The Improperly Dressed Man
Mt. 22:1-14
Intro.
A. The gospel of Matthew emphasized the kingship of Jesus. This parable compares the kingdom
of Christ to a wedding feast given by a king for his son.
1. Wedding feasts often lasted seven days and the king expected his guests to stay the entire period - required a considerable commitment.
2. The honor of being invited by a king and the terror of displeasing him were strong motivations to attend.
3. A preliminary invitation had been sent (3), now the wedding is ready to begin. It would dishonor the son for invited guests not to attend.
4. His servants (v. 6) - represented the king’s person; the mistreatment of royal representatives was treason or revolt.
B. The parable illustrates the invitation of the Jews to the kingdom of Christ, their response and God’s response.
Body:
A. The feast (22:1-10).
1. The king - represents God’s preparations for the kingdom.
2. The son - represents Jesus; the King of the kingdom (Mt. 16:18,19).
3. The first invited - the Jews.
a. The prophets had foretold the event (Dan. 2:44; Isa. 2:4; Micah 4).
b. John the Baptist (Mt. 3:1,2), the seventy (Lk. 10:9), the twelve (Mt. 10:5-7).
c. Christ Himself (Mt. 4:17).
4. The second invitation (v. 4).
a. “Oxen and fatted cattle” had been killed - all things are ready - the Lamb of God has been sacrificed.
b. Predicted the responses to His invitation to the kingdom.
B. The responses:
1. Some “made light of it” (v. 5) - by putting farms and business ahead of it.
2. Some sought to destroy the messengers (v. 6) - showed their attitude toward the king (Lk. 10:16). Illustrations (Acts 7: 54-60; 12:1-3).
3. The king’s response:
a. Destroyed those murderers and burned their city (v. 7; 24:2).
b. Invite others (vs. 8-10). Note: The king did not go himself, he sent servants.
c. Gentiles were invited (Rom. 1:16; 2:21-29; Acts 13:44-46).
C. The improperly dressed man (22:11-14).
1. Some say the wedding garment was provided, others that it refers to clean/modest attire -
either way, he was “speechless” (no excuse for not being properly dressed).
2. The “man” (v. 11) refers to “many” (v. 14) who are called but not chosen. (May have specific reference to the Jewish nation, but also applies to those who are God’s people today - but not properly dressed.) (Col. 3:9-15)
D. The punishment (22:7,13).
1. Rev. 21:8: cowardly - fearful; not normal fear (as people in Washington/Maryland during sniper’s siege), but afraid to stand up for what God wants because of fear of man; unbelieving -those who never believed in Christ, or fell away (Heb. 3:12-14,19); abominable - vile, polluted their minds with worldliness; murderers - the wilful shedding of innocent blood; sexually immoral - fornicators (whoremongers, KJV), (Heb. 13:4); sorcerers - manipulating life by magical arts, getting answers from the stars, a bottle or other drugs (pharmakia: “especially one who uses drugs, potions, spealls, enchangments” Vine); idolaters - anything that replaces God (Col. 3:5); liars - by tongue or actions (used to be an insult to be called a liar, now “creative way to get out of trouble.”
2. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 - fornicators (pornia), adulterers (first includes the second; second involves the spouse of another), some “I can do anything I want to with my body” - the devil’s lie, momentary pleasure more important than consequences (misery here and hereafter); homosexuals (effeminate, KJV; “those submitting to homosexuals” NKJV note), sodomites (the active participants) Note: these all involve sexual abuses (whether abuse of children, rape, consensual sex with anyone other than your husband/wife - all will populate Hell!); thieves (emphasizes the secrecy and craft of the robbery); extortioners (pillage, plundering; use of violence, threats, or misuse of authority); covetous (unlawful desire, or desire for the unlawful); drunkards (intoxicated), how many times does one have to get drunk, commit fornication or murder to be guilty?; revilers to speak reproachfully, rail, abuse.
Concl.
A. The unrighteous will not receive the eternal kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9).
B. God’s solution? (6:11). Have on the right clothes, be chosen (Mt. 22:13,14). Those who face God unprepared will be speechless! (No excuse).
