:10.980 but he did not 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.140 respond rightly. 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.220 He came in 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:15.099 thinking he wouldn't 00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:15.559 be noticed. 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:16.599 He came in 00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:18.019 skipping the thought 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.680 that he needs 00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:19.339 to actually 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:21.279 change his clothes. 00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:24.960 And by doing so, 00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:26.420 he offends 00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:27.380 the king. 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:29.140 He wasn't coming in 00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:30.180 on the king's 00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:30.960 terms. 00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:36.880 The king noticed. 00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:41.480 He notices you. 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:44.720 He knows 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:46.319 your thinking. 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:48.259 He knows 00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:49.019 your posture 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.539 of heart. 00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.859 He knows 00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:53.799 what you're wearing. 00:31:56.159 --> 00:31:57.299 In both of these 00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:58.460 stages of this parable, 00:31:58.559 --> 00:31:59.559 we have two examples 00:31:59.559 --> 00:32:01.419 of what keeps 00:32:01.419 --> 00:32:02.619 people out 00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:04.079 of the kingdom. 00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:04.980 The first 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.700 are those who don't 00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.559 even respond. 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.579 The second 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:09.619 is one who responds 00:32:09.619 --> 00:32:11.460 but doesn't respond 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.500 according to God's 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.159 requirements. 00:32:13.679 --> 00:32:14.200 Repent 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.980 for the kingdom 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:15.480 of heaven 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.519 is near. 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:17.600 And therefore, 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:19.279 both are excluded 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.299 from the kingdom. 00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:23.440 They're all invited 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:25.799 but only a few 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.240 get in. 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.640 Which brings us 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.180 to 14. 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:30.600 Jesus 00:32:30.600 --> 00:32:31.519 concluding 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.580 summary of this 00:32:32.580 --> 00:32:32.980 parable. 00:32:33.340 --> 00:32:33.980 He says, 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.380 for many are called 00:32:35.380 --> 00:32:37.019 but few are chosen. 00:32:38.100 --> 00:32:38.920 This idea 00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.799 of being called 00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.700 is the sense 00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:41.519 of being invited. 00:32:42.120 --> 00:32:42.740 And we see it 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.519 throughout the whole 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:43.940 parable. 00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:44.940 Invitation 00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:46.099 after invitation 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:47.099 to varying groups 00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:47.539 of people. 00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:48.980 Come to the wedding 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.519 feast. 00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:51.299 Come. 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:51.400 Come. 00:32:55.400 --> 00:32:56.799 Under the new covenant, 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.619 God extends 00:32:58.619 --> 00:33:00.059 the invitation 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:01.299 to everyone. 