1. Responding to a Royal Invitation Matthew 22: 1 - 14
Jesus spoke to them in parables saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. . . Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone that you can find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” (22:1-3, 8-10)

2. Timeline of Passover Week
Monday – Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey colt to a Messiah’s welcome
Tuesday – Jesus came into the city again and cleansed the temple of sacrifice merchants and money changers
Wednesday
He entered the city again and on the way He cursed the fig tree
While teaching in the temple courts, the religious leaders questioned the source of his authority
Jesus condemns the Jewish leaders through the parable of the tenants
Jesus condemns the multitudes through the parable of the wedding banquet

3. The Invitation Rejected (vv. 1-6)
Jesus spoke to them in parables saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ But they paid no attention and went off – one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.” (22:1-6)
“Kingdom of heaven” – represents spiritual community of God’s redeemed people
To be invited to the wedding feast of a king’s son was a great honor; to refuse to attend is a preposterous idea
The king’s initial response and patience is amazing; he sent a second group of servants to remind the invited guests to come after an open insult

4. Symbolism in the Parable
The king – God
Invited guests – God’s chosen people, Israel, those who had already been called by Him
Wedding feast – God’s promised blessing to Israel
Servants – John the Baptist, Jesus Himself, and New Testament apostles, preachers, and teachers
Indifferent guests – People who are preoccupied with daily living and personal pursuits

5. The Rejecters Punished (vv. 7-8)
“The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.” (22:7-8)
Scene depicts the punishment of the rebellious subjects who rejected the king’s call
God’s patience is shown to have its limit
Those invited were unworthy to attend
They refused an invitation in no way based on worth
They only needed to say yes to God’s invitation to receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord

6. The New Guests Invited (vv. 9-10)
“’Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone that you can find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” (22:9-10)
Scene depicts the guests who replace those who had repeatedly refused the king’s call
Invitation paralleled Jesus’ Great Commission to his disciples
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt. 28:19)
Called morally good and the morally bad
Neither were righteous enough
Both are equally in need of salvation
What makes a person worthy of salvation?
Personal faith in God’s gracious provision in Christ
Those who accept God’s invitation to follow Jesus as their saving Lord, will be dinner guests in His divine and eternally glorious wedding hall

7. The Intruder Expelled (vv. 11-14)
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited, but few are chosen.’” (22:11-14)
Last scene focuses on an intruder
Intruder thought he could come to the king’s feast on his own terms, in any clothes he wanted
He was proud and self-willed, thoughtless of the others, and insulting to the king
Proper wedding clothes of a true believer – God-given righteousness
Jesus’ closing statement – “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Reflects scriptural balance between God’s sovereignty and man’s will
Few who heard God’s call were willing to accept it and thereby be among the chosen

8. Conclusion The gospel invitation is sent to everyone
It is not God’s will that a single person be excluded from His kingdom
Not everyone wants God
Many who claim to want Him do not want Him on His terms
Those who are saved enter God’s kingdom because of their willing acceptance of His sovereign, gracious provision
Those who are lost are excluded because of their willing rejection of that same sovereign grace