Yeah, so this morning we are back in our series of Matthew chapter 22.
! We are in verses 1-14 this morning.
And I just want to say it is a joy to be able to do this.
To get up here.
To bring the word of God to you guys.
To worship with you.
To worship our Lord together.
To look out and to see relationships that I've built.
To hear my son scream.
I will be hearing much of that.
It is a joy and a privilege to bring the word of God to you guys today.
So we are in the last of a set of three parables.
A set of three parables that we've been going over in Matthew so far.
While Jesus enters the temple and is giving these three sets of parables.
We are seeing that they are directed against religious leaders of Israel.
And if you remember all the way back to the parable of two sons in chapter 21 verse 28.
One of the main points drawn from that parable was Jesus exposing hypocrisy of their love for God.
They pretended like they loved God.
But they didn't live like it.
And Jesus explicitly in that parable condemned them for their lack of response to John the Baptist ministry.
What was the central message of John the Baptist ministry?
If you recall the beginning of Matthew.
Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
And basically Jesus said, well, you Israel, the leaders of Israel, you acted like you had honor and time for John.
But you didn't listen to his message.
You are hypocritical.
You didn't repent.
And then in the parable of the landowner, Jesus explicitly deals with the religious leaders of Israel's rejection of Jesus' own ministry.
And now that brings us back.
That brings us to our passage today.
So I would invite you this morning, if you would stand with me, in honor of reading of God's word.
Matthew chapter 22, verses 1 through 14.
Oh, I forgot.
Does anybody in here not have a Bible?
Would you like to have a Bible?
Raise your hand, please.
We would be glad to get you a Bible.
Okay.
Matthew 22, verses 1 through 14 says,
And again, Jesus spoke to them in the parable saying,
The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son
and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast,
but they would not come.
And again, he sent out other servants saying,
Tell those who are invited,
See, I have prepared my dinner.
My oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered.
And everything is ready.
Come to the wedding feast.
But they paid no attention and went off,
one to his farm, another to his business,
while the rest seized his servants,
treated them shamefully, and killed them.
The king was angry,
and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers
and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants,
The wedding feast is ready,
but those invited were not worthy.
Go, therefore, to the main roads
and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.
And those servants went out into the roads
and gathered all whom they found,
both bad and good.
So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to look at the guest,
he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
And he said to him,
Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?
And he was speechless.
Then the king said to the attendants,
Bind him hand and foot
and cast him into outer darkness.
In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
For many are called,
but few are chosen.
May God add a blessing to the reading of his word.
Please, guys, be seated.
And I will then ask now for God's help.
God, we come before you, Father,
and we ask, O Lord,
that you would open the eyes of our hearts and minds
to once again this morning
to see your glory,
to see your love,
to see your patience
and your kindness towards us.
And Father, that we would also, Father,
be reminded of the sobering reality
of the judgment to come, Lord,
for those who reject your message.
O Lord, draw us near.
Build us up.
Encourage us and draw us closer to your son, Jesus,
in whom all things are for.
We pray.
Amen.
This parable of the wedding feast
actually breaks up into three parts
quite nicely for our time this morning.
First, we see that the king sends out
a royal call to those invited.
And those invited reject the invitation
in verses 1 through 5.
Secondly, we see the king sends out
an invitation to all people
in verses 7 through 10.
Lastly, for the final section of the parable,
we'll see that the king's just response
when a man in his own neglect
shows up without the right attire
in verses 11 through 14.
So it's a pretty straightforward passage
of what we have.
Not a super complicated text
before us this morning.
But don't pass over this parable quickly.
Don't pass over any word of God too quickly.
This text should be a startling
and shocking, sobering text.
And at the same time,
it should be a joyous text for us.
Jesus is bringing the shock factor
to help his audience see the reality
of what happens when we reject
his gospel offer.
God has spread his feast for us
in his gospel through his son.
It has cost the very life of his own son.
And he most graciously invites all to come.
He makes it clear here
that there are only two options.
Feast or judgment.
So if we want to feast,
we must go, repent, believe, obey.
When we reject the call to the gospel,
it's rebellion against God Almighty.
And we deserve judgment.
So what I want to invite you
to come away with today
is that our need is to come
and receive the righteous robe of Christ
so that you can feast in the goodness
and the good of his gospel.