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.379 Everyone 00:33:04.379 --> 00:33:05.460 from everywhere 00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:06.299 is welcome 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:07.519 to come into, 00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:08.839 invited to come 00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:10.480 into the party 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.379 of salvation 00:33:11.379 --> 00:33:12.139 with Jesus 00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:12.800 at the center 00:33:12.800 --> 00:33:13.160 of it. 00:33:15.100 --> 00:33:15.780 Many have been 00:33:15.780 --> 00:33:16.080 invited. 00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.380 Theologically 00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:19.800 speaking, 00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:20.640 this is known 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:21.340 as the general 00:33:21.340 --> 00:33:22.660 call of the gospel. 00:33:22.820 --> 00:33:23.320 The gospel 00:33:23.320 --> 00:33:25.520 is sent out 00:33:25.520 --> 00:33:26.180 generally. 00:33:26.320 --> 00:33:26.920 You don't know 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.840 who's going to respond. 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.980 You proclaim it 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:30.380 and it goes out 00:33:30.380 --> 00:33:31.220 to everyone 00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:31.900 you can. 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:33.300 That's what we 00:33:33.300 --> 00:33:33.660 want to do 00:33:33.660 --> 00:33:34.220 here in this church. 00:33:34.280 --> 00:33:34.759 We want to get 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:35.600 the gospel out. 00:33:36.360 --> 00:33:37.160 We don't know 00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:37.780 who will respond 00:33:37.780 --> 00:33:38.480 but we want to get 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:38.980 it out 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:40.740 to every nook 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.120 and cranny 00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.720 of the city. 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.180 We don't know 00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:46.620 how people 00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:47.380 are going to respond 00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:48.680 and so from our 00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:49.180 perspective, 00:33:49.319 --> 00:33:50.160 the general call 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:51.640 goes out 00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:53.039 and we're extending 00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:54.079 the invitation 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:55.140 of the king 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:56.380 to come to the 00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:56.940 wedding feast 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.660 of the son. 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:01.700 Many are called. 00:34:01.860 --> 00:34:02.140 Many. 00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:04.120 But few are chosen. 00:34:05.360 --> 00:34:06.200 The few 00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:07.000 that Jesus 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.759 is speaking about 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:08.780 is a subset 00:34:08.780 --> 00:34:09.699 of the many. 00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:11.800 Of the many 00:34:11.800 --> 00:34:12.260 invited 00:34:12.260 --> 00:34:14.000 to the wedding feast 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:15.280 only a fraction 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:16.179 will come in. 00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.880 Only a few 00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:18.880 will be saved. 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.539 And this should 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.599 maybe ring a bell 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.980 from Matthew chapter 7. 00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:24.619 Enter by the narrow gate 00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:25.760 for the gate is wide 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:26.699 and the way is easy 00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:28.139 that leads to destruction 00:34:28.139 --> 00:34:29.639 and those who enter 00:34:29.639 --> 00:34:30.480 by it 00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.420 are many. 00:34:32.740 --> 00:34:33.860 For the gate is narrow 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:35.179 and the way is hard 00:34:35.179 --> 00:34:36.239 that leads to life 00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:37.579 and those who find it 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.839 are few. 00:34:39.799 --> 00:34:40.319 Many. 00:34:40.859 --> 00:34:41.279 Few. 00:34:41.819 --> 00:34:43.159 Many are invited. 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:46.259 Few are chosen. 