The Parables of Jesus - Part 3 [Notes]

Jesus was a master storyteller, and He constantly used short stories or parables to communicate spiritual truths to the crowds that gathered to hear Him. When Jesus' disciples asked why He spoke in parables so often, His answer was profound. He said that the same stories that served to open the eyes of the spiritually hungry would have the effect of blinding the eyes of those who refused to believe. By telling parables, the secrets of the kingdom would be revealed to Jesus' disciples, but they would be hidden from His opponents.

Join us this week as we dive into some of Jesus's most memorable stories through our new summer series, "The Parables of Jesus."

Today's Takeaway // What will you do with God’s invitation?

He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
– John 1:10-11 (HCSB)

But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
– John1:12-13 (HCSB)

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent out his slaves to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come. Again, he sent out other slaves, and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: Look, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ “But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the others seized his slaves, treated them outrageously and killed them. The king was enraged, so he sent out his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned down their city. “Then he told his slaves, ‘The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ So those slaves went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good.The wedding banquet was filled with guests. But when the king came in to view the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes? ’The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
– Matthew 22:1-14 (HCSB)

What will you do with God’s invitation?

He sent out his slaves to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come. Again, he sent out other slaves, and said,‘Tell those who are invited: Look, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’”
– Matthew 22:3-4 (HCSB)

Therefore go to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ So those slaves went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests.
– Matthew 22:9-10 (HCSB)

[God our Savior]...wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
– 1 Timothy 2:3b (HCSB)

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent out his slaves to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come.
– Matthew 22:-2-3 (HCSB)

Again, he sent out other slaves, and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: Look, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ “But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business.
– Matthew 22:4-5 (HCSB)

And the others seized his slaves, treated them outrageously and killed them. The king was enraged, so he sent out his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned down their city.
– Matthew 22:6-7 (HCSB)

“Then he told his slaves,‘The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ So those slaves went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests.
– Matthew 22:8-10 (HCSB)

The wedding banquet was filled with guests.
– Matthew 22:10b (HCSB)

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,“Be reconciled to God.” He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
- 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (HCSB)

But when the king came in to view the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding. So he said to him,‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes? ’The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants,‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
– Matthew 22:11-14 (HCSB)

[The guest] had failed to appropriate what the king provided for he was not wearing the proper wedding clothes.(Apparently the king gave them all wedding clothes as they arrived, for they came off the streets [v. 10].
– Barbieri

Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
– Revelation 19:7-8a (HCSB)

He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
– 2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB)

What will you do with God’s invitation?

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved throughHim. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.
– John 3:16-18 (HCSB)

1. How do you think most people in our culture view Christians? How should they view us?
2. Read Matthew 22:1-14. What are some things we learn about theKing from this parable? Why is it important for people to understand God is not only a God of grace, but He is also a God of judgment?
3. What are some of the excuses people give these days for not wanting to become a Christian? How might we respond to those excuses?
4. Read Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Corinthians 5:20-21. God uses people to reach people for Christ. Why are we so hesitant to share our faith with others? How did God use someone else in your life to lead you to faith in Christ?
5. How can we apply today’s study to our lives?

Evidence // Lean Back // Worthy of My Song // Run to The Father

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