WEBVTT 00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:07.200 Lovely to be here with you this afternoon and to look at this parable with you. 00:00:07.379 --> 00:00:12.780 As has been said already, I send my greetings from Hillbank Evangelical Church in Dundee 00:00:12.780 --> 00:00:20.640 where I have served for the past seven and a half years and love nearly every minute of it. 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:25.760 It's thoroughly just a privilege to serve God's people and to serve our local community 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:28.679 and to reach out with the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:35.399 So Matthew 22 is where we are today and if you've got your Bibles open, that would be wonderful as you work through this parable. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:39.780 We live in a culture of buzzwords. 00:00:42.019 --> 00:00:48.239 Buzzwords, if you don't know buzzwords, are words or phrases, often an item of jargon, 00:00:48.700 --> 00:00:54.100 that are fashionable at a particular time or in a particular context. 00:00:54.100 --> 00:00:59.520 Every generation will have its buzzwords and there are many in our generation that come up quite a lot. 00:00:59.579 --> 00:01:04.280 I want to share one with you today and consider one with you today and that word is inclusive. 00:01:05.740 --> 00:01:11.219 The word inclusive is not a new word, but I would imagine it has been used in common discourse 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:15.439 more in the last decade than it has probably the previous 50 years or so. 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:24.379 It is a very commonly used in a variety of circumstances in your workplace, perhaps on Twitter quite a lot 00:01:24.379 --> 00:01:27.379 and anybody pushing a particular agenda or conversation. 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:35.879 To be inclusive simply means to welcome all people into your organization or your group or your culture, 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:45.719 your church or workplace or whatever, regardless of your race, religion, sexuality, political persuasion and so on. 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:52.039 And it is generally considered to be inclusive, to be an inclusive group or whatever, 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:57.679 is generally considered to be a good thing, an absolutely good thing. 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:03.399 If you wanted to portray to people that you're on the right side of things and you're a thinking progressive person, 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:09.060 you would use the word inclusive to convince people that you're doing well and that you are a person who can be trusted. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:12.319 The opposite, of course, of inclusive is the word exclusive. 00:02:13.140 --> 00:02:23.020 To exclude certain people who aren't welcome for one reason or another or a set of criteria they can't seem to meet. 00:02:23.580 --> 00:02:25.680 We want to be inclusive people surely nowadays. 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:31.259 So with that in mind, let me throw a question for us to consider this morning before we get into this parable. 00:02:31.259 --> 00:02:36.739 Now, is biblical Christianity an inclusive faith or an exclusive faith? 00:02:37.979 --> 00:02:39.739 The wise among you will not answer too quickly. 00:02:40.679 --> 00:02:45.399 Is biblical Christianity the faith that we celebrate, that we believe in this day, the gospel of Christ, 00:02:45.739 --> 00:02:50.659 is it an inclusive faith or is it an exclusive faith? 00:02:51.539 --> 00:02:55.199 Simply put, is Christianity more like people standing at a door saying, 00:02:55.319 --> 00:02:57.979 everybody come in, door swung wide open, in you come, 00:02:57.979 --> 00:03:00.280 or is it more like a bouncer outside a nightclub? 00:03:00.619 --> 00:03:03.399 I can see you're all big nightclub goers in this church today. 00:03:03.739 --> 00:03:06.280 It's like someone standing on the outside with like a clipboard, 00:03:07.179 --> 00:03:10.319 checking very specifically if you meet the criteria to come in. 00:03:10.359 --> 00:03:15.359 Which of those two pictures best fits biblical Christianity? 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:19.459 Is it an inclusive faith or is it an exclusive faith? 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:23.240 And if you think about it and if you think of what the Bible says, 00:03:23.320 --> 00:03:27.379 you will realize very quickly this is a really complex question. 00:03:28.260 --> 00:03:30.280 This is a really complex question, 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:33.340 which is maybe a little bit frustrating for some of us today. 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:36.640 Because for many of us, I'm sure when we hear that question, 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:38.560 we want to scream out, inclusive. 00:03:39.420 --> 00:03:42.580 Because of course that scene is very much a positive thing. 00:03:43.140 --> 00:03:46.260 We want people to see our faith as inclusive. 00:03:46.259 --> 00:03:49.139 We want our friends, our loved ones, those who don't know Christ, 00:03:49.379 --> 00:03:53.439 we want them to look at the Christian faith and see that this is for them. 00:03:54.459 --> 00:03:55.539 It's an inclusive. 00:03:55.679 --> 00:03:57.879 You don't want to portray it as an exclusive faith. 00:03:57.939 --> 00:03:58.599 That's just cold. 00:03:58.699 --> 00:04:01.459 No one's going to come to church if that's what we're putting across shortly. 00:04:02.539 --> 00:04:06.399 And the good news for us today is that there are many, many good reasons. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:10.560 The Bible gives us many good reasons for us to say, 00:04:10.739 --> 00:04:14.459 yes, the Christian faith is inclusive. 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:18.139 It is scandalously inclusive. 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:23.379 It is so inclusive, it perhaps even makes us a little bit uncomfortable. 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:28.460 The gospel of Jesus Christ shows us that people can be welcomed in, 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:30.379 into a relationship with God. 00:04:30.460 --> 00:04:35.040 They can be welcomed in, even people that we might be tempted to say, 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:36.699 them? 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:39.340 You're going to welcome them in? 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:39.819 Really? 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:40.819 Them? 00:04:40.819 --> 00:04:44.680 It's scandalously inclusive. 00:04:45.540 --> 00:04:48.319 Consider the life of Jesus Christ for a second. 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:50.980 And think of the people that he associates with. 00:04:51.180 --> 00:04:53.719 The people he's comfortable hanging around with. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:56.839 Look at how he would stretch the boundaries, as it were, 00:04:56.860 --> 00:04:59.459 of who could receive the love of God. 00:04:59.980 --> 00:05:01.839 The people who would be looked down upon. 00:05:02.420 --> 00:05:05.800 The people who would be rejected for one reason or another. 00:05:05.899 --> 00:05:06.839 The outcast. 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:09.659 Look at your own life today, friends. 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:10.699 If you are a Christian. 00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:15.719 If you are a Christian, let me tell you, it is absurd for us today 00:05:15.719 --> 00:05:19.839 to consider that despite how you and I have lived our lives, 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:22.319 despite the sin within our hearts, 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:24.699 the rebellion that we have carried out in our lives, 00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:26.379 the way that we have rejected this God, 00:05:26.479 --> 00:05:28.779 either by word or by deed in our lives, 00:05:28.779 --> 00:05:33.839 and yet still you have been shown the most extravagant love 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:36.859 and have been given the most extravagant welcome 00:05:36.859 --> 00:05:38.739 by the King of Kings, 00:05:39.119 --> 00:05:42.779 by the God who loves to save sinners, 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:46.099 who would even choose to suffer upon a cross 00:05:46.099 --> 00:05:48.199 to bear your wrath. 00:05:49.059 --> 00:05:51.399 So on one hand, there is mountains of evidence 00:05:51.399 --> 00:05:52.459 to suggest that, yes, 00:05:52.599 --> 00:05:56.159 our faith is radically inclusive. 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:56.360 Exclusive. 00:05:58.240 --> 00:05:58.640 But, 00:05:59.060 --> 00:06:01.360 what about the other side? 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:04.800 Is there any evidence on the other side of things? 