GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #420
LESSONS FROM THE
MARRIAGE FEAST
Pastor
Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville,
Kentucky 40422-9438
I
hope you will read the parable of the marriage feast in Matthew 22:1-14 sometime
today. I want you to see the things I am about to tell you for yourself. Don’t
ever take my word or any other man’s word for anything spiritual. Search the
Scriptures for yourself, to see whether or not those things which men teach are
according to the Word of God. Here are seven important lessons taught by our
Lord Jesus Christ in this parable of the marriage feast.
1. The salvation proclaimed in the gospel is comparable to a marriage
feast (v.2). At a marriage feast everything is provided for the guests.
They are not expected to bring anything. It would be an insult for them to do
so. Even so, in the gospel of Christ there is complete provision for all the
needs of a man’s soul before God.
2. Our lord reminds us that the invitations of the gospel are full, free,
and unlimited (v.4). “All things are
ready, come to the marriage.” There is nothing lacking. No barriers are set
before you. No conditions are to be met by you. “All things are ready!” The gospel sets an open door before all
mankind, and says, “Come.” No one is
excluded from the range of its invitation. “Whosoever
will, let him come and take of the water of life freely.” Election does not
shut the door of grace. It opens it!
3. Our Lord shows us that the gospel of the grace of God is flatly
rejected by many who hear it (v. 5). Most of those people who hear the
gospel receive no spiritual benefit from it. Some of you hear the gospel of
Christ week after week, month after month, year after year. Yet, you do not
believe. The gospel profits you nothing. You see no beauty in Christ. You feel
no need for Christ. You do not scoff and ridicule the message of grace. You do
not outwardly oppose the gospel. You simply love other things and prefer other
things. Your heart is full of this world, so full of the pleasures and cares of
the world that there is no room for Christ.
4. Our Redeemer teaches us that many who profess to believe the gospel are
yet without faith and under the wrath of God (vv. 10-13). C.H. Spurgeon said, “This man without
the wedding garment is the type of those who pretend to be Christians, but do
not honor the Lord Jesus, nor his atoning sacrifice, nor his holy Word.” The
fact is - The vast majority of those who take up a profession of religion are
walking in the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14, 21-23).
5. We are assured that man’s unbelief will not alter, thwart, or in any
way hinder the purpose of God (v. 10). “The
wedding was furnished with guests.” I remind you once more that the purpose
of God does not depend upon man. Though the Jews rejected God’s Son, he had a
remnant according to the election of grace who gladly embraced him. And though
many refuse to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, every chosen, redeemed, and
regenerated sinner in this world, everyone purposed by God from eternity to be
saved, shall be saved by him and shall believe on him (Rom. 3:3-4; 11:11,
24-26).
6. Our Savior tells us that in the last day, on the day of judgment, all
false professors will be detected, exposed, and eternally condemned (vv.
12-13). In this life a profession of faith and a fairly moral life is enough to
secure a name and reputation as a Christian. But when we stand before God, he
will examine us completely and judge us according to strict justice by those
things written in the court books of heaven (Rev. 20:11-12). If we are not
washed in the blood of Christ and robed with his righteousness, we will be lost
forever.
7. The Son of God declares that the source and cause of true faith is
God’s sovereign, electing love. “Many
are called, but few are chosen” (v. 14). If you and I are true believers,
if we truly believe the gospel as we profess, if we truly rest our souls upon
the Lord Jesus Christ alone, it is because God, from all eternity, chose us as
the objects of his special love and grace (Jer. 31:3). Every saved sinner
gladly acknowledges his indebtedness to electing love.
AMEN.