So that brings us to point number one this morning.
Look with me then at verses one through four.
And again, Jesus spoke to them in parables
saying the kingdom of heaven
may be compared to a king
who gave a wedding feast for a son
and sent his servants to call those
who were invited to the wedding feast,
but they would not come.
The king has prepared a wedding feast,
but this is no ordinary wedding feast.
Not an ordinary wedding feast
in what we might even think of today
in our time, in our culture.
Wedding feasts often in Jewish culture
lasted up to one week.
And this also on top of that
is a royal feast
celebrating the wedding of God's son,
the king's son,
the crown prince,
the heir to the throne.
This wedding feast
is what all of history
has been making its way towards,
the telos of all things.
And this, my friends,
is the feast
to end all feasts.
As you know,
a wedding feast is not a feast,
is not a celebration without guests either,
without those you have chosen to invite,
those you hold dear,
those who you love.
The king wanted this select group of people
to be present,
to be there.
So he sends his servants
to call this select group,
Israel,
God's chosen people,
and he says,
hey friends,
it's time.
It's time.
And they should know this,
and they should be ready.
It's time.
It has come.
The time has come
to celebrate my son.
But this invitation
is not your simple little RSVP
or like apps that we have now
that send out a text
and a reminder
to sign up with fun little emojis on them.
This invitation though,
it's a call.
It is a call
and a summons from the king.
So when a king sends out his messengers
!
And he calls you to come
to his kingdom,
to his palace,
into his presence,
you come.
In the epic trilogy,
Lord of the Rings,
there was a king.
Why are you guys laughing?
It is an epic trilogy.
Go check it out.
Seriously.
There was a king,
King Islador.
King Islador forged an oath
between his kingdom
and the men of the White Mountains
to fight within one another
when called upon.
And a time came though
when King Islador
summoned these men
to fight with him
against the rising dark power of Sauron.
But these men of the White Mountains
refused his summons.
So King Islador,
in his anger,
in his fury of them,
in their rebellion
against his summons,
cursed the men
as they fled into the mountains,
cursed as the sleepless dead indefinitely.
So when a king calls,
you come.
Yet,
in stark contrast
to any earthly
or storybook king,
what we have here today
in our text,
what we see in the scriptures,
the eternal king
of the cosmos
is not a king
who is quick
to curse us
for all eternity,
who is harsh.
Rather,
here today,
we see God's patient
and extravagant love.
My friends,
the Lord our God
is patient
and slow to anger,
abounding
in steadfast love.
How does he respond
when they do not come?
He sends out more servants.
This time,
he tells them
what's on the menu.
He tells them
what's on the menu,
trying to coax them
even more
to give them
another chance.
See,
I have prepared
my dinner,
my oxen,
my fat calves
have been slaughtered
and everything
is ready.
Come
to my wedding feast.
It's kind of like
when our church
announces
there's going
to be a potluck.
You know,
the spread
is going
to be good.
Boy,
it's good.
You look
at the spreadsheet
online
and you see
the menu
and you know
it's going
to be a feast
and you don't
want to miss out.
You don't want
to miss out
on our potlucks
here.
So just like that,
you are being
coaxed into our meetings.
It's another way
that we bring
you guys
into our meetings.
So God here
is giving us
the full spread.
He's revealing
and giving us
every chance.
Our God
is such
a kind
and loving God
that in
his forbearance
of our sin,
our rebellion,
he chooses
to share with us
the menu
of his glorious feast.
A feast
of all feasts
where he provides
everything for us.
All you have to do
is show up.
Leave your
Oreos at home.
Those aren't
needed at this feast
as grateful we are
for you guys
to bring the Oreos.
Just show up
and he will
give you
all things.
As 18th century
theologian
and pastor
Jonathan Edwards
so wonderfully
helps us
understand
even further
the significance
of this feast
here.
The creation
of the world
seems to have been
especially for this
end
that the eternal
son of God
might obtain
a spouse
toward whom
he might fully
exercise the
infinite benevolence
of his nature
and to whom
he might
as it were
open and pour
forth all
the immense
fountain of
condescension
love and grace
that was in
his heart
and that in
this way
God
might be
glorified.
sounds good
right?
