Journey Into Holiness – p.12 “What Determines Your Future?” Matthew 22:1-14

Religion back then just like today was big business.Religion back then just like today was big business.

The third parable brings real clarity to the whole problem of people who think they are going to heaven because they live by a set of religious rules and people who don’t think they have a chance of getting to heaven because they think they are scum.The third parable brings real clarity to the whole problem of people who think they are going to heaven because they live by a set of religious rules and people who don’t think they have a chance of getting to heaven because they think they are scum.

Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:

Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) "Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'

Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) "But they paid no attention and went off— one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.'

Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.

Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

The ignorant guests… Said they would come but then didn’t.Said they would come but then didn’t. "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

The ignorant guests… Resisted the gracious repeat invitationResisted the gracious repeat invitation "Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'

The ignorant guests… Were totally self-centeredWere totally self-centered "But they paid no attention and went off— one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.

The ignorant guests… Were totally self-centeredWere totally self-centered The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

The ignorant guests… Were totally self-centeredWere totally self-centered They “paid no attention” could be translated: “They just don’t care…about the will of God”They “paid no attention” could be translated: “They just don’t care…about the will of God”

The ignorant guests… his field and another to his business.

The ignorant guests… The ignorant guests are found undeserving of the invitation.The ignorant guests are found undeserving of the invitation. "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.

The undeserving guests… Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

The offensive guest… "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.

The offensive guest… "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Jesus story had a bottom line… "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

Our Bottom Line: It’s not how you start, but how you finish that matters!It’s not how you start, but how you finish that matters!

For the curious and those with questions : You have received an invitation from God: RSVP required!You have received an invitation from God: RSVP required!

For the curious and those with questions :

For those living a Jesus-centered life: You can not escape the consequences of offending a holy God.You can not escape the consequences of offending a holy God.

You can not escape…

Ephesians 4:1-6 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-6 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. -

Dress appropriately Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Dress appropriately Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3: Colossians 3:12-14

Finish well!