Who will attend the Celebration:

Matthew, Chapter 21:

• Following the triumphant entry.
• Jesus cleanses the temple, calling it a house of prayer, not a den of robbers.
• He curses the fig tree and it withers at once.
• The chief priest and elders question His authority.
• He tells of two sons who are asked to go and work in the vineyard. One says he won’t, but then does. One says he will, but then doesn’t
• He also tells the parable of tenants who are unfaithful in caring for their masters vineyard, even to the point of killing His son.

What is Jesus describing in Matthew, Chapter 21?

• Matthew 21:43 “...Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits...”
• There is a right and a wrong way to live.
• There are expectations that people live up to, or don’t.

Matthew 22:2-6 “...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. Again he sent 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...”

Luke 14:16-20 “...But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come...’

Who is the king in the kingdom of heaven?

• Father God.

What has the king prepared?

• An abundant feast to celebrate His Son.

Who is invited to the celebration?

• Many.

Do all who are invited attend?

• Many do not.

Why do people miss out on the celebration?

• They consider other things to be more important - their things.

What do you consider to be the most important thing in your life?

• Revelation 19:6-8 “...Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure” - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints...”

Do your actions line up with your confessions?

Matthew 22:7-10 “...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...”

Luke 14:21-24 “...So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet...’”

Will there be people at the celebration?

• The kings house will be filled.

Many use this scripture to describe the Jews rejection of the gospel, leading to the blessings being offered to the Gentiles.

Will there be Jews at the celebration?

• Those who accept the invitation can come in.

Will all Gentiles be at the celebration?

• Those that don’t accept the invitation will not come in.

Why would someone not accept the invitation?

• The want what they want, not what the king wants.

Matthew 22:11-14 “...But when the king came in to look at the guests, 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 the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen...”

Is accepting the invitation all that is necessary to come in?

• The celebration is only for those wearing a wedding garment.

What is the wedding garment?

• Isaiah 61:10 “...I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels...”

• Revelation 19:7-8 “...Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints...”

What is not the wedding garment?

• Self righteousness, which is really contempt for God’s provision through the blood of Jesus Christ.

How would you explain “...many are called, but few are chosen...”?

• The invitation is to many - many are called.
• Some are more interested in their own plans.
• Some are more interested in their own form of righteousness.
• The celebration is for those who come dressed in the proper garment - few are chosen.