Sounds great
but shockingly
none of those
whom the king
calls
shows up.
In fact
we see here
some even
respond
with anger
and hatred
in their hearts
terrorizing
and killing
his messengers
but they
paid no
attention
and went
off
one to
his farm
another to
his business
while the
rest seized
his servants
treated them
shamefully
and killed
them.
Jesus
here is now
starting to
point out
to the people
of Israel
their indifference
to God
their hypocritical
hearts
and their
unworthiness
their utter
unworthiness
to come
to be
a part of
the king's
invitation
but they
paid no
attention
going right
back to
their own
ways
what was
more important
to them
focusing on
work
going back
to their
homes
working on
their homes
their
businesses
revealing
the idols
of their
hearts
God's
chosen
people
are expected
to share
in this
feast
yet
in their
hardness
of hearts
they are
missing
it
they are
completely
missing
it
they are
turning
away
from it
they are
ignoring
it
they don't
believe
it
think back
to the
Old Testament
scriptures
and see
God's
great
patience
and loving
kindness
has already
done so
much for
his people
he is
sending
prophet
after prophet
to remind
them
he said
even since
John the
Baptist
prepared a
way for
Jesus
to remind
them
to call
them back
to himself
pointing to
the coming
of the
promised
Messiah
to free
them
from their
bondage
of sin
and shame
I'm
more
reminded
here
of
faithful
witness
of
people
that can
get
distracted
and caught
up
and live
in the
church
and live
their
lives
hearing
the gospel
over
and over
again
being
surrounded
by Christians
being surrounded
by the
church
reminds me
of a
story
of
one of
my
friends
who
worked
in a
factory
for
years
he was
sharing
the gospel
with a
guy
in the
factory
and he
would
come in
and share
and the
guy would
hear it
for years
upon
years
my
friend
would
continue
to be
faithful
and
sharing
the
gospel
and he
would
share
even
just
how
the
Lord
spoke
to him
in his
devotions
that
morning
man
I
was
reading
in
Job
this
morning
and
this
really
affected
me
man
God
is
incredible
and it
was
actually
in that
moment
of him
sharing
about
how God
spoke to
him
to
the
passages
of
Job
that
this
guy
realized
his
need
for
Jesus
and saw
the glory
of Jesus
and repented
and came
to faith
God
it
was
in that
persistence
of him
sharing
the gospel
to someone
who had
just been
so hardened
to the gospel
who had
been
assumed
the gospel
so here
!
here
we see
we've
seen
this
multiple
times
and
most
recently
we
see
just
before
this
one
there's
a
warning
there's
a
warning
here
that
God's
patience
it
does
have
an
end
date
for
us
as
Ed
pointed
out
to us
a couple
weeks
ago
God's
patience
has
an
end
date
for
those
who
continually
reject
God's
invitation
to come
the
king
was
angry
and
he
sent
his
troops
and
destroyed
those
murders
and
burned
their
city
then
he
said
to
his
servants
the
wedding
feast
is
ready
but
those
invited
were
not
worthy
and
you
may
be
wondering
to
yourself
this
seems
pretty
severe
my
friends
make
no
mistake
there
is
no
one
innocent
!
