Wedding Banquet (Royal Marriage)

Wedding Banquet (Royal Marriage)

Matthew 22:1–14
Opening: The King’s Invitation and the Only Safe Response
Jesus pictures a king who prepares a marriage feast for his son, sends invitations, and waits for guests to come. Those first invited shrug off the summons—one to a farm, another to business—while others seize the king’s servants and kill them. Judgment follows, the hall is filled with new guests from the highways, and one man is discovered without a wedding garment. He is speechless, bound, and cast into outer darkness. Jesus closes with a sober line: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” The kingdom stands open by royal invitation, yet entry rests on coming when called and coming as the King requires.

Context: Confrontation in Jerusalem
This parable follows Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the temple, and a series of parables aimed at leaders who rejected God’s rule (Matthew 21:23–46). The Wedding Banquet continues that theme: Israel had long been invited through prophets; many refused and mistreated the messengers (Matthew 22:3–6; cf. 23:34–37). The burning of the murderers’ city (Matthew 22:7) foreshadows national judgment (Luke 21:20–24). Yet the story does not end in ruin—the King fills His hall by sending servants to invite “as many as you find” (Matthew 22:8–10).

The Royal Marriage: Three Movements
First, the initial invitees decline and attack the messengers. This shows settled refusal toward God’s will (Acts 13:46; John 1:11). Second, the King widens the call. Guests come from every road—“both bad and good”—until the hall is full (Matthew 22:10). The gospel reaches all nations (Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:16). Third, the King inspects the guests. One is present without a wedding garment. The King questions him; he has no answer. Presence without preparation fails the inspection (Matthew 22:11–13).

Called to Come; Required to Come Right
God calls through His word. He expects a response that matches His revealed pattern. Jesus ties entrance to doing the Father’s will (Matthew 7:21) and is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey (Hebrews 5:9). The wedding garment points to the life God requires of those who accept the invitation: putting on Christ and putting off the old life (Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:22–24; Colossians 3:10–14). Isaiah spoke of “garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10); Revelation identifies the bride’s fine linen as “the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:7–8). The King provides the way; guests submit to His terms.

The Rejected Invitation: A Warning Against Indifference and Violence
Some shrugged and walked away; others raged and harmed the servants (Matthew 22:5–6). Spiritual danger wears both faces—apathy and hostility. Indifference says, “I have other things to do”; hostility says, “I do not want to hear.” Both end outside the feast. The servants represent the steady work of teaching and urging. The King notes every refusal, and He also notes every faithful messenger who keeps going into the streets with the call (Romans 10:14–15).

The Wedding Garment: Inspection at the Door
The guest without proper clothing teaches that accepting the invitation includes accepting the King’s conditions. Obedience begins at conversion—believe, repent, confess Christ, and be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3–4). Obedience continues in a transformed life—clean hands, a pure heart, sincerity in worship, truth in speech, integrity in conduct (Psalm 24:3–4; Matthew 5–7). The man is “speechless” because there is no defense for entering on personal terms when the King has spoken (1 Corinthians 4:6).

Many Called, Few Chosen: Making Calling and Election Sure
The call reaches many; those finally chosen are the ones who answer in the King’s way. Scripture urges a diligent response: “Make your call and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). Jesus also speaks of the narrow gate and the hard way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13–14). Hearing without doing leaves a person outside (Luke 6:46–49). The feast is ready; the terms are clear.

Applications for Today
Welcome widely: take the invitation to every road—neighbors, family, strangers (Luke 14:21–23). Prepare thoroughly: do what the King has required without adding or removing (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18–19). Examine honestly: the King inspects. Measure beliefs and practices by Scripture (Acts 17:11). Reject excuses: work and commerce are good, yet never rise above the King’s summons (Matthew 22:5; Matthew 6:33). Keep teaching: some will refuse; others will listen. The hall fills through patient, persistent invitation.

Conclusion: The Hall Is Ready
The table is set, the lamps are lit, and the doors stand open. The King still sends servants with a simple message: “Look, I have prepared my dinner… Come to the wedding” (Matthew 22:4). Come when called and come clothed as the King requires. That is safety. That is joy.

Exhaustive Sermon Outline

• Setting and Purpose
  • Temple confrontations and prior parables (Matthew 21:23–46)
  • Wedding Banquet as a continuation of accountability
• Parable Movement (Matthew 22:1–14)
  • Invitations refused; servants mistreated (vv. 3–6)
  • Judgment on murderers and their city (v. 7)
  • Hall filled from the highways (vv. 8–10)
  • Inspection; the speechless man without a garment (vv. 11–13)
  • Summary statement: many called, few chosen (v. 14)
• Doctrinal Anchors
  • Entrance and obedience (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:9)
  • Universal invitation (Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:16)
  • “Put on Christ”—the garment (Galatians 3:27; Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 19:7–8)
  • Transformed life as required clothing (Ephesians 4:22–24; Colossians 3:10–14)
• Warnings and Lessons
  • Indifference and hostility end the same way (Matthew 22:5–7; Acts 13:46)
  • The King’s inspection—presence is not preparation (Matthew 22:11–13)
  • Do all things by His word, neither adding nor taking away (Deuteronomy 4:2; 1 Corinthians 4:6)
  • Make calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10)
  • Narrow gate; hard way (Matthew 7:13–14)
• Applications
  • Evangelistic urgency—go to the highways (Matthew 22:9–10; Luke 14:23)
  • Congregational self-examination—teach, correct, restore (Acts 20:27; James 5:19–20)
  • Personal preparation—initial obedience and continuing faithfulness (Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3–4; Matthew 5–7)
• Invitation and Decision
  • Respond today; come clothed in obedience (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16)
  • Live worthy of the call (Ephesians 4:1)

Call to Action
The King calls. Answer today by obeying the gospel—believe in Jesus, repent of sins, confess His name, and be baptized for the remission of sins. If you have accepted the invitation yet neglected the garment, repent and be restored. The hall is ready; enter in the way the King has spoken.

Scripture Reference List (with notes)

• Matthew 22:1–14 — Parable text: invitation, refusal, judgment, garment, “many called, few chosen”
• Matthew 21:23–46 — Context of conflict and accountability
• Luke 21:20–24 — Judgment on Jerusalem foreshadowed in v. 7
• John 1:11 — He came to His own; many did not receive
• Acts 13:46 — Turning to the Gentiles after rejection
• Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:16 — Universal scope of the invitation
• Matthew 7:21 — Entrance requires doing the Father’s will
• Hebrews 5:9 — Eternal salvation to those who obey
• Galatians 3:27 — Baptized into Christ, “put on” Christ
• Isaiah 61:10 — Garments of salvation
• Revelation 19:7–8 — Fine linen as righteous acts of the saints
• Ephesians 4:22–24; Colossians 3:10–14 — Put off the old; put on the new
• 1 Corinthians 4:6; Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Revelation 22:18–19 — Do not add or take away
• Matthew 7:13–14 — Narrow gate and hard way
• 2 Peter 1:10 — Make calling and election sure
• Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3–4 — The appointed response to the gospel
• Luke 14:21–23 — Compel them to come in; fill the house
• Acts 17:11 — Search the Scriptures; honest examination

Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO