Matthew 22 Lesson

Hi Parents,

Tomorrow we will cover Matthew 22 in 1^st hour SS Class.   We will continue going through Matthew verse by verse.  Since Matthew 22 vs. 1-14 refers to the future Kingdom and is a solid gospel call ….we’ll spend the entire time dissecting these verses.

At the very end of the lesson below…is a doc that gives Josephus’s account of the 70 AD destruction of the Temple that is prophesied in Matt. 22.  After that time the temple sacrifices ceased and the surviving Jews were scattered.

Below is a copy of the lesson page that we will discuss in class during 1^st Hour.   Also….for those of you who don’t have study bible on your phone…and for those who want to be like the Bereans and dig deeper into theology…..GTY offers The Bible App w/ notes….we use this extensively in addition to other bible study tools to prepare for the lesson each week.  The $5.99 upgrade will give you access to all the bible study notes as well as sermons, blog posts, daily devotional, in-depth bible study guides ….all in one APP!  Just search on GTY Study bible in the iphone app store or from your windows device.

Matthew 22

This parable and teaching from Jesus takes place on the Wednesday prior to His crucifixion.

On Monday, He rode into Jerusalem on the donkey (we typically celebrate this event on Palm Sunday).

On Tuesday, He cleansed the temple…..and returns to the temple on Wednesday to teach about internal righteousness and true salvation.  He tells a parable that shows that those who reject Him will be rejected by God.

Matt. 22: 1-14 describes the future Kingdom.

What does Jesus compare the Kingdom of Heaven to?  A King who gave a wedding feast for His Son?

What were the people invited to attend?  A Wedding Feast

A wedding and feast in those times were part of one long feast that would last for 7 days. 

Read Rev. 19-6-9  in verse 9  And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Did the people come to the Wedding Feast?

Who are the characters described in this parable & who do they represent?

o   The King = God

o   The Son = Christ

o   The Servants = Prophets, Christ (earthly ministry), Apostles

o   Those Invited = people of the world

o   The Guests = true believers

o   The man/friend = unbelievers who “think” they are believers

How did the King respond to the people?  He sent armies, destroyed murderers & set their city on fire.

In 70 AD the Temple was completely destroyed by fire by the Romans and the remaining Jews were killed or taken as slaves.  (See article below for details from Jewish historian Josephus).

What types of people were gathered from the streets?  Both evil and good

The thing that makes them worthy is not their goodness or badness, but their willingness to accept the invitation….on His terms!

What do the “wedding clothes” symbolize?  The robe of Christ which symbolizes a righteous and transformed heart – that can only be obtained by putting our trust in Christ and His shed blood on the cross to save us.  (Remember that only a sinless blood sacrifice can atone for and forgive sins).

Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Job 29:14 I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.

Isaiah 61:10  I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Where did the people from the streets get the wedding clothes?   They all had access to the proper garments and knew to wear them. 

Romans 1:20 says…. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

What happened to the man who didn’t have on the wedding clothes? He was questioned by the King and thrown out into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

·         Luke 13:28  "In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.

·         Matthew 13:42  and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

·         Matthew 8:12  but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

·         Matthew 24:51  and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

·         Matthew 25:30 "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

What does Matthew 22:14 say?  Many are invited (called), but few are chosen.

Discussion questions:

Are you wearing Christ’s robe of righteousness?

Has your heart been transformed on the inside?

Can others see the change in you by the way you act?

The kids will also draw storyboards centered around this parable.

Matthew Henry Commentary also has some great words of wisdom to share as well….. http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/matthew/22.html

“Hypocrites go by the light of the gospel itself down to utter darkness. Many are called to the wedding-feast, that is, to salvation, but few have the wedding-garment, the righteousness of Christ, the sanctification of the Spirit. Then let us examine ourselves whether we are in the faith, and seek to be approved by the King.”   Matthew Henry Commentary

Got Questions.org has a good explanation and scripture references to this passage + plus many other solid biblical answers to questions of today.  Some of you may already be using this is a solid resource to help you respond biblically to worldly questions that will come up with your kids and conversations with other adults. 

