The Great Invitation
Matthew 22:1–14
This is the greatest invitation ever extended. It’s an invitation from the King to a wedding feast in honor of His Son, and there are some important things to notice about this invitation.
I. A Royal Wedding:
a. The Lord is saying salvation is like a wedding because a wedding is a thing of joy and celebration. And God has chosen this to illustrate the pleasures of knowing Him. When we get to heaven, we will enjoy the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). So, when salvation is offered, it’s not sad. Something wonderful is happening and going to happen, and you don’t want to miss it. In this parable, Jesus talks to the people and warns them against refusing His offer of salvation.
II. The King’s Son:
a. (Matthew 22:2) The key to this parable is the king's son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And this parable deals with your eternal destiny, which hinges on God’s Son and your relationship with Him. You don’t have any chance of salvation or hope of heaven apart from the Son of God. The Bible was written to tell you about the Son of God: the Old and New Testaments. The hero of the Bible is God’s Son, Jesus (Psalm 2:7; Psalm 2:12; John 3:16-17; John 3:36; Matthew 17:5). Simply put: There’s a king who made a feast for His Son.
III. The Sent Servants:
a. (Matthew 22:3) We desperately need servants willing to issue the wedding invitation! God is sending forth His servants. The servants are soul winners. If you want to be like the Lord Jesus Christ and walk in obedience to Him, you need to be a servant, doing what He wants you to do: going out and saying, “There’s a royal supper, and I’ve been sent to invite you to it!”
b. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He sends us out to do the same works He did (and greater) with the power of the Holy Spirit. You are to be a servant, and a servant is to go with the message. And that servant is to say, “There is a King, and that King has made a marriage for His Son, and you have been invited!”
IV. The Great Feast:
a. (Matthew 22:4) God likens salvation to a wedding, a feast, not a funeral. It’s a great feast. It is the King Who’s made this feast, and He has invited you to a great feast for His Son. What an honor! It’s also a costly feast. God has spared no expense. But it’s also a prepared feast! Everything is made ready. Today is the day of salvation! What a disgrace it would be to turn down this great invitation. The King of heaven has made a marriage for His Son, and He has invited you. And the Bible says, “Whosoever will may come.” (Revelation 22:17)