DAY #36: February 5, 2009 - Matthew 22:1-22

I promise - this will be shorter today. In today's passage, Jesus tells the parable of the wedding banquet. In this parable, Jesus pictured the Kingdom of Heaven being offered to those who might be least expected to enter it. A king gives a great wedding feast for his son. In this culture, two invitations were expected when banquets were given. The first asked the guests to attend; the second announced that all was ready. When the king sent his servants to notify everyone that it was time to come, this referred to the second invitation. These invitees had already accepted the first invitation. At this second one, however, these guests refused.

The meal was ready, but these guests ignored the announcement, placing a higher priority on their farms and businesses. The seizing and killing of these messengers stretches the imagination for this story, but probably recalls the same meaning as in the parable of the wicked tenants who killed the servants—prophets whom God had sent to offer his invitation. The king’s invitation had been refused and his servants murdered, so he became furious.

The king still wanted to share his banquet, so he ordered his servants to go out to the street corners and invite everyone they found - the outcasts and sinners as well as righteous people. With out a doubt, this scene pictures God’s gracious invitation to all kinds of people—Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, male and female, good and bad. As the servants gathered all who would respond, so God gives salvation to all who hear and respond.

The proper clothes for a wedding probably refers to clean, fresh clothing. It was unthinkable to come to a wedding banquet in soiled clothes. This would insult the host, who could only assume that the guest was ignorant, had not truly been invited, or was not prepared for the banquet. When the king pointed this out, the man had no reply, so the king declared him unprepared and unworthy. The wedding clothes picture the righteousness needed to enter God’s Kingdom—the total acceptance in God’s eyes that Christ provides for every believer. Christ has provided this garment of righteousness for everyone, but each person must put it on (accept Christ’s gracious provision of his life given for us) in order to enter the King’s banquet (eternal life). There is an open invitation, but we must be each individually accept His offer of salvation.

In the final judgment, God’s true people will be revealed. Claiming to belong at the wedding feast while refusing to wear the correct garments was like the nation of Israel claiming to be God’s people but refusing to live for him. This impostor at the banquet found himself tied up and thrown into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth—a common biblical description of hell. Those who are called but reject God’s invitation will be punished, as will those who seem to accept the call but fail to follow through.

Last in this passage, we see that the Jews hated to pay taxes to Rome because the money supported their oppressors and symbolized their subjection. Anyone who avoided paying taxes faced harsh penalties. Thus, this was a valid (and loaded) question, and the crowd around Jesus waited expectantly for his answer. Matthew, as a former tax collector, was certainly interested in Jesus’ response to this question. The Pharisees were against these taxes on religious grounds; the Herodians supported taxation on political grounds. Thus, either a yes or a no could get Jesus into trouble. If Jesus agreed that it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees would say he was opposed to God, and the people would turn against him. If Jesus said the taxes should not be paid, the Herodians could hand him over to Herod on the charge of rebellion.

Jesus saw through their flattering words to the underlying evil motives. He then asked his questioners to produce a Roman coin used for the tax so he could use it to make a point.
The coin had a picture of the reigning Caesar. The title referred to Caesar as divine and as “chief priest.” The Caesars were worshiped as gods by the pagans, so the claim to divinity on the coin itself repulsed the Jews. Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to him”—that is, the coin bearing the emperor’s image should be given to the emperor. In other words, having a coin meant being part of that country, so citizens should acknowledge the authority of Caesar and pay for the benefits accorded to them by his empire (for example, peace and an efficient road system). The Pharisees and Herodians tried to make it appear that it was incompatible to be a Jew and pay taxes to a pagan emperor who claimed to be divine. But

Paying the taxes, however, did not have to mean submission to the divinity claimed by the emperor. The words on the coins were incorrect. Caesar had the right to claim their tax money, but he had no claim on their souls. The Jews knew that everything that belongs to God must be given to God. While they lived in the Roman world, the Jews had to face the dual reality of subjection to Rome and responsibility to God. Jesus explained that they could do both if they kept their priorities straight. The tax would be paid as long as Rome held sway over Judea, but God had rights on eternity and on their lives.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have heard?)

Once more, so much to take in and dwell on. We are His servants, and He has commanded us to go out along the highways and byways to invite everybody we come across to the great banquet - heaven. Pretty simple. Not very complicated. Invite people. Invite them to church where they can hear the message. Invite them to your home where they can see you live the message. Invite them to receive Christ. Invite them to investigate the claims of Christ. Invite them to watch how Jesus has changed our lives. This is our job. Give the people of COV courageous, bold hearts. Raise up men and women - students and children who will be unashamed of you. Raise up people who are tired of being wimps when it comes to sharing about You, Lord.

"I am not ashamed of the gospel (good news), because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16 (NIV)

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." Proverbs 11:30 (NIV)

PRAYER

Lord, bring people into my life today that I can/will invite. Lord create a church at COV where people are encouraged and challenged to send out invitations. Even now, I'm thinking about Easter and who I need to invite. Lord, bring people in from every street corner to hear the message of hope and salvation. Work in the hearts of our people. Burden each of our hearts for the salvation of others.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)