Question: "What does 'Many are called but few are chosen' in Matthew 22:14 mean?"  http://www.gotquestions.org/many-called-few-chosen.html

Below are the top 20 questions they get asked – with links and scripture references:

1. Women pastors / preachers? What does the Bible say about women in ministry?

2. What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Is it a sin?

3. What does the Bible say about tattoos / body piercings?

4. Once saved always saved? / Is eternal security biblical? / Can a Christian lose salvation?

5. Masturbation - is it a sin according to the Bible?

6. What does the Bible say about interracial marriage?

7. Who was Cain's wife?

8. What is the Christian view of suicide? What does the Bible say about suicide? What about a believer who commits suicide?

9. Do pets / animals go to Heaven? Do pets / animals have souls?

10. What happens after death?

11. What does the Bible say about Christian tithing? Should a Christian tithe?

12. What is the gift of speaking in tongues? Is it for today? What about praying in tongues?

13. What does the Bible say about dinosaurs? Are there dinosaurs in the Bible?

14. What is the importance of Christian baptism?

15. What does the Bible say about drinking alcohol? Is it a sin for a Christian to drink alcohol?

16. What does the Bible say about gambling? Is gambling a sin?

17. What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?

18. What does the Bible say about sex before marriage?

19. Where was Jesus for the three days between His death and resurrection?

20. What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?

One more thing….. a devotion that was based on Matt. 22:1-14  - we will send a copy home with the kids…

A warning and an open invitation

Admonition

God’s universal love is revealed not only in common grace and His great compassion, but also in His admonition to repent. God is constantly warning the reprobate of their impending fate, and pleading with them to turn away from sin. Nothing demonstrates God’s love more than the various warnings throughout the pages of Scripture, urging sinners to flee from the wrath to come.

Anyone who knows anything about Scripture knows it is filled with warnings about the judgment to come, warnings about hell, and warnings about the severity of divine punishment. If God really did not love the reprobate, nothing would compel Him to warn them. He would be perfectly just to punish them for their sin and unbelief with no admonition whatsoever. But He does love and He does care and He does warn.

God evidently loves sinners enough to warn them. Sometimes the warnings of Scripture bear the marks of divine wrath. They sound severe. They reflect God’s hatred of sin. They warn of the irreversible condemnation that will befall sinners. They are unsettling, unpleasant, even terrifying.

But they are admonitions from a loving God who as we have seen weeps over the destruction of the wicked. They are necessary expressions from the heart of a compassionate Creator who takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. They are further proof that God is love.

The Gospel Offer

Finally, we see proof that God’s love extends to all in the gospel offer. We saw earlier that the gospel invitation is an offer of divine mercy. Now consider the unlimited breadth of the offer. No one is excluded from the gospel invitation. Salvation in Christ is freely and indiscriminately offered to all.

Jesus told a parable in Matthew 22:2–14 about a king who was having a marriage celebration for his son. He sent his servants to invite the wedding guests. Scripture says simply, “they were unwilling to come” (v. 3). The king sent his servants again, saying, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast” (v. 4). But even after that second invitation, the invited guests remained unwilling to come. In fact, Scripture says, “They paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them” (vv. 5–6). This was outrageous, inexcusable behavior! And the king judged them severely for it.

Then Scripture says he told his servants, “The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast” (v. 9). He opened the invitation to all comers. Jesus closes with this: “Many are called, but few are chosen” (v. 14).

The parable represents God’s dealing with the nation of Israel. They were the invited guests. But they rejected the Messiah. They spurned Him and mistreated Him and crucified Him. They wouldn’t come—as Jesus said to them:

You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life. (John 5:39–40) The gospel invites many to come who are unwilling to come. Many are called who are not chosen. The invitation to come is given indiscriminately to all. Whosoever will may come—the invitation is not issued to the elect alone.

God’s love for mankind does not stop with a warning of the judgment to come. It also invites sinners to partake of divine mercy. It offers forgiveness and mercy. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29). And Jesus said, “The one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37).

It should be evident from these verses that the gospel is a free offer of Christ and His salvation to all who hear. Those who deny the free offer therefore alter the nature of the gospel itself. And those who deny that God’s love extends to all humanity obscure some of the most blessed truth in all Scripture about God and His lovingkindness.

God’s love extends to the whole world. It covers all humanity. We see it in common grace. We see it in His compassion. We see it in His admonitions to the lost. And we see it in the free offer of the gospel to all.

God is love, and His mercy is over all His works.

By John MacArthur

May you all have a blessed week…. and we pray that the seeds planted in the heart of your child will be watered and continue to grow.