00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.639 And that word chosen 00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:50.599 gets at this sense 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:52.960 that these are the 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:54.679 legit of God. 00:34:54.879 --> 00:34:55.759 These are the ones 00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:57.259 God himself knows 00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:59.399 belong to him. 00:34:59.699 --> 00:35:00.619 We see the same word 00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.779 show up in Matthew 24. 00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:03.640 There it's used 00:35:03.640 --> 00:35:04.560 in terms of the word 00:35:04.560 --> 00:35:05.180 elect. 00:35:05.820 --> 00:35:06.940 And when Jesus uses it 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:08.019 in Matthew 24 that way 00:35:08.019 --> 00:35:08.480 he's talking about 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.920 those God knows 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:10.660 who are generally 00:35:10.660 --> 00:35:11.980 his. 00:35:12.600 --> 00:35:13.800 Those who belong to him. 00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:15.700 These are the folks 00:35:15.700 --> 00:35:17.080 that Jesus talks about 00:35:17.080 --> 00:35:17.940 in Matthew 11 00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:18.240 where 00:35:18.240 --> 00:35:20.320 he has chosen 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:21.800 to reveal the father to 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:23.100 that 00:35:23.100 --> 00:35:24.360 Jesus chooses 00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:25.340 to do that. 00:35:27.040 --> 00:35:28.519 In theological terms 00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.639 this is getting at the 00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:30.159 idea of 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:31.920 effectual call. 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:34.019 When the gospel 00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:34.780 is proclaimed 00:35:34.780 --> 00:35:35.800 those to whom 00:35:35.800 --> 00:35:36.820 the son has chosen 00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:37.739 to reveal the father 00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:39.139 they will respond 00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:39.719 in repentance 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:40.300 and faith. 00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:41.619 God knows that 00:35:41.619 --> 00:35:42.800 he has elected them 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.480 from the before 00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.119 the foundation 00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:44.980 of the world. 00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:49.059 When the gospel 00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:49.880 is proclaimed 00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:50.519 to all 00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.079 in general 00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:52.179 only some 00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:53.460 will respond 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.460 effectually. 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:57.420 those whom 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:57.860 the son 00:35:57.860 --> 00:35:58.280 has chosen 00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:58.720 to reveal 00:35:58.720 --> 00:35:59.199 the father. 00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:01.500 And so what 00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.260 Jesus is saying 00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:02.699 here is 00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:03.159 hey 00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:04.619 many are called 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.619 this parable 00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:06.539 shows as many 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.159 are called 00:36:07.159 --> 00:36:08.500 but few 00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:10.199 are actually 00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:11.179 chosen. 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:12.679 Few actually 00:36:12.679 --> 00:36:13.699 belong 00:36:13.699 --> 00:36:14.360 to God. 00:36:15.139 --> 00:36:15.500 And so what 00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:16.280 Jesus seems to be 00:36:16.280 --> 00:36:16.760 saying here is 00:36:16.760 --> 00:36:17.980 don't confuse 00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:18.980 the invitation 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.760 with the response. 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:22.619 And for 00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:23.460 those 00:36:23.460 --> 00:36:24.460 Jews 00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:25.320 who are hearing 00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:26.199 Jesus say that 00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:27.380 he is radically 00:36:27.380 --> 00:36:28.159 shifting their 00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:29.240 understanding. 