Intro.
A. The gospel of Matthew emphasized the kingship of Jesus. This parable compares the kingdom
of Christ to a wedding feast given by a king for his son.
1. Wedding feasts often lasted seven days and the king expected his guests to stay the entire period - required a considerable commitment.
2. The honor of being invited by a king and the terror of displeasing him were strong motivations to attend.
3. A preliminary invitation had been sent (3), now the wedding is ready to begin. It would dishonor the son for invited guests not to attend.
4. His servants (v. 6) - represented the king’s person; the mistreatment of royal representatives was treason or revolt.
B. The parable illustrates the invitation of the Jews to the kingdom of Christ, their response and God’s response.
Body:
A. The feast (22:1-10).
1. The king - represents God’s preparations for the kingdom.
2. The son - represents Jesus; the King of the kingdom (Mt. 16:18,19).
3. The first invited - the Jews.
a. The prophets had foretold the event (Dan. 2:44; Isa. 2:4; Micah 4).
b. John the Baptist (Mt. 3:1,2), the seventy (Lk. 10:9), the twelve (Mt. 10:5-7).
c. Christ Himself (Mt. 4:17).
4. The second invitation (v. 4).
a. “Oxen and fatted cattle” had been killed - all things are ready - the Lamb of God has been sacrificed.
b. Predicted the responses to His invitation to the kingdom.
B. The responses:
1. Some “made light of it” (v. 5) - by putting farms and business ahead of it.
2. Some sought to destroy the messengers (v. 6) - showed their attitude toward the king (Lk. 10:16). Illustrations (Acts 7: 54-60; 12:1-3).
3. The king’s response:
a. Destroyed those murderers and burned their city (v. 7; 24:2).
b. Invite others (vs. 8-10). Note: The king did not go himself, he sent servants.
c. Gentiles were invited (Rom. 1:16; 2:21-29; Acts 13:44-46).
C. The improperly dressed man (22:11-14).
1. Some say the wedding garment was provided, others that it refers to clean/modest attire -
either way, he was “speechless” (no excuse for not being properly dressed).
2. The “man” (v. 11) refers to “many” (v. 14) who are called but not chosen. (May have specific reference to the Jewish nation, but also applies to those who are God’s people today - but not properly dressed.) (Col. 3:9-15)
D. The punishment (22:7,13).
1. Rev. 21:8: cowardly - fearful; not normal fear (as people in Washington/Maryland during sniper’s siege), but afraid to stand up for what God wants because of fear of man; unbelieving -those who never believed in Christ, or fell away (Heb. 3:12-14,19); abominable - vile, polluted their minds with worldliness; murderers - the wilful shedding of innocent blood; sexually immoral - fornicators (whoremongers, KJV), (Heb. 13:4); sorcerers - manipulating life by magical arts, getting answers from the stars, a bottle or other drugs (pharmakia: “especially one who uses drugs, potions, spealls, enchangments” Vine); idolaters - anything that replaces God (Col. 3:5); liars - by tongue or actions (used to be an insult to be called a liar, now “creative way to get out of trouble.”
2. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 - fornicators (pornia), adulterers (first includes the second; second involves the spouse of another), some “I can do anything I want to with my body” - the devil’s lie, momentary pleasure more important than consequences (misery here and hereafter); homosexuals (effeminate, KJV; “those submitting to homosexuals” NKJV note), sodomites (the active participants) Note: these all involve sexual abuses (whether abuse of children, rape, consensual sex with anyone other than your husband/wife - all will populate Hell!); thieves (emphasizes the secrecy and craft of the robbery); extortioners (pillage, plundering; use of violence, threats, or misuse of authority); covetous (unlawful desire, or desire for the unlawful); drunkards (intoxicated), how many times does one have to get drunk, commit fornication or murder to be guilty?; revilers to speak reproachfully, rail, abuse.
Concl.
A. The unrighteous will not receive the eternal kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9).
B. God’s solution? (6:11). Have on the right clothes, be chosen (Mt. 22:13,14). Those who face God unprepared will be speechless! (No excuse).