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:07.360 Anything that we could stack up on the other side 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:08.880 from the Bible that would suggest that, 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:12.300 well, actually, maybe the Christian faith is quite exclusive. 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:15.879 It's not, clearly, maybe not for everybody, perhaps. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:18.560 Think of the words of Jesus when he says, 00:06:18.700 --> 00:06:20.620 I am the way, the truth, and the life, 00:06:20.700 --> 00:06:22.460 a verse I'd imagine we all know so well. 00:06:22.459 --> 00:06:26.419 No one, no one comes to the Father. 00:06:26.799 --> 00:06:28.359 No one comes to God. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:32.839 No one receives the grace of God except through Jesus. 00:06:33.060 --> 00:06:35.139 That sounds kind of exclusive to me. 00:06:35.579 --> 00:06:38.039 To me, that seems like all other systems 00:06:38.039 --> 00:06:41.439 and paths and philosophies and religions 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:43.359 are leading to a dead end, 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:45.659 are leading to destruction. 00:06:46.660 --> 00:06:47.760 What else does Jesus say? 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:48.460 He says, 00:06:48.540 --> 00:06:51.260 It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle 00:06:51.260 --> 00:06:54.120 than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:56.400 We're rich, by the way, 00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:57.660 so that's bad news for us. 00:06:58.520 --> 00:07:01.540 Really, really, really hard for a rich person to enter heaven. 00:07:01.620 --> 00:07:02.620 That seems quite exclusive. 00:07:03.700 --> 00:07:04.420 What else do we have? 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:06.000 Small is the gate, 00:07:06.260 --> 00:07:08.360 narrow is the road that leads to life. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:10.960 Only a few people will find it. 00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:12.560 What about Paul? 00:07:12.640 --> 00:07:14.280 Does Paul help us with this at all? 00:07:14.279 --> 00:07:17.019 He says in 1 Corinthians 6, verses 9 and 10, 00:07:17.119 --> 00:07:18.159 Do not be deceived. 00:07:18.559 --> 00:07:20.619 Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:22.799 nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, 00:07:22.819 --> 00:07:24.599 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, 00:07:24.679 --> 00:07:26.679 nor slanderers, nor swindlers 00:07:26.679 --> 00:07:29.639 will enter the kingdom of God. 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:32.099 Yikes is the word you're looking for. 00:07:32.799 --> 00:07:34.699 This seems really, really exclusive. 00:07:34.819 --> 00:07:36.019 That seems kind of strict. 00:07:37.299 --> 00:07:37.899 And let's be clear, 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:39.739 we affirm these passages. 00:07:40.659 --> 00:07:42.459 Maybe we don't scream them from the rooftops. 00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:45.979 We don't hand out tracts with these verses on them to our friends. 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:48.239 Not the verses we maybe want everyone to know, 00:07:48.299 --> 00:07:49.680 but we do affirm these passages, 00:07:49.799 --> 00:07:51.539 and that may be tough for us today. 00:07:52.359 --> 00:07:55.060 Because I'd imagine that most of us know somebody 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:57.859 for whom their perspective of Christianity, 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:01.279 all that they can see is the exclusive part of it. 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:03.959 They cannot see the fuller picture of the gospel 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:07.859 because they're so blindsided by how exclusive it may come across. 00:08:07.860 --> 00:08:10.780 And they're unable to comprehend this God 00:08:10.780 --> 00:08:12.139 that might actually love them 00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:14.080 and would send a son to die for them. 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:16.520 They just see a closed door. 00:08:17.580 --> 00:08:18.620 They don't see the fuller picture. 00:08:18.960 --> 00:08:20.900 So this question is quite complex, isn't it? 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:25.319 It is both inclusive and it is exclusive. 00:08:26.220 --> 00:08:28.720 Tim Keller, I know many of you will be familiar with, 00:08:28.819 --> 00:08:30.520 American pastor and author, 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:33.919 he says the gospel is an exclusive truth, 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:38.259 but it's the most inclusive, exclusive truth in the world. 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:41.559 I hope that made some kind of sense to you this morning. 00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:42.860 You get the gist of what he's saying. 00:08:43.439 --> 00:08:47.899 The truth is that the gospel offers acceptance to all sinners, 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:50.919 regardless of past or background, 00:08:51.439 --> 00:08:53.939 but the gospel also says no to your sin. 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:57.079 It's a closed door to our sin. 00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:59.439 It says you can come in and receive heaven, 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:00.700 receive the gift of God, 00:09:00.760 --> 00:09:02.900 but you cannot take your sin with you. 00:09:04.040 --> 00:09:06.160 Salvation can be described as a free gift 00:09:06.160 --> 00:09:08.100 that will cost you everything. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.000 It's a radical picture we have of this gospel. 00:09:12.140 --> 00:09:14.060 And perhaps maybe for some here this day, 00:09:14.140 --> 00:09:16.460 you maybe love the fact that God would show grace to you. 00:09:16.520 --> 00:09:18.000 You love what you hear about the cross. 00:09:18.260 --> 00:09:19.900 Some of the amazing hymns that the band 00:09:19.900 --> 00:09:22.020 brilliantly led us through this morning, 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:24.060 but maybe you find it really, really difficult 00:09:24.060 --> 00:09:25.540 to turn away from your sin. 00:09:26.040 --> 00:09:28.200 You find it hard to take hold of the full picture 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:29.800 of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:09:29.900 --> 00:09:31.660 You love the forgiveness and the mercy, 00:09:31.780 --> 00:09:33.580 but you find it hard to let go, perhaps, 00:09:33.800 --> 00:09:35.000 of maybe an old life, 00:09:35.520 --> 00:09:37.259 that you find it hard to accept the new life 00:09:37.259 --> 00:09:38.220 that God has for you. 00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:39.960 And so with that in mind, 00:09:40.020 --> 00:09:41.180 let's look at Matthew 22, 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:42.640 and let's look at this parable 00:09:42.640 --> 00:09:44.040 that we're considering this day, 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:46.500 and we'll see how this all comes together. 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:48.400 And whenever we study the Bible, 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.820 as I know you're aware, 00:09:49.920 --> 00:09:52.420 in a good Bible-preaching church like this, 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:54.740 we know the context, of course, is important. 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:56.759 We want to figure out how this fits in 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:58.299 in the bigger scheme of what's going on, 00:09:58.340 --> 00:10:00.960 and that's really significant in this particular case. 00:10:01.580 --> 00:10:04.740 This parable is preached on the last week of Jesus' life. 00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:07.740 He is ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey, 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:10.240 and here he is confronting people 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:12.220 with what's about to happen to him, 00:10:12.560 --> 00:10:15.100 all that's going to unfold in the next week or so. 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:19.139 And you'll see in your Bibles just before chapter 22, 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:22.200 at the end of 21, we have this other parable. 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:24.100 And for the sake of time, 00:10:24.160 --> 00:10:25.440 we'll not go through the whole thing. 00:10:26.580 --> 00:10:28.040 But Jesus gives this parable 00:10:28.040 --> 00:10:30.500 to very much Jewish listeners, 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:32.620 Jewish leaders, in fact, 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:34.280 teachers of the law, 00:10:34.680 --> 00:10:36.220 God's chosen people, 00:10:36.300 --> 00:10:38.379 but people who had become complacent, 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:42.240 who had become arrogant and pretentious. 