VESSELS FIT FOR THE MASTER’S USE
(Part 6) 20/10/02
Bible Passage: Matthew 22 :1-14.
Memory Verse:
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me.’" (Isa. 6:8. NIV).
LESSON FOCUS
We all need to be reminded that God has extended an invitation to all men to come to His table. Turning down the invitation, or coming to Him on our terms, will not do.
LESSON INTRODUCTION
From Matth. 22:1-14 we see that
- Those originally invited to the wedding banquet were not really interested, v.3.
- Then followed renewed invitation, with full information on what was prepared for the guests, but the invitees thought they had better things to do for themselves,
vs.4-5. Sounds familiar?
- In fact when they got fed up with being invited, they punished the messengers, including killing them,
v.6.
- The revenge of the Master of the servants was swift and appropriate to the offence,
v.7.
- Since the banquet was ready and needed to be eaten, the Master now threw the invitation open to every Tom, Dick and Harry his servants could find. No wonder the wedding hall was filled with guests,
"both good and bad", vs. 8-10.
But then there was this gatecrasher that had no wedding clothes,
v.11.
It may have been the custom in those days for the host to provide the guests with wedding garments. This would have been necessary for the guests at this particular banquet, for they were brought in directly from the streets,
vs. 9-10. The failure of the man in question to wear a wedding garment was therefore an insult to the host who had made the garments available.
The way he was treated in vs. 12-14 is exactly the way God will treat anyone who thinks he can be accepted by God on his own terms instead of on God’s terms, Phil. 3:7-9. The robe of Christ’s righteousness is available to cover all those who repent of their sins and put their faith and hope in Him instead of in their efforts and good points.
LESSON OUTLINE 1: OUR GOD INVITES ALL TO BECOME VESSELS FOR HIS USE.
- God has been calling people to His table right from the days of Noah. He built the ark over a 120 year period, and during that time he was described as "the preacher of righteousness", 2 Peter 2:5.
- He is still inviting everyone all over the world, including each and everyone of us here today, to come to Him.
Isa. 45:22; John 7:37-38; Rev. 3:20; 22:17
- He calls each of us individually so He can send us to extend the invitation to the rest of the world,
Matt. 28:18-20.
- Only the few who, on hearing His call, run to the Lord Jesus to wash them clean of their sins and cover them with His robe of righteousness, are described as the chosen. The many who hear the invitation but think their garments (i.e. their righteousness and good points) will make them acceptable in the wedding hall, will be disappointed when the Master that issued the invitation in the first place sends them packing.
Matth. 22:11-14.
LESSON OUTLINE 2: TO REFUSE THE MASTER’S CALL IS TO REFUSE LIFE.
- To refuse the invitation is to embrace disaster. Isa. 65:12; Jer. 7:13-16.
- If you do not answer the call, others will.
Matt. 22:2-10.
- To reject His call is to reject life,
Jn.5:39-40; to accept it is to accept life, Deut.30:19-20.
SUMMARY
"To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."
1 Sam. 15:22b.