The Plowman

Come to the Banquet [ 38:58 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (60)

The Parables of Jesus #07: an exposition of Matthew 22:1-14. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 17, 2015.

Intro:

“From the sound of things it must be a great party.  Listen to the laughter, the music and the singing.  My, would you look at those tables.  I’ve never seen such a feast.  The king spared no expense on this lavish affair.  Nothing is too good for his Son.  Oh look.  Over there, the King and His Son certainly seem to be enjoying the feast.  Wait a minute.  Something is not right.  Look at the guests.  How did these people get in here?  Over there, isn’t that the blind beggar who sits at the city gate?  Over there, isn’t that a leper  and there – a prostitute?  Look, no it can’t be.  A tax collector?  What is this?  I don’t believe it.  I could never imagine such a motley crew at such and elegant banquet.  Something is wrong here.  Something is very wrong.

That would have been the reaction of the religious establishment if they had walked up on a banquet like the one described by the Lord Jesus in our text this morning found in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 22.

Text: Matthew 22:1-14

Make sure you put this parable in its context.
The Jewish leaders despise the Lord Jesus.
They are determined to kill him.

They are asking questions, not because they desire to learn, but rather they are seeking to trap him.  They are wanting something they can use against him.  Something that will enable them to turn the crowd against him or something that can be used to charge him with a capital offense against Rome.

He has already told them the parable of the Tenants – 21:33-44.
Look at 21:43 – “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.”

21:45 – the religious establishment knew he was talking about them.

The context is the taking of the Kingdom from those who were “the people of God.”

Sometimes we find parables that offer us great difficulties.
We wrestle with understanding them.
Not so with this parable.
It is plain.  Disturbingly plain!

In this parable our Lord is talking about life in the Kingdom.  In particular, about our response to His gracious invitation to life.  It speaks of God’s gracious offer and man’s arrogant indifference.  It speaks of hell and judgment.  It warns of those who would attempt to enter glory on their own merit.  It speaks of the height, the length, the breadth and the depth of the love of God.  It also speaks of the fierceness of his wrath.  All of this is necessary for the preaching of the Gospel.

As we walk through this parable one thing is unmistakably clear:

Thesis: God’s gracious invitation demands a response.

You cannot ignore him.
You cannot remain neutral.
The days of neutrality are over.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of that donkey – he forced people to make a choice.  He was saying, “Behold!  I am the Messiah.”  You must either agree with him or reject him.  Neutrality is not an option.

Unless we learn this – we will never be effective in evangelism.
Unless we believe this – we will never be burdened for evangelism.

Until we learn that our King has declared, “Either you are with me or you are against me” we will not be compelled to tell his story.

Make no mistake about it – this parable makes it clear – His invitation demands a response.
There are two things I want us to note in our text.

1. Those who reject God’s gracious offer, do so to their own peril.  (22:1-7)
   Now there are two kinds of people who refuse.
   There are those who are simply indifferent (22:5).
   These are flimsy, worthless excuses.There are those who are openly hostile (22:6).
   This is a picture of the Jews – John 1:11-12
   The natural man is at enmity with God – Romans 1:21-24; Colossians 1:21; 3:5-7.Both dishonored the king and his son with their stubborn refusal.

   Now, look carefully at 22:7.
   Note – “enraged” = Greek orge – burning anger.
   The king is furious.

   The Jesus of the New Testament makes it clear – the wrath of God abides on those who are dead in trespass and sin!
   Be warned.  Those who reject God’s gracious offer of life in the person of the Lord Jesus do so to their own destruction.

2. Those who accept God’s gracious invitation enter into a joyous, abundant life.  (22:8-14)

This is the grace of God.
The guests are more grateful.
There is a greater joy expressed.
The event was even more famous as the story was told – everyone was talking about it.

This is the glory of the Gospel of Christ.
Note carefully it is Christ’s glory – 22:11-14.

Conclusion:
What will you do with Christ?
God’s invitation demands a response.
To reject him – is to invite the judgment of God.
To accept him – is to enter into life eternal and life abundant.

The banquet is ready – come!

That's Not Fair! [ 37:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (48)

The Parables of Jesus #06: an exposition of Matthew 20:1-16. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 10, 2015.

Intro:
It is a very common complaint.  It is heard daily around the world.  It is heard on playgrounds, in courtrooms, boardrooms and family rooms.  It is uttered by frustrated children, angry employees and champions of social justice.  It is the cry of, “That’s not fair.”  This is the cry of those who feel slighted, overlooked and left out.  It is the natural response we feel when someone “gets away with” something.  It’s most tragic use is when it is uttered in connection with the Kingdom of God.  Too often it is heard within the church because “someone got what I got and they didn’t deserve it!”  Such an attitude reveals a fundamental misunderstanding about the nature of the Kingdom of God.

An attitude of self-interest is entirely inappropriate within God’s Kingdom.  Why?  Because the Kingdom of God is built entirely of grace.  One day Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem when a young man approached them.  He was an intelligent, hard-working and righteous man.  He came, and bowing before the Lord Jesus, asked, “Rabbi, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”  Now he came to the right person, in the right manner, asking the right question but was totally unaware of the nature of the Kingdom and of the nature of his own heart.  Jesus, because he loved him, spoke to his real need.  “Go, sell everything you own.  Give it away, then come and follow me.”  He went away sad because he was very wealthy.  Then with a note of great sadness, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven.”  He went on to say, “In fact it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”  The disciples were shocked by his comments.  Wasn’t wealth a sign of God’s blessing?  If rich people can’t go to heaven who can?  Again Jesus said, “With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible.”  Then “old foot-in-mouth” spoke up.  Peter chimed in, “Lord, we’ve left everything to follow you!  What then will there be for us?”  That serves as the backdrop for our text this morning found in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 20 beginning at verse 1.

Text: Matthew 20:1-16

It is always important to set a text in its context.
To understand the parable recorded in chapter 20 you must see it connected to chapter 19.

Look at 19:27-30 – Then Peter said in reply, See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have? 28 Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Peter’s attitude of one of “What’s in it for me?”
The Rich Young Ruler walked away – we gave up everything – our reward must be great!

A parable is an “earthly story” with a “heavenly significance.”
It is the use of something common or ordinary to explain something that is not so common or ordinary.  I’m convinced that this parable is a warning against an attitude of self-interest.  This is a strong antidote to a “what’s in it for me” attitude.

Thesis: The grace of God permeates every aspect of life within the Kingdom of God.

This is a familiar parable.
Familiar and troubling.
Not troubling because it is difficult to understand or to interpret.
It is really self-explanatory.
The problem is that some have felt it necessary to justify what it teaches.
Even a casual reading of the text can leave you saying, “That’s not fair.”
Some worked 12 hours others just 1 hour and they all got paid the same?
Where was the union?

Let me quickly call your attention to three principles about the Kingdom of God drawn from this parable.

1. God’s grace calls us to life in the Kingdom.
2. God’s grace sovereignly rewards those who are in the Kingdom.
3. God’s grace motivates us in our service to the Kingdom of God.