Best regards,

Mike & Kim Armstrong

Destruction of Temple in 70 AD

Our only first-hand account of the Roman assault on the Temple comes from the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius. Josephus was a former leader of the Jewish Revolt who had surrendered to the Romans and had won favor from Vespasian. In gratitude, Josephus took on Vespasian's family name - Flavius - as his own. We join his account as the Romans fight their way into the inner sanctum of the Temple:

"...the rebels shortly after attacked the Romans again, and a clash followed between the guards of the sanctuary and the troops who were putting out the fire inside the inner court; the latter routed the Jews and followed in hot pursuit right up to the Temple itself. Then one of the soldiers, without awaiting any orders and with no dread of so momentous a deed, but urged on by some supernatural force, snatched a blazing piece of wood and, climbing on another soldier's back, hurled the flaming brand through a low golden window that gave access, on the north side, to the rooms that surrounded the sanctuary. As the flames shot up, the Jews let out a shout of dismay that matched the tragedy; they flocked to the rescue, with no thought of sparing their lives or husbanding their strength; for the sacred structure that they had constantly guarded with such devotion was vanishing before their very eyes

...No exhortation or threat could now restrain the impetuosity of the legions; for passion was in supreme command. Crowded together around the entrances, many were trampled down by their companions; others, stumbling on the smoldering and smoked-filled ruins of the porticoes, died as miserably as the defeated. As they drew closer to the Temple, they pretended not even to hear Caesar's orders, but urged the men in front to throw in more firebrands. The rebels were powerless to help; carnage and flight spread throughout.

Most of the slain were peaceful citizens, weak and unarmed, and they were butchered where they were caught. The heap of corpses mounted higher and higher about the altar; a stream of blood flowed down the Temple's steps, and the bodies of those slain at the top slipped to the bottom.

When Caesar failed to restrain the fury of his frenzied soldiers, and the fire could not be checked, he entered the building with his generals and looked at the holy place of the sanctuary and all its furnishings, which exceeded by far the accounts current in foreign lands and fully justified their splendid repute in our own.

As the flames had not yet penetrated to the inner sanctum, but were consuming the chambers that surrounded the sanctuary, Titus assumed correctly that there was still time to save the structure; he ran out and by personal appeals he endeavored to persuade his men to put out the fire, instructing Liberalius, a centurion of his bodyguard of lancers, to club any of the men who disobeyed his orders. But their respect for Caesar and their fear of the centurion's staff who was trying to check them were overpowered by their rage, their detestation of the Jews, and an utterly uncontrolled lust for battle.

Titus

Most of them were spurred on, moreover, by the expectation of loot, convinced that the interior was full of money and dazzled by observing that everything around them was made of gold. But they were forestalled by one of those who had entered into the building, and who, when Caesar dashed out to restrain the troops, pushed a firebrand, in the darkness, into the hinges of the gate Then, when the flames suddenly shot up from the interior, Caesar and his generals withdrew, and no one was left to prevent those outside from kindling the blaze. Thus, in defiance of Caesar's wishes, the Temple was set on fire.

While the Temple was ablaze, the attackers plundered it, and countless people who were caught by them were slaughtered. There was no pity for age and no regard was accorded rank; children and old men, laymen and priests, alike were butchered; every class was pursued and crushed in the grip of war, whether they cried out for mercy or offered resistance.

Through the roar of the flames streaming far and wide, the groans of the falling victims were heard; such was the height of the hill and the magnitude of the blazing pile that the entire city seemed to be ablaze; and the noise - nothing more deafening and frightening could be imagined.

There were the war cries of the Roman legions as they swept onwards en masse, the yells of the rebels encircled by fire and sword, the panic of the people who, cut off above, fled into the arms of the enemy, and their shrieks as they met their fate. The cries on the hill blended with those of the multitudes in the city below; and now many people who were exhausted and tongue-tied as a result of hunger, when they beheld the Temple on fire, found strength once more to lament and wail. Peraea and the surrounding hills, added their echoes to the deafening din. But more horrifying than the din were the sufferings.

The Temple Mount, everywhere enveloped in flames, seemed to be boiling over from its base; yet the blood seemed more abundant than the flames and the numbers of the slain greater than those of the slayers. The soldiers climbed over heaps of bodies as they chased the fugitives."

References:
   Josephus' account appears in: Cornfield, Gaalya ed., Josephus, The Jewish War (1982); Duruy, Victor, History of Rome vol. V (1883).