Mathew 22:15-40

Preached Sunday Morning, May 31

 

Introduction:

 

          What is the greatest and most important commandment?  Jesus was asked this question by the Pharisees who wished for nothing more than to find something to accuse Jesus of.  Our Savior responded with wisdom and authority.  The most important commandment is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of your mind.  By obeying this commandment and loving your neighbor, you have accomplished the spirit upon which all of the other commandments rest. 

 

          Today many people are seeking some kind of spirituality.  They wish to know and love God, but it is hard for some to figure out exactly how to love God.  One cannot see or touch God, how can one love Him?  The answer to that very practical question comes from our text.  One loves God with his heart, his soul, and his mind.

 

I.                   Truth is denied through political distraction.

 

Matthew 22:15-22

15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth,  neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.  20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?  21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

 

A.     The enemies of truth tried to trap Jesus with political controversy.

B.     Jesus rose above the conflict.

C.     Jesus focused on who He served, not on who He supported.

D.    Although Christians should vote intelligently, it is the message of the Gospel and the service of the King that will change the world.

 

Ephesians 2:1-3

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

 

II.                Truth is denied through finite reasoning.

 

Matthew 22:23-32

 

23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.  27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

 

A.     The questions were asked from a position of unbelief, not from a desire to know.

B.     The questions were asked to bewilder and embarrass.

C.     When these questions are answered, the questioner must accept the truth or aggressively reject it.

 

III.             Truth is discovered in love for God.

 

Matthew 22:36-40

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

 

A.     Many claim to believe and love God.

B.     These same people who tried to make a mockery of the Messiah, claimed to love God.

C.     They focused upon external rituals to salve their consciences

D.    Now they thought they would stump Jesus with a theological question about the greatest commandment.

E.     It is all about love for God and love for your fellow man.

F.      If you pursue these, then everything else falls into place.

 

IV.              Love God with your heart = inner man

 

A.     Guard your heart = keep and protect it.

 

Proverbs 4:23

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 

 

B.     Seek God with your whole heart.

 

Deuteronomy 4:29

29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

 

C.     Serve God with your whole heart.

 

Deuteronomy 10:12

12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

 

Psalm 119:10

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

 

D.    Praise God with your whole heart.

 

Psalm 9:1

1  I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

 

Psalm 111:1

Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. 

E.     Repent with your whole heart.

Jeremiah 24:7

7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

 

V.                 Love God with all your soul = Breath, the very essence of physical life.

A.     More than any fleshly drive that resides in our carnal bodies.

1 John 2:16-17

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 

B.     More than life itself.

Luke 14:26

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

VI.              Love God with all of your mind.

A.     Get to know, and understand God’s love.

Ephesians 3:14-19

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

B.     Keep your mind clean.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

Matthew 2:1-14

Preached Sunday Morning, May 24, 2009

 

 

Introduction:

 

          Are you one of those people who have not yet personally accepted the free gift of eternal life?  Perhaps you are still trusting in your baptism, your sacraments, or your good efforts.  It is possible that you still have not been convinced that placing your faith and trust in Jesus alone is the only way to Heaven.  Today you will hear about another invitation.  This parable is for folks who have had every chance to know about and believe the Bible way to eternal life.  This parable is also about folks who have not heard much about Jesus.  You are trapped in your sin and your circumstances.  You do not even dare to think that there could be a way out.  This message is for you to.  Jesus tells us about the marriage dinner.

 

I.                   The First Invitation

 

Matthew 22:1-3

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

 

A.     The king = God

B.     His Son = Jesus

C.     Servants = Prophets and messengers

D.    Invitation was made world wide through the people of Israel.

E.     This invitation was generally rejected.

 

II.                The Second Invitation

Matthew 22:4

4 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.

 

A.     Other servants = prophets

B.     Israel was given detailed plans of the Messiah’s Mission – all the preparations were made for the wedding supper.

Isaiah 53:3-6

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.   6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

 

1.     Despised and rejected

2.     Bore our griefs

3.     Wounded for our transgressions

4.     Carried our Iniquity

2 Corinthians 5:21

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

C.     After all that revelation, the invitation was still rejected.

Matthew 22:5-6

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

1.     Made light of it.

2.     Turned to worldly pursuits

3.     Abused the messengers

4.     Aggressively rejected the message.

D.    Such rejection incurred God’s wrath.

Matthew 22:7

7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

->   Predicted the destruction of Jerusalem that took place in A.D. 70

E.  Have you, like the people of Israel, heard the message often?

F.  Have you rejected the message out of apathy, unbelief, or contempt?

III.             The Third Invitation

A.     Offered to Gentiles directly

Matthew 22:8-9

8 Then saith he to his servants,  The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

Acts 10:34-35

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

B.      The invitation is to go to as many as you can find.

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

C.     The invitation is extended to people of every religious background.

Matthew 22:10

10 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.

 

IV.              The Wedding Garment

Matthew 22:11

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

A.     Ancient kings would give gifts of wedding garments to all who attend the dinner.

B.     The garment was usually a beautiful white robe.

C.     To reject that free gift and remain in street clothes was a terrible offence.

D.    We have all been invited to the kingdom of Heaven.

E.     The robe is the righteousness of Christ

1.     We do not have our own righteousness

Romans 3:10,23

10 As it is written,  There is none righteous, no, not one:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

2.     Jesus gives us the gift of His righteousness

Romans 3:20-22

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 5:8

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

3.     That gift is received by faith alone.

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 10:13-14

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

F.      Without the wedding garment, we are condemned to Hell.

Matthew 22:12-14

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 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. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

 

1.     Speechless – without excuse

2.     Cast into outer darkness

3.     Weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 21:33-46

Preached Sunday Morning, May 3, 2009

 

 

Introduction:

 

          All men tend to be drawn toward the concept of God.  In every culture, in every language, and in every era, people have embraced the concept of spirituality.  Even now in our secular, post Christian society, people still identify themselves with religion and spirituality. 

 

          There is a dividing point.  People do not have a problem with folks embracing a generic god, spirit, or higher power.  A great deal of passion is stirred when one mentions Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the Messiah, God in the flesh, man’s only hope for salvation.  You see, you cannot embrace the truths of the Bible without accepting fully its teachings about Jesus Christ.

 

          Jesus is not just an important figure in the Bible; He is the foundation upon which the entire revelation of God is built.  In our passage this morning, we will read some discussion about this subject.  We will see just how central Jesus is to all of God’s revealed truth.  I pray that God will stir your heart with love for the Savior as we consider Jesus, our Rock.

 

I.                   The Stone that the Builders Rejected

 

A.     Israel rejected their Messiah

 

Matthew 21:33-41

33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one,  and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

 

1.     God is the householder

2.     Israel is the husbandman

3.     God desired fruits of righteousness from His chosen people

4.     Servants = prophets

 

Acts 7:51-52

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

 

5.     Son = Jesus

 

Matthew 27:22-25

22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

 

6.     Other Husbandmen = Gentiles

 

Acts 11:18

18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

 

 

B.     Religious leaders through the history of the world have rejected Jesus as the Messiah

 

1.     Reject His deity

 

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

2.     Reject His bodily resurrection

 

1 Corinthians 15:12

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

 

3.     Reject salvation through faith alone

 

Galatians 2:21

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

 

C.     Today spirituality is accepted but Jesus as the Christ is rejected

 

1.     A way, not THE way

 

John 14:6

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,  the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

2.     An option, not the ONLY option

 

Acts 4:10-12

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

 

II.                The Chief Cornerstone

Matthew 21:42-43

42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you,  The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

 

A.     Jesus is the foundation of salvation

1.     Everything in the Christian life is built upon Him

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 3:10-11

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

2.     Without all the truth from Jesus, there is no foundation upon which one can build his life.

Matthew 7:24-27

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

B.     Jesus is the foundation of the Church

Matthew 16:18

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

III.             The Breaking Stone

Matthew 21:44-46

44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

 

è      You have a choice

 

A.     Fall upon Him and be broken

1.     Broken from trusting in yourself

Romans 3:19-22

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

2.     Broken from your pride

Habakkuk 2:4

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

 

3.     Broken as a penitent sinner coming to Jesus as your only hope of salvation.

Psalm 51:2-4

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

B.     Reject the Stone and have Him fall upon you and grind you to powder.

1.     Judgment awaits all who refuse to believe in this life.

John 3:18-20

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  

2.     All will bow down to Jesus some day.

Philippians 2:9-11

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.