Main Ideas

We continue our Parables series this weekend. Jesus gives us - the parable of the wedding feast. Weddings are a big deal and were even a bigger deal in Bible times. It was a huge celebration and no expense was spared. In this culture, two invitations were expected when banquets were given. The �rst asked the guests to attend; the second announced that all was ready. In this story the king invited his guests three times, and each time they rejected his invitation. God wants us to join him at his banquet that will last for eternity. That’s why he sends us invitations again and again. And that’s the backdrop for this parable in Matthew 22.

QUESTIONSOpening Discussion Question:

Let’s back up some this week and de�ne biblical parables. What is a parable and which one in the Gospels is your favorite? a. Answer will vary. Start the discussion by sharing your favorite �rst and why. b. Explain the meaning of a parable i. A parable is, literally, something “cast alongside” something else. Jesus’ parables were stories that were “cast alongside” a truth in order to illustrate that truth. ii. Parables were teaching aids and can be thought of as extended analogies or inspired comparisons. iii. A common description of a parable is that it is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

1. What was the purpose for Jesus using parables and are the gospels the only place we see the use of parables in the Bible? a. Jesus explained that His use of parables had a two-fold purpose: i. To reveal the truth to those who wanted to know it, and ii. To conceal the truth from those who were indi�erent. 1. In the Matthew 12, the Pharisees had publicly rejected their Messiah and blasphemed the Holy Spirit, thus committing the unpardonable sin (read Matthew 12:22–32). They ful�lled Isaiah’s prophecy of a hardhearted, spiritually blind people (read Isaiah 6:9–10). 2. This is why it’s important for each of us to check our hearts and motives when studying and meditating on God’s Word. b. There are parables in the Bible other than those found in the Gospels. The book of Proverbs is full of analogies—whenever Solomon used a comparison to teach a truth, especially in emblematic parallelism. c. Emblematic parallelism is constructed with a symbol or a metaphor (an emblem) that is placed side by side (in parallel) with its meaning. A verse that exhibits emblematic parallelism will feature an illustration and its interpretation - an extended simile or an ancient object lesson, as it were. The result was a simple parable. For example, Proverbs 20:2 says, “A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion.” The roaring of a lion is “cast alongside” the wrath of a king for the purpose of comparison. That is the essence of parabolic language.

// leader’s guide

2. It is important that we understand the meaning of the parables Jesus told. Jesus made sure His disciples understood the meaning of the parables: “When he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything” (Mark 4:34b). Interpreting a parable can present some challenges. Sometimes, interpretation is easy because the Jesus Himself gave the interpretation - the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares are both explained in Matthew 13. Review and talk through the following principles to use when interpreting a parable. a. Determine the scope of the spiritual truth being presented. Sometimes, a parable is preceded by some introductory words that provide a context. i. For example, often Jesus preceded a parable with the words “this is what the kingdom of heaven is like” (7 times in Matthew 13 alone). Also, before the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, we read this: “To some who were con�dent of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable” (Luke 18:9). ii. This introduction delineates the subject matter being illustrated (self-righteousness and spiritual pride). b. Distinguish b etween the “meat” of the story and what is just enhancement. In other words, not every detail of a parable carries a deep spiritual meaning. Some details are simply there to help the story seem more realistic. For example, in Jesus’ own interpretation of the Parable of the Sower, He does not comment on the fact that there are four (and only four) di�erent types of soil. That detail was meaningless to the overall point Jesus was making. c. Compare Scripture with Scripture. This basic principle of hermeneutics is invaluable when studying parables. i. Biblical hermeneutics is perhaps summarized best by 2 Timothy 2:15, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Biblical hermeneutics is the science of properly interpreting the various types of literature found in the Bible. ii. Jesus’ parables will never contradict the rest of the Word of God, which He came to express. The parables are meant to illustrate doctrine, and the teachings Jesus illuminated are found clearly taught elsewhere in the Bible.

Read: Matthew 22:1-143. Let’s start by using what we talked about above to better understand the symbols of who/what Jesus is talking about in this parable. a. Who is the King throwing the banquet for his son? God b. What does the banquet or wedding represent? Heaven c. Who is the Son? Jesus – but God the King wants people to come to the wedding; to be part of His kingdom and to celebrate the His Son, but the tension comes in as the �rst group rejects the invitation. d. Who is this �rst group that rejects God’s invitation? The Jews in Jesus’ day (turn to and read Acts13: 45-46.) e. Who is the next group God sends his invitation? Gentiles (the rest of the world)

4. In this parable God wants “all” the join Him in His banquet that will last for eternity. That’s why He sends the invita-tion again and again. How do we still continue to reject God’s message today? a. By thinking going to church is a waste of time. No need to go every week. That all churches are the same, people are crazy there, full of hypocrites, cultish, etc. b.Stating Jesus isn’t the only way; all paths lead to God, other faiths: Islam, Buddhism, scientology, and even the occult. c. By just not rejecting the invitation but shooting the messengers. i. Historically, the Prophets, the disciples, the early church, and Jesus himself were all targets for the religious establishment that rejected God’s invitation. They persecuted and killed them. ii. It’s an exact parallel, not only to what happened in the Bible, but really to what’s happening today. More Christians are being killed today than ever in the history of the world. iii. Even in America, if you take a stand for Christ, there’s a good chance you’ll be a target.

// leader’s guide

...continued

Read: Galatians 3:26-27

5. Pastor Justin shared, “the world likes to think that it really doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you’re sincere. There can’t be one right way, so really everybody’s going to heaven. God’s pretty clear, while everyone is invited, not everyone is getting in. God says, wide is the road that leads to destruction, narrow is the road that leads to life and few �nd it.” How does the world need to respond in order to make it to the banquet (heaven)? a. Have faith in Jesus and believing He is the only way. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. b. Repent and turn to Jesus. Read Acts 2:36-39 c. Put on the proper clothes through baptism. Immersion was the form of baptism, that is, people were completely “buried” in water. Baptism symbolizes the death and burial of the old way of life. Coming up out of the water-symbolized resurrection to new life with Christ. d. Have the group turn to and read these passages explaining baptism: Jesus explaining to Nicodemus of what was to come in John 3:5; how its tied with believing in Mark16:16; what it symbolizes in Romans 6:3, Colossians 2:11-13 and 1 Peter 3:20-21.

NEXT STEPS / CHALLENGE:First of all, ask yourself this question, have you accepted God’s invitation? Are you scared or prepared? If you’re scared, talk to your group leader afterwards and/or one of our pastors to �nd out what you can do to change from being scared to being prepared. Continue to develop relationships with others as we talked about last week. Make sure you’re prepared to share the reason you have hope in Christ with those who might be scared and unprepared.

Lastly, as covered in this message the week before, make sure you’re using what God has given you to help God reach those He sent His Son to save.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS AND PRAYER TIMERead the following scriptures this week. They are all about the di�erent “one anothers”:

Sunday – Matthew 14:1-14Monday – John 14:1-6Tuesday - Matthew 7:13-27Wednesday – John 3:1-16Thursday – Colossians 2:6-15Friday – Galatians 3:23-29Saturday – 1 Peter 3:13-22

// leader’s guide

...continued