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:43.720 They thought that because they were Jewish, 00:10:43.800 --> 00:10:44.540 because of the covenant, 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:45.220 they were all good, 00:10:45.280 --> 00:10:47.100 they could relax, and God had them. 00:10:47.660 --> 00:10:50.220 But it had made them arrogant and pretentious, 00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:53.240 and they had taken their eyes off the compassion of their God 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:55.259 and the mercy of their God, 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:56.320 and they had become blind. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:00.240 And so Jesus, simply put, goes after them 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:02.240 and doesn't mess around. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:03.720 He goes after them. 00:11:04.060 --> 00:11:06.379 And he basically communicates this parable 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:07.440 at the end of 21 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:10.480 that shares to them that they are guilty 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:14.600 of refusing to listen to God's prophets 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:17.000 who said to turn back to him, 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:20.019 refusing to turn from their sinful ways, 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:22.300 but most importantly, Jesus says to them, 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:25.300 that they're about to do the worst thing of all. 00:11:25.920 --> 00:11:28.300 They're about to kill God's only son. 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:31.340 Now imagine that for a second. 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:34.200 If you were part of this group 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:37.060 that was plotting to have Jesus killed, 00:11:38.060 --> 00:11:39.320 and you're making your schemes, 00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:41.759 and Jesus very calmly tells you this story 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:42.720 that basically says, 00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:44.899 I see exactly what you're doing. 00:11:45.939 --> 00:11:46.740 I'm on to you. 00:11:46.819 --> 00:11:47.519 You have been rumbled, 00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:51.340 and you will face God in judgment 00:11:51.340 --> 00:11:52.779 because of this. 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:56.019 So he's told this parable just before it, 00:11:56.379 --> 00:11:58.379 but now he tells another parable 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:00.100 to the same group. 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:02.720 But he changes the scene. 00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:04.460 He's not talking about his death anymore. 00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:06.179 He tries to speak about heaven, 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.399 what the kingdom of heaven is like, 00:12:07.439 --> 00:12:09.159 which is how this parable begins. 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:12.620 And he says heaven is like a wedding banquet, 00:12:12.719 --> 00:12:13.620 a wedding party. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:15.379 Now if the middle-aged men in this room 00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:17.019 are similar to the middle-aged men in my church, 00:12:17.259 --> 00:12:18.199 you need to be convinced 00:12:18.199 --> 00:12:19.139 that a wedding celebration 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:20.959 is an enjoyable thing. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:21.500 Okay? 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:23.620 To think that heaven is like a wedding 00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:25.659 maybe puts you off the idea of heaven, 00:12:25.719 --> 00:12:26.959 but this is supposed to be a good thing. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:28.759 There's supposed to be happy occasions. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:29.159 Okay? 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:31.399 My dad very much needs this sermon. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.279 I'll make sure he hears the audio of this. 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:36.319 But it's a wedding party, 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:38.280 and the wedding party is one that a king 00:12:38.280 --> 00:12:40.200 throws for his son. 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:42.520 Now in any parable, of course, 00:12:42.560 --> 00:12:44.400 we understand we're looking at allegory 00:12:44.400 --> 00:12:46.420 and we have to try and translate and think 00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:48.580 what does each character or each place or whatever 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:50.300 represent in reality. 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:51.820 So in this one, 00:12:51.900 --> 00:12:53.220 this is a bit more straightforward 00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:54.800 than perhaps some other parables. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:58.020 The king that throws a wedding party for his son 00:12:58.020 --> 00:13:00.420 clearly represents the father 00:13:00.420 --> 00:13:03.660 throwing a feast for his son, Jesus. 00:13:04.260 --> 00:13:05.240 Not too difficult. 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.500 The Bible, of course, speaks of this great wedding feast 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:10.100 to come that we look forward to being part of. 00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:13.980 The father throws a wedding feast for his son. 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:15.639 And we can imagine that if it's the king 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:17.000 that's throwing this celebration, 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.879 it's going to be pretty good, right? 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:20.720 It's going to be pretty impressive. 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:23.240 It's going to be this massive, phenomenal celebration, 00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:25.379 no expense spared. 00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:28.340 But what we learn about this wedding celebration 00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:31.000 is that there is a very strict 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:33.240 and specific invite list. 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:33.720 Invite list. 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:36.879 And what we know clearly is that those 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:39.019 who would be on the invite list to God's kingdom 00:13:39.019 --> 00:13:42.360 would, of course, be God's beloved and chosen people, 00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:44.759 the nation of Israel, or the Jewish people. 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:48.720 The people that God persevered with, 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:49.980 we read throughout the Old Testament, 00:13:50.680 --> 00:13:52.100 despite their failure, 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:54.240 his faithfulness, as we've heard about with Abraham, 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.700 his faithfulness to his covenant 00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:58.100 over generation after generation, 00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.980 how he redeems them time and time again. 00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:01.980 And so what we learn is that the servants 00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:03.420 in this wedding situation 00:14:03.420 --> 00:14:05.980 are sent out to find the invitees, 00:14:06.680 --> 00:14:08.340 the people who have got a little card, perhaps, 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.800 to save the date or whatever it is, 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:12.399 and to go and tell them to come in 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:15.000 because we're ready to have the big celebration. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.000 It's ready to start. 00:14:16.420 --> 00:14:18.860 But it's at this point that we have our first plot twist. 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:21.360 The people on the invite list 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:22.720 aren't interested in coming. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:25.779 They don't seem too interested in coming along. 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:28.120 But this king is persistent. 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:30.159 So he goes on a little bit further 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:32.519 and he sends some more servants out. 00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:33.839 The king is very generous. 00:14:33.959 --> 00:14:35.299 He could have just said, well, forget them. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.919 They're not getting a second chance. 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:37.839 But he's patient. 00:14:38.199 --> 00:14:39.379 He is long-suffering. 00:14:39.459 --> 00:14:40.039 He's gracious. 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:42.100 So more servants go out 00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:44.059 and they give a little bit more details. 00:14:44.819 --> 00:14:46.519 In this second time they go out, 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.799 they speak about a fattened calf being slaughtered 00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:50.659 and all the rest of it, 00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:53.459 and the oxen are ready and all the rest of it. 00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:56.379 And if you know the parable of the prodigal son, 00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:58.519 you know that when the son comes home 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:00.360 and this beautiful emotional scene, 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:01.440 what the father says is, 00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:02.879 kill the fattened calf, 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:05.060 which is first century language for 00:15:05.060 --> 00:15:07.139 let's get the party started. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:12.560 Everything is ready for this magnificent celebration. 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:14.460 The invitees are told again, 00:15:14.780 --> 00:15:16.580 in you come, let's get ready to go. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:19.139 Now let's do that work again of thinking, 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:20.920 what does this represent in reality? 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:23.439 We've got the parable, the picture here, 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:25.219 but what does this represent in reality? 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.740 Well, this maybe gives us an idea 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:28.879 of the work of the prophets. 00:15:29.839 --> 00:15:31.779 Even of Jesus, who of course was a prophet. 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.679 He was more than a prophet, 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:33.740 but he was still a prophet. 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:36.039 Jesus going out to his people and saying, 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:40.159 repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.899 It looks a little bit like perhaps 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:45.279 John the Baptist showing up and saying, 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:48.159 declaring the way of the Lord. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:51.659 The Messiah, Jesus, has come. 00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:52.980 Time to waken up, 00:15:53.219 --> 00:15:54.600 time to turn back to God, 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:57.759 to trust in his son, the Messiah. 00:15:57.959 --> 00:15:59.439 He's the one you want to follow. 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:02.779 He's the lamb who takes away the sin of the world. 00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:04.319 Party's getting started. 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:09.459 But again, we see in verse 5 00:16:09.459 --> 00:16:11.159 that they say no. 00:16:12.199 --> 00:16:13.559 These people are not interested. 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:15.199 And they have a multitude of excuses. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:18.000 One guy's washing his hair. 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.700 One's watching, I don't know, 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:20.560 The Apprentice or something, 00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:21.220 or I'm a celebrity. 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:22.540 They've got whatever reason they could find, 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.560 but they've got reason to say, 00:16:23.640 --> 00:16:26.300 we're not going to this celebration just now. 00:16:26.400 --> 00:16:26.620 Sorry. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.920 But more than that, 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.100 they take things further. 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:33.700 They carry out actions on the messengers. 00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:37.200 And it says they get quite horrifically violent 00:16:37.780 --> 00:16:38.800 against them. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:40.320 They ill-treat them, verse 6 says, 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.280 and they kill them. 00:16:42.540 --> 00:16:43.460 This is brutal. 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:44.800 This is horrific. 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:47.060 They even attack God's own son. 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:50.800 And just like the last parable, 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:52.639 where we learn about the son who gets killed, 00:16:53.040 --> 00:16:54.639 there is a warning to go with it. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.600 And the warning is that the king will respond 00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:59.460 in judgment to the atrocities 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:01.000 that have been carried out. 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:04.259 If you follow what goes on in the persecuted church, 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:06.279 in many countries in our world, 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:08.079 you'll hear horrific things. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:08.960 I remember Barnabas, 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:12.000 the Barnabas Trust came to our church a few years ago. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.759 Horrific stories. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:15.640 Children walking up with their church in Uganda 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.500 after a service, 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:18.420 and having acid thrown in their eyes. 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:20.259 God sees that. 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.519 It does not escape him. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:26.259 He sees these horrific acts of injustice, 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:30.500 and he will carry out judgment. 00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:31.839 This will not go on forever. 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:34.180 Evil will be punished. 00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:36.140 In this case, 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:38.500 what's happening in this parable here 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:41.920 is consistent with what we see in Jesus' life 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.220 and what we read throughout the Gospels, 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:46.880 and that's that Jesus is the rejected Messiah. 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:50.120 He is the rejected Messiah. 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.960 He is rejected by his own people. 00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.720 John's Gospel tells us, 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:55.240 he came to his own, 00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:57.820 and his own received him not. 00:17:57.819 --> 00:18:01.759 We read Christ's word himself in Mark's Gospel, 00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:03.759 three times in a short space. 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.240 He says, 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.859 I will be rejected, 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:06.819 he tells his disciples. 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:08.179 I will be rejected. 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.419 By who? 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.339 The Romans? 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:13.200 The Gentiles? 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.019 The Samaritans? 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:15.059 The other group? 00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:16.139 Those who are out there? 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.059 No, no, no. 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:17.700 He makes it clear. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:19.720 I'm going to be rejected by our guys. 00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:21.859 By the chief priests, 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:23.819 teachers of the law. 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:26.539 I'm going to be rejected by my own people. 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:30.700 So we have a picture of this rejection in this parable. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:33.480 No one wants to listen to the messengers, as it were. 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.659 So what happens next? 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.799 And to verses 8 and 9. 00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:40.859 He could have cancelled the feast at this point, the king. 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.679 He could have cancelled the feast, 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:44.159 but he doesn't cancel the feast. 00:18:44.419 --> 00:18:46.039 The feast is still going to happen. 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:47.720 All that lovely food is going to get consumed. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:49.639 The party is going to be enjoyed, 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:53.579 but the invite list is going to spread out a little bit. 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:56.939 The invite list is no longer for certain types of people. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.899 The game is changing. 00:18:58.439 --> 00:19:01.599 And the good news of God's kingdom is spreading, 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:03.960 and it's spreading to the most scandalous, 00:19:04.399 --> 00:19:06.759 and dare I say controversial, places. 00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:10.099 In reality, what this looks like is maybe something like 00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:12.919 Jesus speaking to this Samaritan woman. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.539 Hated Samaritans, the Jews. 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.919 The Samaritan woman at a well, 00:19:16.919 --> 00:19:18.939 and everybody stands in the background gasping. 00:19:19.939 --> 00:19:21.599 How could he be speaking to her? 00:19:22.399 --> 00:19:23.200 She's a Samaritan. 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.080 She's one of them. 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:28.740 Jesus, who shows the grace of God to the outcast. 00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:31.620 When he dines with sinners, 00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:34.440 it's like he's handing out an invitation to this party. 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:36.900 Receive the grace of God. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:38.360 When he touches the leper, 00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:40.460 when he breaks all the social rules, 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.319 and he doesn't care, 00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:43.480 doesn't need the approval of men, 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:45.799 this is Jesus handing out these invitations 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.440 to anyone who would receive them, 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:49.539 and would enter the kingdom of God. 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:53.200 And it tells us that when this party finally gets going, 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.859 and it's filled with people, 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:58.519 it tells us that the people who gathered into the feast 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:01.659 included the bad as well as the good. 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:04.619 Try to imagine today, friends, 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:10.159 the most diverse group of people imaginable at this party. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:13.140 You've got some people who are very religious 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:14.900 and who never missed a week of church. 00:20:15.040 --> 00:20:16.759 They come with a Bible under their arm, perhaps. 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:20.140 Then you've got those who have spent time recently, 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:21.040 perhaps, in prison. 00:20:21.840 --> 00:20:23.420 Those who are addicts, perhaps. 00:20:24.320 --> 00:20:24.660 Perhaps. 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:27.320 Think of the widest range of people. 00:20:28.040 --> 00:20:29.340 Think of a blend of people who, 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:30.140 if you look to them, 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:30.560 you'd think, 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.559 those two would never, 00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:35.980 ever hang out in any other sphere of life. 00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:38.819 No way would those two ever be friends 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:41.220 in any other place. 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.960 And yet, here they are. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:47.220 Not just in the same room together, 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:50.740 but actually celebrating together. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:54.159 They found themselves in this place. 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.519 Celebrating together. 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:57.679 Friends, as you will be very well aware, 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:01.480 I'd imagine this is giving us this gloriously, 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:07.680 often messy, picture of the church of Jesus Christ. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:13.980 A group of people who are very, very different 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:16.180 in many, many ways, 00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:19.420 but have found this common purpose 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:22.140 in that they have been united together 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:24.259 by the one that they have been united to, 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.680 the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:30.900 They have both found the same reason for rejoicing 00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:33.880 because they have tasted in his grace. 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:36.779 This is Christian diversity. 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:38.680 Diversity is another buzzword, by the way. 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:40.580 This is Christian diversity, 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.480 and it's a good, 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.299 it's more than a good thing. 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.940 It's a magnificent thing. 00:21:46.060 --> 00:21:47.680 The world speaks a lot about diversity, 00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:49.240 but the church should really be the ones 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:51.320 who practice it better than anyone. 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:53.440 And often it does practice it better than anyone. 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.860 I think of my own church right now. 00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:57.340 It's very similar in many ways to this. 00:21:58.019 --> 00:22:00.120 I think of the range of ages represented. 00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:02.240 I think of the range of nationalities represented. 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:05.000 I think of those who are minted 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.720 and those who are not, shall we say. 00:22:08.080 --> 00:22:09.279 Really wild spread. 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:12.000 People who would not hang out in any other place, 00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:15.039 and yet they call one another brother and sister. 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:16.539 That's magnificent, isn't it? 00:22:17.060 --> 00:22:18.400 Don't be embarrassed of your church. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:20.120 Don't be a little cringy about your church. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:22.440 The church of Jesus Christ is the greatest place on earth. 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:23.680 Boast about your church. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.460 Not in an arrogant, pretentious way. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:28.019 Boast about them because you love the people here. 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:30.420 And you love the people because you love the Savior. 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:32.360 Don't be embarrassed to do that. 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:36.539 This commonality we have in the person of Jesus Christ, 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:39.720 that's what trumps everything. 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:43.440 Is there something that you cherish today, friends? 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:46.019 Or is there something that perhaps you struggle with? 00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:49.240 Perhaps you, like myself, I confess, 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:53.920 we can be guilty of maybe only liking people who are like us, 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:57.600 who think the same way as us. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:00.759 Perhaps we find it difficult to engage with different people. 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:05.220 Maybe even have some underlying prejudices that we've never addressed. 00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:09.259 Maybe we find it hard to find the same love and appreciation 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:12.400 for folk who think differently or who vote differently 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:15.340 or of a different generation or a different background 00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:17.160 or whatever that may be. 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.580 Maybe we have to ask ourselves, 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:24.500 am I someone who longs to see a church of people who are not like me, 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.679 who are different from me? 00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:30.819 Because it just amplifies the glorious grace of God 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:32.939 when we're willing to love those who are different from us 00:23:32.939 --> 00:23:36.019 and when they're willing to love us in return. 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:40.279 It's a difficult thing because we often have a certain way of thinking. 00:23:40.399 --> 00:23:41.699 I think of my own church, Hillbank. 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:44.639 What about people who don't think the Hillbank way 00:23:44.639 --> 00:23:46.819 or operate the Hillbank way or do church differently? 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:48.679 Am I willing to love them? 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:53.319 I praise God that his plan is bigger than mine. 00:23:54.439 --> 00:23:55.879 His plan is way bigger than mine 00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:59.119 and the doors of his grace are swung way, way wider 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:01.720 than perhaps we would ever care to realize. 00:24:02.919 --> 00:24:06.500 Many of us, I'm sure, have been blessed by the hymns of Stuart Townend, 00:24:07.439 --> 00:24:08.799 who, of course, is the poster boy 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:11.859 for conservative, middle-class, evangelical Christianity 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:13.299 for the last generation. 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:16.259 I sounded cynical, but I am a big, big fan of Townend. 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:17.599 He's a great, great hymn writer. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:20.000 I saw him live a year ago this weekend, actually. 00:24:20.899 --> 00:24:23.779 And he read this parable about 10 years ago or so. 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:26.439 And he was deeply convicted by it, 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:28.399 deeply challenged by it, 00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:30.899 because he was aware that sometimes, in his opinion, 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:33.759 Christianity had been known for its exclusiveness. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:38.440 And he wanted to write a song in relation to this parable 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:43.400 that highlighted the radical inclusiveness that we see here in Matthew 22. 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:45.740 And he wrote this hymn that I'm, no doubt at all, 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:48.519 many of you will probably be familiar with, called Vagabonds. 00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:50.579 And he wrote these words. 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:53.519 Let me just share this briefly before we draw this to a close. 00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:54.779 He says, 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.980 Come all you vagabonds. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.940 Come all you don't belongs. 00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.440 Winners and losers. 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.720 Come people like me. 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:04.119 Come all you travellers tired from the journey. 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:06.379 Come wait a while, stay a while. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.579 Welcomed you'll be. 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:10.500 Come all you questioners looking for answers 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:13.399 and searching for reasons and sense in it all. 00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:15.480 Come all you fallen. 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.680 Come all you broken. 00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:19.619 Find strength for your body and food for your soul. 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:22.599 Come those who worry about houses and money. 00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:25.039 And all those who don't have a care in the world. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.799 From every station and orientation. 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:30.859 The helpless, the hopeless, the young and the old. 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:34.119 Come all believers and dreamers and schemers. 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:36.919 And come all you restless just searching for home. 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:39.779 Movers and shakers and givers and takers. 00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:42.500 The happy, the sad, the lost and alone. 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:45.899 Come self-sufficient with wearied ambition. 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:48.779 And come those who feel at the end of the road. 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:52.879 Fiery debaters and religion haters. 00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:55.940 Accusers, abusers. 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:58.160 The hurt and ignored. 00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.779 And the chorus says, 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.220 Come to the feast. 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.920 There is room at the table. 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:06.259 Come let us meet in this place 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:08.319 with the king of all kindness 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.480 who welcomes us in. 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:11.240 With the wonder of love 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:13.220 and the power of grace. 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:18.600 And with this clear, explicit evidence 00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:23.519 of the gloriously inclusive nature of our gospel. 00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:26.259 We can close our Bibles at peace with the fact 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:28.299 that we've answered that question earlier. 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:30.799 That Christianity is a radically inclusive faith. 00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:34.059 That we worship a gloriously inclusive God. 00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:38.640 Except the parable's not finished. 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:41.500 It would have made a great ending, wouldn't it? 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:43.460 A nice happy celebration. 00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.759 Everyone cheering at a party. 00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:47.160 As we fade out in the screen 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.940 it goes to black 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:49.060 and then the end credits come up. 00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:49.780 That would be a great ending. 00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.920 We would end the story that way. 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:52.440 We'd definitely end the story that way. 00:26:52.780 --> 00:26:53.960 Jesus doesn't. 00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:57.840 And there's a twist in the tale 00:26:57.840 --> 00:27:00.280 that shows us that as radically inclusive 00:27:00.280 --> 00:27:01.460 as this gospel is 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:03.700 and while the offer goes out to anyone 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:05.860 there are conditions required 00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:08.240 for who would enter this wedding feast. 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.980 The king walks in the room. 00:27:11.780 --> 00:27:13.440 As the music I'm sure is playing 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.680 and the food's being enjoyed 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:16.380 and there's laughter and celebration 00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:18.160 but he sees one person 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:21.240 not wearing wedding clothes. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:24.040 And the king confronts this man 00:27:24.040 --> 00:27:24.400 and says, 00:27:24.540 --> 00:27:26.200 how on earth did you get in? 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:27.400 And the man was speechless 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:30.920 and so he is kicked out. 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:34.840 He is banished into darkness and destruction. 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:38.099 What on earth are we to do with this 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:39.240 as an end of a parable? 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:41.019 How do we tackle this? 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:43.399 We ask perhaps the obvious question. 00:27:43.679 --> 00:27:45.299 If this of course is speaking about heaven 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:48.399 and that anyone not wearing wedding clothes 00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:49.179 or a wedding garment 00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:50.619 as the old translation would say, 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:53.639 then what exactly is Jesus referring to here 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:56.559 when he speaks about wedding clothes? 00:27:57.419 --> 00:27:58.379 And the truth is 00:27:58.379 --> 00:28:00.099 there's not an explicit answer 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:01.339 given here in this parable. 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:03.559 Many commentators have thrashed back and forth 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.779 to try and be very specific 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.500 about what it means 00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.419 but I really don't think 00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:08.740 we need to worry about it at all. 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:11.439 I think the answer would be pretty clear 00:28:11.439 --> 00:28:12.359 in light of what we know 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:13.439 of the rest of the gospel. 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:14.899 I don't think Jesus is saying something 00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:16.859 that contradicts our understanding 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.480 of the gospel 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:19.539 that we see throughout scripture. 00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.679 We see here that 00:28:21.679 --> 00:28:23.119 though this heavenly feast 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:24.679 is greatly diverse 00:28:24.679 --> 00:28:25.659 and even though the church 00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:26.919 should be greatly diverse, 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:29.139 there must be one commonality 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:30.200 that unites us. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.280 One clear commonality 00:28:32.280 --> 00:28:33.259 that unites us 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.620 and that's that each one of us 00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:36.940 has come to this Jesus 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:39.040 in faith 00:28:39.040 --> 00:28:41.540 and in humble repentance 00:28:41.540 --> 00:28:43.700 recognizing that we have sinned 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:45.960 and that we receive from him 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:47.820 our wedding garments, 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.840 our wedding clothes 00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:50.480 which is him. 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:54.100 Jesus is the game changer. 00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:55.900 The presence of Jesus 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:57.280 in the life of the Christian 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:59.500 is what makes us different 00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.279 and makes the people 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:00.879 at this wedding 00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:02.299 different from those 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.579 who don't have the wedding clothes. 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:05.420 We believe he is the only one 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:06.420 who can save 00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:08.259 and the wedding clothes 00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.299 simply signify 00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:10.440 what makes a person 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:11.220 right for heaven 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.440 and what makes a person 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:13.180 right for heaven 00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:15.420 is Jesus Christ. 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:18.139 Not merely a one-off experience 00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:18.500 with him 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.460 or a one-off prayer 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:21.160 as important as that may be 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:22.899 but the presence of Christ 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:24.519 dwelling within us 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:26.059 day after day, 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:27.559 walking with us 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:29.379 through all life's struggles 00:29:29.379 --> 00:29:30.879 and ups and downs. 00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:32.519 For some people 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.559 they say they want heaven 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:34.519 and they want the blessing 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.299 of God 00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:36.480 but they don't want to submit 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.899 to Jesus Christ. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.819 They don't want to say 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.179 Jesus, 00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:41.179 I am yours. 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:42.619 You are my king. 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.379 They don't want to say 00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:43.720 Jesus, 00:29:43.899 --> 00:29:45.919 you are better than my sin 00:29:45.919 --> 00:29:46.519 and they don't want to 00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.419 bow the knee to him 00:29:47.419 --> 00:29:48.740 as Lord 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.480 and therefore 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.539 they do not receive 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:52.419 eternity with God. 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:54.119 May this be a challenge 00:29:54.119 --> 00:29:55.079 perhaps of some of us 00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:55.539 this day. 00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:57.379 That we see that this gospel 00:29:57.379 --> 00:29:58.939 is both radically inclusive 00:29:58.939 --> 00:30:00.699 and radically exclusive. 00:30:01.899 --> 00:30:03.019 And if you are a Christian 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.819 this day 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:05.480 maybe the challenge for you 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:06.419 perhaps is in terms 00:30:06.419 --> 00:30:07.460 of complacency. 00:30:08.179 --> 00:30:08.799 I look at myself 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.899 in that regard as well. 00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:11.619 The aspect of perhaps 00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:12.839 getting too relaxed 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.939 that maybe the hearers 00:30:13.939 --> 00:30:15.240 just like some of the hearers 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.039 of this parable 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.960 would have been. 00:30:17.899 --> 00:30:18.359 Is there anything 00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:20.059 I need to repent of? 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.619 To walk in line 00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:22.720 with my saviour Jesus 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:24.519 who gave his life 00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:25.700 for me. 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.579 It is radically inclusive 00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:29.319 and it is radically exclusive. 00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.220 But in Christ 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.000 we look forward 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.480 to the day 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.279 when this feast 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:35.160 is not just a parable 00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:36.920 but it is a reality. 00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:38.600 That for all those 00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:39.700 who have come to him 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:42.100 who have received him 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:43.339 and have dwelt with them 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:43.839 will know 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:45.140 the amazing, 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:45.980 amazing promise 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.620 of the gospel. 00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:47.880 That we will rejoice 00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:48.960 with him for all eternity. 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:50.079 That every tear 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:51.059 will be wiped away. 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:52.220 That the sufferings 00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:53.000 and longings 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.500 and pains 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.099 of this world 00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:54.919 will be eradicated 00:30:54.919 --> 00:30:55.619 and we will see 00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:56.759 Jesus Christ 00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.879 face to face. 00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.159 Friends, 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.500 may this be a hope 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.279 that you can cling 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.059 to this day. 00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:02.899 And if you do not know him, 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.859 please speak to someone. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:04.759 Speak to one of the leaders 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.960 here in this church. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.779 If you're not sure 00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:07.659 where you stand, 00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:09.099 speak to someone 00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:10.279 and come to know 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:11.419 the amazing promises 00:31:11.419 --> 00:31:12.599 of the gospel. 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.480 Let's pray together. 00:31:16.679 --> 00:31:17.079 Father, 00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:17.940 we thank you this day 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:19.840 for your word. 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.039 And Father, 00:31:22.100 --> 00:31:22.480 we have dealt 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.480 with a difficult passage 00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:23.860 yesterday. 00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:26.240 A passage that confronts us, 00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.240 that challenges us, 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:29.080 that very much challenges 00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:29.880 our culture. 00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:31.680 We praise you 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.720 for the inclusive nature 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.340 of the gospel 00:31:33.340 --> 00:31:34.039 that though we were 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.059 far from you, 00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:35.759 though we have made 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:37.240 a horrific mess of things 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:37.960 throughout our lives 00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.600 with our sin, 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.900 that we are welcomed in 00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:40.779 because of the blood 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.519 of Jesus. 00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:43.200 But we consider also 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.180 the other side 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.840 this day, Lord. 00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:46.519 The fact that the gospel 00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:47.539 is very exclusive 00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:48.359 at the same time 00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:49.720 and that we need 00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.619 to cling to the 00:31:50.619 --> 00:31:51.339 saviour Jesus. 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:53.539 He is our only hope 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.400 this day, 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:56.099 but in him is life 00:31:56.099 --> 00:31:57.000 and life to the full. 00:31:57.180 --> 00:31:57.400 Father, 00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.440 bless this church. 00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:00.220 Strengthen them 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:01.400 in their confidence 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.599 of their saviour. 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:04.059 And for any who do not 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:04.579 know you 00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.960 or who are uncertain 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.720 of where they stand 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.259 with you, Father, 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:08.639 do a work within their hearts 00:32:08.639 --> 00:32:09.460 that they would speak 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:09.980 to someone 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:11.160 and come to know 00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:12.099 the amazing promises 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:13.099 of what it is 00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:13.680 to know Christ. 00:32:14.139 --> 00:32:15.279 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.119 Amen. 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.519 Amen.