before
God
there
are
no
victims
here
the
first
three
chapters
of
Romans
makes
that
clear
to
us
it
is
in
the
very
unrighteousness
that
one
suppresses
the
truth
we
have
been
revealed
everything
has
been
made
known
about
God
but
in
our
very
unrighteousness
we
suppress
the
truth
of
God
so
here
we
see
indifference
to
his
gospel
is
rejection
of
his
gospel
there
is
no
middle
ground
when
Brittany
and I
lived
in the
Middle
East
we
lived
in a
country
ruled
by a
very
prestigious
royal
monarchy
while
speaking
to
native
citizen
out
on
a
college
campus
one
day
he's
a
Muslim
guy
I
was
sharing
the
gospel
with him
talking
to him
about
all
things
gospel
debating
whatever
and I
asked
him
at
one
point
what
would
happen
if
you
or
I
were
to
be
invited
to
the
king's
palace
here
but yet
we
would
only
reject
his
invitation
but not
just
reject
him
but we
would
spit
in
his
face
and we
would
mock
him
and
jeer
at
him
you
know
what
his
response
was
he
responded
that
person
should
be
imprisoned
at
least
but I
think
he
should
be
killed
and I
looked
at my
friend
and I
said
so if
we
spit
in the
face
of
God
the
king
of
the
cosmos
by
rejecting
his
invitation
for
salvation
through
Jesus
what
do
we
deserve
he
was
silent
he
didn't
have
a
response
this
should
be
a
sobering
reality
that
judgment
is
coming
for
all
who
reject
the
invitation
and
it
should
bring
a
sense
of
urgency
even
in
our
witness
as
we
go
out
from
this
place
to
those
around
us
and
we
need
to
be
reminded
the
sobering
reality
of
who
we
have
as
a
God
we
have
a
glorious
God
who
deserves
all
praise
and
honor
and
glory
he
is
the
eternal
king
of
the
cosmos
he
is
our
creator
and
he
is
completely
just
and
righteous
in
his
judgment
to
condemn
and
to
destroy
all
those
who
in
their
sinfulness
reject
his
invitation
continually
this
is
a
stark
warning
here
Jesus
is
putting
before
the
people
of
Israel
those
who
reject
who
have
rejected
and
are
rejecting
this
invitation
will
justly
face
the
judgment
and
full
wrath
of
God
he
makes
it
clear
that
God
has
not
held
back
no
he
has
not
held
back
anything
rather
he
has
provided
everything
and
his
loving
kindness
and
patience
has
done
everything
for
them
to
come
this
leads
us
now
to
our
next
point
the
king's
invitation
to
all
people
in
verses
8
through
10
then
he
said
to
his
servants
the
wedding
feast
is
ready
but
those
invited
were
not
worthy
go
therefore
to
the
main
roads
and
invite
the
wedding
feast
as
many
as
you
find
and
those
servants
!
went
out
into
the
roads
and
gathered
all
whom
they
found
both
bad
and
good
so
the
wedding
hall
was
filled
with
guests
now
here
we see
the king
is sending
out his
servants
then
now
for a
third
time
but
this
is
not
just
to
a
select
group
of
people
this
time
it's
to
all
people
so
that
the
wedding
hall
is
filled
with
guests
it's
ready
the
first
group
was
not
worthy
in
what
is
a
wedding
feast
again
without
guests
so
now
Jesus
makes
it
clear
that
the
message
of
the
kingdom
of
God
is
not
only
here
for
ethnic
Israel
but
it
is
also
for
the
Gentiles
it
is
for
all
people
throughout
Matthew's
gospel
we
have
seen
glimpses
to
the
reality
that
the
gospel
invitation
is
to
the
Jew
first
but
it
is
also
to
the
Greek
if you
can
remember
reaching
far back
into our
series
this part
of the
parable
is yet
just an
echo
of what
Jesus
said
in
response
to the
faith
of the
Roman
centurion
the
Greek
Matthew
chapter
8
verses
10
through
12
says
when
Jesus
heard
this
the
faith
of
the
centurion
he
marveled
and said
to those
who
followed
him
truly
I
tell
you
with
no
one
in
Israel
have
I
found
such
faith
I
tell
you
many
will
come
from
east
and
west
and
recline
at
the
table
with
Abraham
Isaac
and
Jacob
in
the
kingdom
of
heaven
while
the
sons
of
the
kingdom
will
be
thrown
into
outer
darkness
and
in
that
place
there
will
be
weeping
and
gnashing
of
teeth
Jesus
is
showing
Israel
in
its
leaders
that
this
gospel
in
tation
this
glorious
feast
of the
gospel
is
not
just
for
a
slight
group
of
ethnic
people
it's
not
just
for
a
certain
class
of
people
but
the
promise
was
for
all
it's
for
all
people
everywhere
it's
not
just
sorry
it's
you
might
even
recognize
the
same
language
from
the
end
of
Matthew
and
the
great
commission
here
go
therefore
the
king's
servants
go
therefore
out to
the main
roads
and gathered
all they
could find
the good
and the
bad
and guess
what happens
the wedding
hall is
filled
it's
filled
with
guests
who
despite
their
lack
of
any
advantage
that
Israel
had
were
willing
to
come
to
the
feast
church
what a
glorious
God
we
have
that
he
is
passionately
committed
to the
fame
of
his
own
name
that
he
is
passionately
committed
to
his
love
of
his
son
that
he
will
not
stop
he
will
not
stop
until
the
wedding
hall
is
filled
with
guests
from
all
nations
for
the
glory
and
the
praise
of
his
name
as
pastor
theologian
John
Piper
has
famously
said
worship
is the
goal
and
fuel
of
missions
exist
because
worship
doesn't
not
to be
confused
John
Piper
actually
on this
quote
has said
he's been
confused
multiple
times
to think
that
worship
just
means
worship
nights
singing
songs
and stuff
like that
so not
to be
accused
here
with
that
type
of
worship
but
the
worship
of
our
whole
being
of
people
coming
and
laying
down
their
lives
before
God
this
is
the
church's
primary
mission
motivation
the glory
of God
to bring
God
all
the glory
and honor
and praise
yes
people
will face
God's wrath
and eternal
judgment
without the
gospel
and yes
that should
grieve us
that is a
good thing
that aligns
with God's
heart
not wishing
that anyone
should perish
but that all
should reach
repentance
but missions
exist
so that
God
is at
the
center
that he
is made
famous
that he
is honored
that he
is delighted
in
often
we can
be easily
tempted
to a
more
man
centric
in our
mission
sometimes
doing it
without even
knowing it
we can
easily
focus
more
on the
suffering
of man
with even
simple
phrases like
millions
of people
are dying
daily
and going
to hell
so we
must
go
now
that can
come
from a
good
desire
but it
can
create
an
unhelpful
and
misguided
urgency
and it
may not
seem
concerning
at first
but when
alleviating
the suffering
of man
is not
kept
underneath
and tethered
to God's
glory
rather it
begins to
fill our
mission
the flight
of man
begins to
fill our
mission
in prayers
in the
beginning
you may
only
recognize
that you
are a
degree
off
but rather
as you
continue
unchecked
this degree
becomes
greatly
wired
and you
are several
degrees
off
God
is in
this
for the
glory
of his
name
and the
love
of his
people
there's
not a
false
dichotomy
here
so the
urgency
for our
mission
is real
guys
and we
must
go
but what's
comforting
here is
that we
do not
have to
worry
friends
we do
not worry
in our
evangelism
because
God
and his
eternal
glorious
love
for his
son
is
utterly
and
passionately
committed
to filling
the wedding
hall for
Jesus
so we
church
we can
go out
from this
place
with great
joy
those
enjoying
the feast
of the
gospel
and we
can have
great hope
calling all
peoples
rich
poor
black
white
asian
good
bad
to come
and enjoy
this glorious
feast in the
gospel
knowing that
God is
faithful
to fulfill
his promises
to fill
the wedding
hall
not because
we have it
together
not because
we are
intelligent
not because
we are
skilled
but because
he has
promised
to do
it
he is
fully
committed
to calling
saving
and securing
a people
for the
glory of
his son
Jesus
so friends
take heart
in your
evangelism
God is
committed
to it
with you
so as we
move here
from these
verses to
verses 11
14
we see
that this
wedding feast
isn't just
about being
willing to
go
it's also
about
receiving
it's about
repenting
believing
and obeying
which brings
us to our
last point
here
receive
Christ's
righteous
robe
but when
the king
came in
to look
at the
guest
he saw
there a
man
who had
no wedding
garment
he said
to him
friend
how did
you get
in here
without a
wedding
garment
and he
was speechless
then the
king said
to the
attendants
bind him
hand and
foot
and cast
him into
the outer
darkness
in that
place
there will
be
weeping
and gnashing
of teeth
for many
are called
but few
are chosen
this new
group of
guests here
who were
invited to
come to
the feast
were straight
off the
streets