00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:30.500 You're not chosen. 00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.440 You've rejected 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:32.960 the son. 00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:41.280 So what is this 00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:43.159 point of this 00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:43.599 parable? 00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:47.400 The point is this. 00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:49.280 You've got to 00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:49.860 rightly 00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:51.079 respond 00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:52.400 to the gracious 00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:53.380 invitation 00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:54.380 to the 00:36:54.380 --> 00:36:55.119 wedding feast 00:36:55.119 --> 00:36:55.880 of the son. 00:36:56.780 --> 00:36:57.760 It's all 00:36:57.760 --> 00:36:58.660 about 00:36:58.660 --> 00:36:59.480 how 00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:00.660 you respond. 00:37:01.160 --> 00:37:01.559 God's 00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:02.099 gracious 00:37:02.099 --> 00:37:02.920 invitation 00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:04.500 calls for 00:37:04.500 --> 00:37:05.680 an appropriate 00:37:05.680 --> 00:37:06.980 response. 00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:12.219 how we respond 00:37:12.219 --> 00:37:13.619 to the king's 00:37:13.619 --> 00:37:14.139 invitation 00:37:14.139 --> 00:37:15.300 matters. 00:37:15.300 --> 00:37:16.260 The first 00:37:16.260 --> 00:37:16.719 group 00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:18.039 they rejected 00:37:18.039 --> 00:37:18.960 the invitation 00:37:18.960 --> 00:37:19.920 and they 00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.780 suffered a 00:37:20.780 --> 00:37:21.480 severe 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:22.820 justice 00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:23.500 for it. 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:24.380 The second 00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:24.780 group 00:37:24.780 --> 00:37:25.519 represented by 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:25.960 the one 00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:26.619 who was not 00:37:26.619 --> 00:37:27.519 wearing 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.740 the wedding 00:37:28.740 --> 00:37:29.260 garments. 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:30.699 He was 00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:31.240 invited. 00:37:31.400 --> 00:37:31.900 He came. 00:37:31.980 --> 00:37:32.380 He showed 00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:32.639 up. 00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.299 But he 00:37:33.299 --> 00:37:33.779 wasn't 00:37:33.779 --> 00:37:34.079 wearing 00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:34.539 the right 00:37:34.539 --> 00:37:35.199 clothes. 00:37:36.379 --> 00:37:37.319 He wasn't 00:37:37.319 --> 00:37:37.980 responding 00:37:37.980 --> 00:37:39.739 in repentance. 00:37:41.279 --> 00:37:42.219 You think he 00:37:42.219 --> 00:37:43.159 could get in 00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:44.259 on his own 00:37:44.259 --> 00:37:44.879 terms. 00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:46.519 How you 00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:47.799 respond to 00:37:47.799 --> 00:37:48.279 the king's 00:37:48.279 --> 00:37:48.799 invitation 00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:49.420 matters. 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:49.859 You must 00:37:49.859 --> 00:37:50.460 respond 00:37:50.460 --> 00:37:51.659 rightly. 00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:53.079 And so what 00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:53.639 does this mean 00:37:53.639 --> 00:37:54.460 for us today? 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:56.720 What does 00:37:56.720 --> 00:37:57.019 this mean? 00:37:57.099 --> 00:37:57.559 What is this 00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:57.960 parable? 00:37:58.039 --> 00:37:58.320 How does 00:37:58.320 --> 00:37:58.820 this show 00:37:58.820 --> 00:37:59.260 up in our 00:37:59.260 --> 00:37:59.820 lives today? 00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:01.260 Well here's 00:38:01.260 --> 00:38:01.500 how. 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.780 The God 00:38:03.780 --> 00:38:04.240 that Jesus 00:38:04.240 --> 00:38:04.980 was referring 00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:05.619 to in 00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:07.139 this parable 00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:07.659 is the 00:38:07.659 --> 00:38:08.500 same God 00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.599 today. 