You are invited! I am invited!

But, alas, we have others things to attend to like cleaning a closet or weeding a garden or finishing a last minute assignment at work. We say, oh well, maybe another time. We would love to come, but…Yes, we know the King, but…

Jesus is responding to those who want to arrest Him that day with yet another Kingdom story:

Matthew 22, Msg
The Story of the Wedding Banquet
22 1-3 Jesus responded by telling still more stories. “God’s kingdom,” he said, “is like a king who threw a wedding banquet for his son. He sent out servants to call in all the invited guests. And they wouldn’t come!

(Jesus is relating that the gospel of salvation, God’s way back to Him, was first given to the Jews and they did not respond.)

4 “He sent out another round of servants, instructing them to tell the guests, ‘Look, everything is on the table, the prime rib is ready for carving. Come to the feast!’

(Prophets were sent, John the Baptist sent, followed by Christ Himself, and still the Jews, the chosen people of God, did not accept the invitation to come back to God! Most thought they were “good enough” and did not need to be saved.)

5-7 “They only shrugged their shoulders and went off, one to weed his garden, another to work in his shop. The rest, with nothing better to do, beat up on the messengers and then killed them. The king was outraged and sent his soldiers to destroy those thugs and level their city.

(Jesus relates this story only three days before He was beaten and killed.)

8-10 “Then he told his servants, ‘We have a wedding banquet all prepared but no guests. The ones I invited weren’t up to it. Go out into the busiest intersections in town and invite anyone you find to the banquet.’ The servants went out on the streets and rounded up everyone they laid eyes on, good and bad, regardless. And so the banquet was on—every place filled.

(At the Jews rejection, the Gentiles are now invited to the feast. All they have to do is accept the invitation and believe.)

11-13 “When the king entered and looked over the scene, he spotted a man who wasn’t properly dressed. He said to him, ‘Friend, how dare you come in here looking like that!’ The man was speechless. Then the king told his servants, ‘Get him out of here—fast. Tie him up and ship him to hell. And make sure he doesn’t get back in.’

(God will NOT accept hypocrisy into His Kingdom. To say we believe and live like we do not is abominable in God’s eyes. God knows our hearts and how they are “dressed”.)

14 “That’s what I mean when I say, ‘Many get invited; only a few make it.’”

YOU are invited! I am invited!
Our merciful God has not only provided food, but a royal feast, for the perishing souls of his rebellious creatures. There is enough and to spare, of every thing that can add to our present comfort and everlasting happiness, through good times and bad, in the salvation of his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the One and Only who can satisfy the heart He created.

“Making light of Christ, and of the great salvation wrought out by him, is the damning sin of the world. They were careless. Multitudes perish forever through mere carelessness, who show no direct aversion, but are careless as to their souls. Also the business and profit of worldly employments hinder many in closing with the Saviour. Both farmers and merchants must be diligent; but whatever we have of the world in our hands, our care must be to keep it out of our hearts, lest it come between us and Christ.” –Matthew Henry – Commentary

Dear Heavenly Father, I ACCEPT YOUR INVITATION! I am coming quickly to the Feast! No excuses! You are coming soon, as the bridegroom excitedly comes together with his bride, for eternity! Thank you for your stories that speak to our hearts today! Thank you for inviting us to Your Table! Thank you for salvation through Your sacrifice for ours sins. Cleanse us, wash us white as snow, so our hearts will be “dressed” as they ought to be…holy and pure…for today and for that day when You come back for us.
In Jesus Name, Amen!