Gospel Reading Matthew 22:1 – 14

Matthew 22:1 – 14 1 Jesus again used parables in talking to the people. 2 “The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. 3 He sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come to the feast, but they did not want to come.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 4 So he sent other servants with this message for the guests: ‘My feast is ready now; my steers and prize calves have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!’ 5 But the invited guests paid no attention and went about their business: one went to his farm, another to his store, 6 while others grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 7 The king was very angry; so he sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burned down their city. 8 Then he called his servants and said to them, ‘My wedding feast is ready, but the people I invited did not deserve it. 9 Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people. 11 “The king went in to look at the guests and saw a man who was not wearing wedding clothes.

“Many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:1 – 14 12 ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ the king asked him. But the man said nothing. 13 Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark. There he will cry and gnash his teeth.’” 14 And Jesus concluded, “Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:1 – 14

Matthew 22:1 – 14 Reading – picture of the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 22:1 – 14 Reading – picture of the Kingdom of Heaven King who sends out invitation

Matthew 22:1 – 14 Reading – picture of the Kingdom of Heaven King who sends out invitation People come/responds appropriately

Matthew 22:1 – 14 Reading – picture of the Kingdom of Heaven King who sends out invitation People come/responds appropriately One didn’t and was ordered out

Matthew 22:1 – 14 Reading – picture of the Kingdom of Heaven King who sends out invitation People come/responds appropriately One didn’t and was ordered out 14 “....many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:1 – 14 Reading – picture of the Kingdom of Heaven Place where many are invited to 14 “....many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation 14 “....many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation V2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come...

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy V2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come...

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy - celebration, music and dancing V2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come...

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy - celebration, music and dancing - Christianity is not gloomy and dull V2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come...

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy - celebration, music and dancing - Christianity is not gloomy and dull, but life filled with joy and happiness from God V2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come...

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy - celebration, music and dancing - Christianity is not gloomy and dull, but life filled with joy and happiness from God V3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come,

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy - celebration, music and dancing - Christianity is not gloomy and dull, but life filled with joy and happiness from God - 1st invitation – to inform them V3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come,

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy - celebration, music and dancing - Christianity is not gloomy and dull, but life filled with joy and happiness from God - 1st invitation – to inform them - 2nd invitation – it’s ready, come V3 ……but they refused to come

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy - celebration, music and dancing - Christianity is not gloomy and dull, but life filled with joy and happiness from God - 1st invitation – to inform them - 2nd invitation – it’s ready, come deliberate insult V3 ……but they refused to come

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy - celebration, music and dancing - Christianity is not gloomy and dull, but life filled with joy and happiness from God - 1st invitation – to inform them - 2nd invitation – it’s ready, come we must attend – to experience joy V3 ……but they refused to come

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness V3 ……but they refused to come

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness V4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ... Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions V4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ... Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions - distractions removes our focus from God V4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ... Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions - distractions removes our focus from God - some distractions are not bad V4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ... Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions - distractions removes our focus from God - some distractions are not bad, until we make it our only one focus V4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ... Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions - distractions removes our focus from God - some distractions are not bad, until we make it our only one focus Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions - distractions removes our focus from God - some distractions are not bad, until we make it our only one focus Find rest from all distractions Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace Street corners = outcasts and unwanted V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace Street corners = outcasts and unwanted prostitutes, lepers, sick and poor V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace Street corners = outcasts and unwanted prostitutes, lepers, sick and poor Grace=receive something we don’t deserve V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace Gospel bless us with what we don’t deserve V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace Gospel bless us with what we don’t deserve Gospel does not discriminate V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace Gospel bless us with what we don’t deserve Gospel does not discriminate Qumran community V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace Gospel bless us with what we don’t deserve Gospel does not discriminate Qumran community-excluded outcasts V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace Gospel does not discriminate Qumran community-excluded outcasts Gospel includes them V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace V8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace V11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace We must come, willing to change V11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace We must come, willing to change 13 ...‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace We must come, willing to change We must be transformed 13 ...‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:1 – 14 God’s invitation An invitation to joy and happiness Not free from distractions The invitation of grace We must come, willing to change We must be transformed