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:11.000 He's a 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:11.480 God who 00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:12.220 is gracious 00:38:12.220 --> 00:38:13.000 and is 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.639 extending 00:38:13.639 --> 00:38:14.539 the invitation 00:38:14.539 --> 00:38:15.039 to the 00:38:15.039 --> 00:38:15.599 wedding feast 00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:16.840 to everyone 00:38:16.840 --> 00:38:18.039 today. 00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:19.400 To you. 00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:20.840 He's inviting 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:21.940 you to come 00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:23.079 into his 00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:24.099 celebration 00:38:24.099 --> 00:38:24.719 of his 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:25.099 son. 00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:28.139 Come. 00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:29.539 If you 00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:30.119 have not 00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:31.239 responded to 00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:32.139 the invitation 00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:33.239 by God 00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:33.880 himself to 00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:34.460 come into 00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:34.900 the kingdom 00:38:34.900 --> 00:38:35.319 of heaven, 00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:37.119 come into 00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:37.679 the kingdom. 00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:39.279 Respond. 00:38:39.739 --> 00:38:40.279 Say yes, 00:38:40.319 --> 00:38:40.860 I'm coming. 00:38:43.480 --> 00:38:44.299 He's a 00:38:44.299 --> 00:38:44.699 gracious, 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:45.639 wonderful God 00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:48.179 who invites 00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:48.739 all to 00:38:48.739 --> 00:38:49.059 come. 00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:52.279 But the 00:38:52.279 --> 00:38:52.860 same God 00:38:52.860 --> 00:38:53.380 is a God 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:53.980 of authority 00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:54.659 and justice. 00:38:55.099 --> 00:38:55.740 For those 00:38:55.740 --> 00:38:56.380 who reject 00:38:56.380 --> 00:38:57.199 the invitation, 00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:00.280 he speaks 00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:00.760 of it as 00:39:00.760 --> 00:39:01.480 destruction, 00:39:01.740 --> 00:39:02.380 casting into 00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:03.300 outer darkness. 00:39:04.360 --> 00:39:05.260 To reject 00:39:05.260 --> 00:39:06.079 his invitation 00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:07.719 outright or 00:39:07.719 --> 00:39:08.320 to try to 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:09.440 twist it to 00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:10.019 make it fit 00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:10.860 your life 00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:13.619 is met 00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.039 with severe 00:39:14.039 --> 00:39:14.599 justice. 00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:14.920 God. 00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:18.079 But there's 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:18.440 one thing 00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:18.900 else I want 00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.219 to point 00:39:19.219 --> 00:39:19.579 you to 00:39:19.579 --> 00:39:20.519 about this 00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:20.940 God that 00:39:20.940 --> 00:39:21.539 Jesus speaks 00:39:21.539 --> 00:39:21.819 of in 00:39:21.819 --> 00:39:22.319 this parable. 00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:24.719 This king 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:25.779 is a father 00:39:25.779 --> 00:39:26.599 who delights 00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:27.099 in his son. 00:39:28.099 --> 00:39:29.099 This king 00:39:29.099 --> 00:39:30.000 is a father 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:30.659 who delights 00:39:30.659 --> 00:39:31.039 in his son. 00:39:31.099 --> 00:39:31.559 We see it in 00:39:31.559 --> 00:39:31.900 the other 00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:32.559 parables as 00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:32.759 well. 00:39:32.900 --> 00:39:33.679 The parable 00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:34.179 of those two 00:39:34.179 --> 00:39:34.559 sons, 00:39:34.739 --> 00:39:35.639 there's father-son 00:39:35.639 --> 00:39:35.960 theme. 00:39:36.199 --> 00:39:36.739 The parable 00:39:36.739 --> 00:39:37.319 of the tenants, 00:39:37.659 --> 00:39:38.239 there's a father 00:39:38.239 --> 00:39:39.039 sending his son 00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:39.980 theme. 