THE FAMILY NAME IS CHRISTIAN
THE FAMILY NAME IS CHRISTIAN, The Royal House
Mt. 22:1-14
Taught by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Father God made the family before He made the church. When I was studying for Father’s Day, I did a word study on “Father”. Throughout the Old Testament the Lord continually established the sanctity of the “Family” before He revealed Himself as Father of “the whole family in heaven and earth.” Eph. 3: 14-16: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man…”
Malachi 2:1: “Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?”
The devil rages full force against the sanctity of the family in heaven and earth named after the Lord Jesus Christ. The family name is “Christian”.
Family – Strong’s # --“lineage running back to some progenitor, ancestry; a nation or tribe; a group of families, all those who in a given people lay claim to a common origin; in a wider sense, nation, people---The Israelites which distributed into twelve tribes, descended from the twelve sons of Jacob, these were divided into families which were divided into houses.
Acts 3:25: “You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, and in your seed shall; all the kindred’s of the earth be blessed.”
Our Lord reflected dignity upon family life by subjecting himself to the conditions of the home in Nazareth. He bestowed a blessing by His presence and gift at the wedding in Cana. He performed His first miracle at a wedding.
Paul affirms the relationship of the husband and wife, male and female, in Ephesians 5. “Does not the Scripture say: “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?” Without the earthly laboratory of marriage, family and the home, we would not be able to comprehend the Bride of Christ or the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Rev. 19:7: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.”
Rev. 19:9: “And he said unto me write blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb, and he said unto me. These are the true sayings of God.”
Matthew 22 is a parable of the marriage-supper. The parable represents the gospel offer first to the Jews and to all peoples. Matthew gives no excuses. The refusal to attend the marriage of the king’s son implied disloyalty to the royal house.
Here is a marriage made for his son. Christ is the Bridegroom, the church is the bride. The gospel covenant is a marriage covenant between Christ and believers. You can see why the spirit of anti-christ wants to destroy the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. If the devil can take over through contamination of our culture this institution established by the Lord, it will then only be a matter of time before he thinks he can destroy the church, the family of God, bearing the royal name, Christian.
Here is a feast prepared for this marriage. All the blessings of the new covenant, pardon of sin, the favor of God, peace of conscience, the promises of the gospel, the comforts of the Holy Spirit, and well grounded hope of eternal life. These are the preparations for this feast, The Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven.
Mt. 22:2-4: “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, who made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding; and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.”
Oxen and fatlings are meat---substantial food; plenty of the best. It was made for laughter. It is a rejoicing feast. It was made for fullness. The meat of the gospel is to fill every hungry soul with good things. It was made for fellowship. Since Jesus made wine as his first miracle for a wedding feast, we can be sure there is ample provision for His own.
It is a royal wedding. The provision made for believers in the covenant of grace is such as it becomes the King of glory to give. He gives like Himself; for he gives Himself, a feast. His Bride will be a reflection of the fullness of His Beauty and Glory.
Lord what is man, that you should dignify us to give us such a royal invitation?
When the invited guests were slack in coming, the king sent forth other servants. Behold the feast is ready. Pardon is ready. Peace is ready. Comfort is ready. The promises are ready. Heaven is ready to receive us.
They would not come. (Vs.5) “They made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, anther to his merchandise; and the remnant took His servants and treated them spitefully and slew them.”
The reason sinners will not come is because they do not want to come. Multitudes perish eternally through mere carelessness and indifference. Farmers and merchants must be diligent in their business. However, the Lord purposely kept the Sabbath day Holy unto Himself that mankind would always set aside the time to seek a personal relationship with the Lord for the purpose of the redemption of their souls.
The messengers were basely abused: The remnant, the scribes and Pharisees and chief priests; these were the persecutors, these took the servants and treated them spitefully and slew them. The prophets and John the Baptist had already been abused. Jesus knew He would be killed. As ministers of Christ, we must prepare ourselves to overcome rejection, persecution and even abuse for our Faith. Until we no longer are affected by what other people do or say, we will always be hindered in our ability to deliver the uncompromised Word of God.
22:7: “But when the king heard about this, he was wroth; (that means very angry) and he sent forth his armies ,and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.”
The Lord is very jealous for the lives of his ministers. Persecution of Christ’s faithful ministers is a serious matter in the eyes of the Lord. God is the Lord of men’s hosts and makes what use he pleases of them. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. is set forth as an example to all that oppose Christ, His gospel and His Servants.
22:8-10: “Then he said to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they which were invited were not worthy. Go into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good; and the wedding was furnished with guests.”
“BOTH BAD AND GOOD” Those who received the invitations were utterly unworthy and forfeited all the privileges they were invited to receive. This also represents the bringing in of the Gentiles to the Family of God. Christ will have a Kingdom in the world, though many reject the grace, and resist the power of that Kingdom.
Bring in those who have never heard of the gospel of Christ, ask anybody, tell them all, that they shall be welcome, whoever will, let him come, without exception.
8: 11-14: And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw here a man who did not have on a wedding garment. He said unto him, Friend, how did you come here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
A mixed multitude had gathered, so many, that the guest chamber was filled. The hypocrites, who are in the church, but not of it, are represented by the guest that did not have on a wedding garment. Jesus is the discerner of men’s hearts and thoughts. The Holy Spirit is not deceived by men’s motives. As soon as the King came in, he discerned there was a man which did not have on a wedding garment. He soon had his eye upon him.
If the gospel is the wedding feast, then the wedding garment is a frame of heart, and a course of life in agreement with the gospel of Christ. This man was not naked, or in rags. He had on some type of garment, but not a wedding garment. Those, and only those, who put on the Lord Jesus, and to whom he is all in all, have the wedding garment.
Note the King called him, Friend. Even though it means “my good friend”, I find it interesting this is the same word Jesus used to address the Roman soldiers who carried him away.
Jesus does not rebuke the servants for letting him in, but he is speaking to the man’s presumption in crowding in. He knew His heart was not right. Despised Sabbaths and abused sacraments must be reckoned for. “Why are you coming to the Lord’s table at such a time, un-humbled and unsanctified?” None of us will ever be worthy. Our only worthiness is the Blood of Jesus. We are to judge ourselves that we be not judged.
The man was speechless. Those who have never heard of the wedding feast will have more to say for themselves; their sin will be more excusable that those who come without having put on Christ (the hypocrites). Those who have put on Christ will be those with a tender heart, grateful and humbled by the riches of the Kingdom bestowed on them so freely. Those who are wearing garments to receive the adulation and praise of men will not have on proper garments.
He is ordered to be bound and carried off from the wedding feast. Take him away. These will be taken away from the king, from His kingdom, and from the wedding feast.
He is ordered into utter darkness. Hell is utter darkness devoid of the light of Christ. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is great sorrow and anguish. Gnashing of teeth is an expression of rage and indignation.
The parable is concluded with that remarkable saying that Jesus spoke concerning the laborers in the Kingdom in Chapter 20:16. “So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many are called but few chosen.”
22:14: “For many are called but few are chosen.”
Many who are ambitious have tried to fake their “choosing” to be seen of men.
Many are called to the wedding feast, but few chosen to wear the wedding garment. These are the ones who try to usurp the glory without the work of the cross. This is to silence all boasting. Many are called, and yet refuse to answer the call.
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Scripture from K.J.V.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the view of those from whom I have gleaned.