so there
was no
time for
them to
return home
they came
as they
were
pouring
into the
palace
of the
king
they didn't
have time
to go
back home
to get
cleaned up
to take
off their
work clothes
and to
come back
to the
place
the palace
some of
them most
likely
wouldn't
have even
owned
or have
in their
possession
proper attire
for such
a wedding
it was
people
from all
sorts
of
backgrounds
and walks
of life
that were
filling in
putting on
these wedding
garments
these robes
provided for
the wedding
with eager
joy
to receive
and delight
in all the
good things
prepared for
them
but
we see
here
there is
one
who came
in among
them
who did
not put
on a
clean
new
wedding
garment
some
scholars
believe
that
it would
have been
customary
in the
ancient
near east
for the
king
to provide
these
garments
the proper
wedding
attire
so Jesus
here is
implying
that these
wedding
garments
are provided
by God
himself
so when
the king
walks in
to look
over his
guests with
joy
love
and affection
to be
celebrating
he finds
a man
sitting
amongst
the guests
without the
proper wedding
garment
for this
feast
and says
friend
how did
you get
in here
without a
wedding
garment
it's not
because he
didn't know
it's not
because he
didn't receive
it
not as if
there was
lack
any lack
of provision
or opportunity
for this
man
but what
was the
man's
defense
don't miss
this small
detail here
what was
the response
of this
man
nothing
he said
absolutely
nothing
it says
he was
speechless
this man
had no
care
for the
king
or his
son
he made
the decision
not to
wear it
it was
as to
show
even in
the royal
presence
his
contempt
for the
king
for the
whole
proceedings
of the
feast
he became
he came
because he
was invited
but he only
came in
appearance
this great
feast
was intended
to show
honor
and love
for the
king's
son
but this
man
meant
nothing
of that
kind
he was
willing
to eat
the good
things
that were
provided
that he
was surrounded
with
set before
him
but in
his heart
there was
no love
for either
the king
nor his
treasured
son
every
single
person
guys
every
single
person
will stand
before the
judgment
seat of
God
on the
last
day
where
you
will
attend
where
I will
attend
and
every
single
person
sins
will be
made
known
and
every
mouth
will be
stopped
we
will be
speechless
having
no
defense
of our
own
but
only
one
defense
standing
before
an
omniscient
God
who knows
everything
we have
ever done
every
motive
every
thought
what
possible
excuse
defense
could
we
ever
give
to him
that he
would
not
see
right
through
so this
man
here
was
speechless
because
he
was to
give
an
account
based
on his
own
merit
!
his
own
unrighteous
!
rags
which
he
could
not
stand
upon
we
can
only
stand
upon
the
righteousness
of
Christ
that's
our
only
defense
that's
your
only
defense
so
then the
king speaks
to the
attendants
behind
him
hand
and
foot
and
cast
him
into
the
outer
darkness
in
that
place
there
will
be
weeping
and
gnashing
of
teeth
for
many
are
called
but
few
are
chosen
these
words
in
verses
14
many
are
called
and
few
are
chosen
of
course
relate
to
the
whole
parable
if you
stand
back
and
you
look
those
who
are
called
include
even
those
who
reject
the
king's
invitation
who
by
their
refusal
have
proved
that
they
were
not
chosen
even
amongst
those
who
accepted
the
invitation
there
was
one
who
was
not
chosen
for
he
insulted
the
king
in
his
own
palace
and
showed
his
enmity
by
his
own
pride
and
disobedience
to
the
royal
requirements
the
general
call
goes
to
everyone
the
general
call
the
gospel
goes
out
to
everyone
but
only
the
chosen
hear
it
inwardly
and
receive
it
which
is
the
effectual
call
of
the
gospel
as
the
apostle
Paul
draws
out
in
his
letter
to
the
Romans
as
we
read
earlier
in
our
liturgy
many
are
called
all
hear
the
gospel
and
some
even
make
an
outward
profession
of
faith
trying
to
come
in
to
partake
in
the
feast
but
as
we
know
from
Matthew
we
know
that
not
all
who
say
Lord
will
enter
the
kingdom
of
heaven
but
God
rich
in
mercy
will
call
a
people
from
every
tribe
every
tongue
every
nation
not
only
outwardly
but
also
inwardly
by the
power
of the