00:39:40.219 --> 00:39:40.880 And here, 00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:42.059 we have a father 00:39:42.059 --> 00:39:43.460 delighting in 00:39:43.460 --> 00:39:44.039 his son. 00:39:45.800 --> 00:39:46.340 In fact, 00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:47.300 God the father 00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:48.260 set a plan 00:39:48.260 --> 00:39:48.920 in place 00:39:48.920 --> 00:39:49.380 from before 00:39:49.380 --> 00:39:50.059 the foundation 00:39:50.059 --> 00:39:50.639 of the world 00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:51.559 to unite 00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:52.639 all things 00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:53.179 together 00:39:53.179 --> 00:39:54.420 in his son 00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:55.059 Jesus. 00:39:56.300 --> 00:39:57.039 It's the 00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:57.720 greatest party 00:39:57.720 --> 00:39:58.019 ever. 00:40:00.300 --> 00:40:01.079 So you've 00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:01.880 got to remember 00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:03.220 that the God 00:40:03.220 --> 00:40:04.820 of this 00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:05.280 parable 00:40:05.280 --> 00:40:07.480 is the God 00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:07.820 who is 00:40:07.820 --> 00:40:08.599 reigning today. 00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:11.420 The second 00:40:11.420 --> 00:40:12.059 thing I want 00:40:12.059 --> 00:40:13.199 to call you 00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:13.420 to, 00:40:13.460 --> 00:40:14.079 is to 00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:14.639 honestly 00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:15.340 examine 00:40:15.340 --> 00:40:15.940 yourself. 00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:17.539 To take 00:40:17.539 --> 00:40:18.260 stock 00:40:18.260 --> 00:40:19.220 of yourself. 00:40:19.900 --> 00:40:20.960 It's possible 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:21.820 to delude 00:40:21.820 --> 00:40:22.500 yourself 00:40:22.500 --> 00:40:23.119 into thinking 00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:23.460 that, 00:40:23.800 --> 00:40:23.880 hey, 00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:24.659 I'm in. 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:26.599 Maybe you're 00:40:26.599 --> 00:40:26.900 not. 00:40:29.619 --> 00:40:30.539 What are you 00:40:30.539 --> 00:40:30.840 wearing? 00:40:30.840 --> 00:40:31.119 What are you 00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:31.139 wearing? 00:40:34.099 --> 00:40:35.320 In 2 Corinthians 00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:36.079 13, 5, 00:40:36.159 --> 00:40:36.740 Paul writes 00:40:36.740 --> 00:40:37.659 to a church, 00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:40.179 a people 00:40:40.179 --> 00:40:40.800 who profess 00:40:40.800 --> 00:40:41.740 to be followers 00:40:41.740 --> 00:40:42.320 of Jesus. 00:40:42.320 --> 00:40:42.460 Jesus. 00:40:44.340 --> 00:40:44.920 And he 00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:45.700 urges them 00:40:45.700 --> 00:40:46.460 to examine 00:40:46.460 --> 00:40:47.019 themselves 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:47.519 to see 00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:47.860 if they're 00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:48.300 in the 00:40:48.300 --> 00:40:48.600 faith, 00:40:48.760 --> 00:40:49.140 to see 00:40:49.140 --> 00:40:49.559 if they 00:40:49.559 --> 00:40:50.039 are in 00:40:50.039 --> 00:40:50.500 Christ, 00:40:50.620 --> 00:40:50.900 to see 00:40:50.900 --> 00:40:51.120 if they're 00:40:51.120 --> 00:40:51.320 in the 00:40:51.320 --> 00:40:51.580 kingdom. 00:40:51.579 --> 00:40:51.699 them. 00:40:55.699 --> 00:40:56.019 Paul were 00:40:56.019 --> 00:40:56.380 to use 00:40:56.380 --> 00:40:56.779 the words 00:40:56.779 --> 00:40:57.259 of this 00:40:57.259 --> 00:40:57.639 parable, 00:40:57.759 --> 00:40:58.319 he's like, 00:40:58.460 --> 00:40:58.559 hey, 00:40:58.900 --> 00:40:59.159 are you 00:40:59.159 --> 00:40:59.779 guys sure 00:40:59.779 --> 00:40:59.940 you're 00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:00.239 wearing the 00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:01.000 right stuff? 00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:03.759 And this 00:41:03.759 --> 00:41:04.039 morning, 00:41:04.099 --> 00:41:04.480 I just want 00:41:04.480 --> 00:41:04.900 to give you 00:41:04.900 --> 00:41:05.920 two questions 00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:07.159 to be asking 00:41:07.159 --> 00:41:08.639 yourself to 00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:09.180 examine 00:41:09.180 --> 00:41:10.300 yourself to 00:41:10.300 --> 00:41:10.680 see if, 00:41:10.840 --> 00:41:11.099 in fact, 00:41:11.159 --> 00:41:11.599 you are 00:41:11.599 --> 00:41:12.000 in the 00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:12.280 kingdom. 00:41:13.659 --> 00:41:14.200 Here are 00:41:14.200 --> 00:41:14.400 the two 00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:14.820 questions. 00:41:15.720 --> 00:41:16.039 Question 00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:16.539 number one, 00:41:18.539 --> 00:41:18.980 where is 00:41:18.980 --> 00:41:19.539 your confidence? 00:41:21.260 --> 00:41:22.079 What does 00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:23.019 your salvation 00:41:23.019 --> 00:41:24.460 depend on? 00:41:25.460 --> 00:41:26.559 If you think 00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:27.139 that your 00:41:27.139 --> 00:41:28.200 salvation depends 00:41:28.200 --> 00:41:29.099 upon your 00:41:29.099 --> 00:41:30.119 work and 00:41:30.119 --> 00:41:31.260 actions to 00:41:31.260 --> 00:41:32.000 get you into 00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:32.400 the wedding 00:41:32.400 --> 00:41:33.300 feast, you've 00:41:33.300 --> 00:41:33.860 got the 00:41:33.860 --> 00:41:34.800 wrong clothes 00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:35.200 on. 00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:39.640 Your 00:41:39.640 --> 00:41:40.420 confidence is 00:41:40.420 --> 00:41:41.000 not in what 00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:41.640 you do, 00:41:42.380 --> 00:41:43.380 it's what 00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:44.660 the Son has 00:41:44.660 --> 00:41:44.980 done. 00:41:46.700 --> 00:41:47.620 Three days 00:41:47.620 --> 00:41:48.600 from what 00:41:48.600 --> 00:41:49.180 Jesus speaks 00:41:49.180 --> 00:41:49.780 this parable, 00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:50.320 he will be 00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:51.019 hanging on a 00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:51.880 cross and 00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:52.880 he will be 00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:53.620 bearing the 00:41:53.620 --> 00:41:54.560 wrath of God 00:41:54.560 --> 00:41:55.519 for the sins 00:41:55.519 --> 00:41:56.300 of all those 00:41:56.300 --> 00:41:56.580 who would 00:41:56.580 --> 00:41:57.080 believe in 00:41:57.080 --> 00:41:57.340 him. 00:41:58.220 --> 00:41:58.960 That's the 00:41:58.960 --> 00:41:59.400 work. 00:42:00.820 --> 00:42:01.539 That's the 00:42:01.539 --> 00:42:02.039 confidence. 00:42:03.300 --> 00:42:03.880 you must 00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:04.580 turn from 00:42:04.580 --> 00:42:05.620 trusting in 00:42:05.620 --> 00:42:07.500 yourself and 00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:08.200 set your 00:42:08.200 --> 00:42:08.800 heart on 00:42:08.800 --> 00:42:09.140 Jesus. 00:42:11.380 --> 00:42:12.080 Where's your 00:42:12.080 --> 00:42:12.460 confidence? 00:42:13.580 --> 00:42:14.100 What's your 00:42:14.100 --> 00:42:14.460 calling? 00:42:14.700 --> 00:42:15.400 Second question, 00:42:15.600 --> 00:42:15.980 what's your 00:42:15.980 --> 00:42:16.340 calling? 00:42:17.060 --> 00:42:17.820 What's your 00:42:17.820 --> 00:42:18.740 aim in life? 00:42:19.480 --> 00:42:20.600 If your aim 00:42:20.600 --> 00:42:21.600 is to advance 00:42:21.600 --> 00:42:22.560 yourself, 00:42:23.340 --> 00:42:24.039 you're wearing 00:42:24.039 --> 00:42:24.600 the wrong 00:42:24.600 --> 00:42:25.320 clothes. 00:42:26.760 --> 00:42:28.140 If your aim 00:42:28.140 --> 00:42:29.800 is Christ's 00:42:29.800 --> 00:42:30.380 glory, 00:42:31.620 --> 00:42:32.380 welcome to 00:42:32.380 --> 00:42:32.880 the kingdom. 00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:36.240 Come on 00:42:36.240 --> 00:42:36.480 in. 00:42:40.660 --> 00:42:41.300 What's your 00:42:41.300 --> 00:42:41.740 confidence? 00:42:43.019 --> 00:42:43.680 What's your 00:42:43.680 --> 00:42:44.039 calling? 00:42:46.220 --> 00:42:46.780 Repentance 00:42:46.780 --> 00:42:47.740 means turning 00:42:47.740 --> 00:42:49.360 away from 00:42:49.360 --> 00:42:50.360 trusting in 00:42:50.360 --> 00:42:51.260 yourself to 00:42:51.260 --> 00:42:51.800 get into the 00:42:51.800 --> 00:42:52.099 kingdom. 00:42:52.440 --> 00:42:53.400 It turns away 00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:54.340 living for 00:42:54.340 --> 00:42:54.920 yourself. 00:42:55.460 --> 00:42:56.019 Whoever would 00:42:56.019 --> 00:42:56.780 follow me must 00:42:56.780 --> 00:42:57.760 deny himself, 00:42:58.180 --> 00:42:58.660 take up his 00:42:58.660 --> 00:42:59.500 cross and 00:42:59.500 --> 00:43:00.059 follow me. 00:43:00.059 --> 00:43:04.320 take stock 00:43:04.320 --> 00:43:04.880 of yourself. 00:43:08.679 --> 00:43:09.539 There's one 00:43:09.539 --> 00:43:10.400 other piece 00:43:10.400 --> 00:43:11.059 of application 00:43:11.059 --> 00:43:11.480 here. 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:14.980 And it's 00:43:14.980 --> 00:43:16.500 secondary but 00:43:16.500 --> 00:43:17.559 significant. 00:43:18.059 --> 00:43:18.980 Do you 00:43:18.980 --> 00:43:20.719 remember what 00:43:20.719 --> 00:43:21.380 happened when 00:43:21.380 --> 00:43:22.440 Jesus was 00:43:22.440 --> 00:43:23.059 speaking this 00:43:23.059 --> 00:43:23.699 parable and 00:43:23.699 --> 00:43:25.519 that initial 00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:26.299 group that was 00:43:26.299 --> 00:43:27.119 invited to the 00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:27.739 kingdom, they 00:43:27.739 --> 00:43:29.559 rejected the 00:43:29.559 --> 00:43:30.039 invitation? 00:43:31.179 --> 00:43:31.639 The king 00:43:31.639 --> 00:43:33.099 sent out the 00:43:33.099 --> 00:43:34.119 invitation to 00:43:34.119 --> 00:43:35.579 anyone. 00:43:38.219 --> 00:43:39.159 We see 00:43:39.159 --> 00:43:40.179 God's heart 00:43:40.179 --> 00:43:42.059 to invite 00:43:42.059 --> 00:43:43.139 anyone 00:43:43.139 --> 00:43:44.619 into the 00:43:44.619 --> 00:43:45.259 wedding feast 00:43:45.259 --> 00:43:45.599 of the 00:43:45.599 --> 00:43:45.879 son. 00:43:47.479 --> 00:43:48.299 Here's what 00:43:48.299 --> 00:43:48.839 that means for 00:43:48.839 --> 00:43:49.199 us. 00:43:50.019 --> 00:43:50.579 There are 00:43:50.579 --> 00:43:51.839 people all 00:43:51.839 --> 00:43:52.459 over the 00:43:52.459 --> 00:43:54.239 city that 00:43:54.239 --> 00:43:54.799 are waiting 00:43:54.799 --> 00:43:55.179 on an 00:43:55.179 --> 00:43:55.659 invitation. 00:43:55.659 --> 00:43:57.399 and we 00:43:57.399 --> 00:43:57.899 get to 00:43:57.899 --> 00:43:58.339 say, hey, 00:43:58.379 --> 00:43:58.579 do you 00:43:58.579 --> 00:43:58.859 want to 00:43:58.859 --> 00:43:59.199 come to 00:43:59.199 --> 00:43:59.519 the wedding 00:43:59.519 --> 00:43:59.899 feast? 00:44:00.899 --> 00:44:01.339 Do you 00:44:01.339 --> 00:44:01.639 want to 00:44:01.639 --> 00:44:02.399 come to 00:44:02.399 --> 00:44:02.719 the wedding 00:44:02.719 --> 00:44:02.920 feast? 00:44:03.519 --> 00:44:04.079 God 00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:05.399 over all 00:44:05.399 --> 00:44:06.420 has invited 00:44:06.420 --> 00:44:07.399 you to 00:44:07.399 --> 00:44:08.559 come to 00:44:08.559 --> 00:44:08.920 the wedding 00:44:08.920 --> 00:44:09.379 feast. 00:44:10.219 --> 00:44:11.119 And all 00:44:11.119 --> 00:44:11.679 you need to 00:44:11.679 --> 00:44:13.059 do is wear 00:44:13.059 --> 00:44:13.440 the right 00:44:13.440 --> 00:44:13.839 clothes. 00:44:14.719 --> 00:44:15.119 And what 00:44:15.119 --> 00:44:15.799 those clothes 00:44:15.799 --> 00:44:17.239 are is to 00:44:17.239 --> 00:44:17.799 humbly 00:44:17.799 --> 00:44:19.079 acknowledge your 00:44:19.079 --> 00:44:20.420 need for 00:44:20.420 --> 00:44:21.199 God. 00:44:22.339 --> 00:44:23.379 To repent 00:44:23.379 --> 00:44:25.079 and trust 00:44:25.079 --> 00:44:25.420 him. 00:44:27.659 --> 00:44:28.179 This 00:44:28.179 --> 00:44:28.739 morning, maybe 00:44:28.739 --> 00:44:29.400 you're realizing 00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:30.000 that you 00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:30.679 have been 00:44:30.679 --> 00:44:31.739 responding to 00:44:31.739 --> 00:44:32.559 God's gracious 00:44:32.559 --> 00:44:33.679 invitation on 00:44:33.679 --> 00:44:34.179 your own 00:44:34.179 --> 00:44:34.679 terms. 00:44:36.380 --> 00:44:36.980 Well, you 00:44:36.980 --> 00:44:37.599 don't need to 00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:38.980 be speechless 00:44:38.980 --> 00:44:39.920 like the guy 00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:40.519 that we saw 00:44:40.519 --> 00:44:40.779 in the 00:44:40.779 --> 00:44:41.179 parable. 00:44:42.019 --> 00:44:43.019 To respond 00:44:43.019 --> 00:44:44.539 rightly to 00:44:44.539 --> 00:44:45.199 God's gracious 00:44:45.199 --> 00:44:47.139 invitation is 00:44:47.139 --> 00:44:47.519 to deny 00:44:47.519 --> 00:44:48.420 yourself, take 00:44:48.420 --> 00:44:48.699 up your 00:44:48.699 --> 00:44:49.400 cross, and 00:44:49.400 --> 00:44:50.179 follow Jesus. 00:44:50.920 --> 00:44:51.440 And all 00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:52.000 that you need 00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:53.179 to say is, 00:44:53.179 --> 00:44:54.139 Lord Jesus, 00:44:55.179 --> 00:44:56.199 change me, 00:44:57.039 --> 00:44:58.059 change me, 00:44:58.659 --> 00:44:59.319 and welcome 00:44:59.319 --> 00:44:59.839 me in. 00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:02.980 Let's pray. 00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:05.399 God in 00:45:05.399 --> 00:45:05.659 heaven, 00:45:06.619 --> 00:45:09.159 we do 00:45:09.159 --> 00:45:09.719 thank you so 00:45:09.719 --> 00:45:10.359 much that 00:45:10.359 --> 00:45:11.899 you are a 00:45:11.899 --> 00:45:13.059 gracious God 00:45:13.059 --> 00:45:15.039 who warmly 00:45:15.039 --> 00:45:16.379 invites sinners 00:45:16.379 --> 00:45:17.960 into the 00:45:17.960 --> 00:45:18.500 kingdom of 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.779 heaven. 00:45:18.780 --> 00:45:21.380 God, you 00:45:21.380 --> 00:45:22.860 part of that 00:45:22.860 --> 00:45:23.760 invitation is a 00:45:23.760 --> 00:45:24.380 call to 00:45:24.380 --> 00:45:26.600 repent, to 00:45:26.600 --> 00:45:27.300 don the right 00:45:27.300 --> 00:45:28.040 clothes to 00:45:28.040 --> 00:45:28.680 enter in. 00:45:30.180 --> 00:45:30.740 God, would you 00:45:30.740 --> 00:45:32.220 help us to see 00:45:32.220 --> 00:45:33.440 ourselves as you 00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:35.240 see us and to 00:45:35.240 --> 00:45:36.220 respond rightly. 00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:39.060 God, for those 00:45:39.060 --> 00:45:40.600 of us who by 00:45:40.600 --> 00:45:41.400 your mercy and 00:45:41.400 --> 00:45:42.160 grace have come 00:45:42.160 --> 00:45:42.940 into your kingdom, 00:45:42.940 --> 00:45:45.500 all glory and 00:45:45.500 --> 00:45:46.380 praise and 00:45:46.380 --> 00:45:47.480 honor to 00:45:47.480 --> 00:45:48.179 your name. 00:45:49.420 --> 00:45:50.119 Jesus, we 00:45:50.119 --> 00:45:50.800 say to you, 00:45:51.340 --> 00:45:52.200 thank you. 00:45:53.539 --> 00:45:53.860 Amen.