Holy
Spirit
pouring
out
his
love
into
our
hearts
changing
the
disposition
of our
wicked
hearts
clothing
us
in the
righteous
robe
of
his
son
Jesus
the
one
who
laid
down
his
life
his
perfect
and
spotless
life
on our
behalf
who
laid
it
down
pierced
his
hands
and feet
that
we
may
know
him
that
we
may
delight
in
him
that
we
may
be
in
his
presence
but
before
they
were
unwilling
to
come
to
this
feast
of
his
son
the
changing
of our
wicked
hearts
now
they
are
willing
and
eager
and
will
do
whatever
it
takes
to
come
they
will
lay
down
whatever
they
have
to
come
they
will
lay
down
their
businesses
their
farms
they
will
lay
down
their
hatred
to
come
they
will
lay
down
their
pride
to
come
and
take
up
the
full
delight
in
celebrating
Jesus
Christ
the
King
and
if
there's
many
things
I've
learned
in
this
36
years
of
my
life
I
continually
see
how
utterly
impossible
it is
for me
to change
anyone's
heart
let alone
the
wickedness
of my
own
heart
so
this
is
good
news
that
it's
up to
God
not
to
us
this
is
what
19th
century
pastor
Thomas
Chalmer
says
and he
calls
the
expulsive
power
of a
new
affection
the
only
way
to get
rid
of a
wicked
heart
a
heart
that
is
sinful
and
has
other
sinful
affections
is by
the
expulsive
power
of a
new
affection
that's
what the
power
of God's
loving
grace
does
it
makes
those
who
are
unwilling
willing
love
to
love
God
to
love
God
because
God
in
his
great
love
is
committed
to
honor
his
son
Jesus
by
fulfilling
the
wedding
feast
with
a
people
who
honor
the
son
christians
what comfort
this brings
us
oh what
comfort
that this
can bring
us
that we
come not
in our
own
strength
but by
God's
own
power
and
spirit
we are
welcomed
not
on the
basis
of our
filthy
works
but only
on the
basis
of the
son
Jesus
and his
own
righteous
work
and we
can now
rest
and delight
in the
continual
feasts
and all
that God
has done
and is
doing
for his
church
but our
delighting
now in
this feast
is only
a foretaste
it's only
a foretaste
of what is
to come
when at
the end
of all
time
think about
this with
me now
at the
end
of all
time
when all
of heaven
and earth
will be
made new
when we
God's
people
will be
transformed
and will
be made
new
when all
of creation
will be
made new
will be
clothed
in perfect
splendor
for what
for his
son Jesus
for the
wedding feast
of Jesus
and so
when we
get to
physically
attend
this wedding
feast
of the
king
Michael
Reeves
hopefully
points out
to us
here
that we
not only
will be
attending
the wedding
feast
of the
king
but we
will only
have
our
lord and
savior
gird
himself
and have
us reclined
at his
very table
to do
what
to serve
us
to love
us
oh what
love
guys
what
love
do we
have
in a
king like
this
what a
wonderful
king
what a
loving king
we have
what a
savior
that he
would lay
down his
life and
only to
pick it up
again and
to serve
us to
love us
Isaac Watts
wrote a
wonderful
hymn that
I want to
end our
time on
here
a hymn
called
How Sweet
and Awesome
is the
Place
How Sweet
and Awesome
is the
Place
with
Christ
within
the
doors
while
everlasting
love
displays
the
choices
of
her
stores
while
all
our
hearts
and
all
our
songs
join
to
admire
the
feast
each
of us
cry
with
thankful
tongues
Lord
why
was
I
a
guest
why
was
I
made
to
hear
thy
voice
and
enter
while
there's
room
when
thousands
make
a
wretched
voice
and
rather
starve
than
come
it was
the
same
love
that
spread
the
feast
that
sweetly
drew
us
in
else
!
we had
still
refused
to
taste
and
perished
in
our
sin
pity
the
nations
oh
our
God
constrain
the
earth
to
come
send
thy
victorious
word
abroad
and
bring
the
strangers
home
we
long
to
see
thy
church
is
full
that
all
the
chosen
race
may
come
with
one
voice
in
heart
and
soul
and
sing
thy
redeeming
grace
let
us
pray
father
thank
you
lord
for
your
glorious
grace
thank
you
for
your
love
for
your
son
Jesus
and
bringing
us
into
that
love
oh
lord
let
us
live
in
that
goodness
of
that
grace
let
us
live
in
the
goodness
and
the
freedom
of
that
gospel
of
Jesus
father
we
ask
that
you
send
us
forth
from
this
place
with
joy
and
hope
that
we
would
delight
in
the
feast
of
you
oh
lord
we
pray
amen