"Then the king came in to see all the people. The king saw a man there that was not dressed in the right clothes for a wedding. The king said, 'Friend, how were you allowed to come in here? You are not wearing the right clothes for a wedding.' But the man said nothing. So the king told some servants, 'Tie this man's hands and feet. Throw the man out into the darkness. In that place, people will cry and grind their teeth {with pain}.' Yes, many people are invited. But only a few are chosen."
—Matthew 22:11-14
Key Thought
God is gracious. God longs for all people to come to repentance and find his love and grace and joy! God sent his Son to the world to die for sinners. But, God is still God. He is holy, righteous, and just. He cannot tolerate evil and will not abide sin. Just because he has lavished grace does not mean he has forgotten evil, sin, and the putrid things that Satan unleashes on the world through those who do his will.
While the world may think it wants a softer God, one who tolerates evil in people and does not hold us accountable for the transgressions we commit, deep down we know better. God's grace will save us, but not all receive that grace. Jesus' death will pardon us, but not all call on Jesus as Lord and Savior.
When people will not recognize the grace available to them and live for Christ, they come to his wedding feast in the rags and filth of sin and rebellion. The Father sees this insult as disgusting as a refusal to come at all!
Today's Prayer
O mighty and holy Father, thank you for all you have done to invite me to your feast of joy and love. Thank you for the price Jesus paid to make my inclusion at this great banquet even possible. Please fill me with your Spirit as I try to live for you in ways that bring you glory and honor the sacrifice Jesus made to include me. In Jesus' precious and holy name I offer my thanks. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Jesus used stories to say some other things to the people. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a king that prepared a wedding dinner for his son. The king invited some people to the feast. When the feast was ready, the king sent his servants to tell those people to come. But the people refused to come to the king's feast. "Then the king sent some more servants. The king said to the servants, 'I have already invited those people. So tell them that my feast is ready. I have killed my best bulls and calves to be eaten. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.' "{The servants went and told the people to come.} But the people refused to listen to the servants. Those people went to do other things. One person went to work in his field, and another person went to his business. Some of the other people grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them. The king was very angry. The king sent his army to kill those people that killed his servants. And the army burned their city. "After that, the king said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready. I invited those people, but they were not good enough to come to my feast. So go to the street corners and invite all the people you see. Tell them to come to my feast.' So the servants went into the streets. They gathered all the people they could find. The servants brought good people and bad people to the place where the wedding feast was ready. And that place was filled with people. "Then the king came in to see all the people. The king saw a man there that was not dressed in the right clothes for a wedding. The king said, 'Friend, how were you allowed to come in here? You are not wearing the right clothes for a wedding.' But the man said nothing. So the king told some servants, 'Tie this man's hands and feet. Throw the man out into the darkness. In that place, people will cry and grind their teeth {with pain}.' "Yes, many people are invited. But only a few are chosen."Matthew 22:1-14
Related Scripture Readings
— Rev. 22:12-16
— Matt. 7:21-23
— Rev. 22:5-8
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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—Matthew 22:11-14
Key Thought
God is gracious. God longs for all people to come to repentance and find his love and grace and joy! God sent his Son to the world to die for sinners. But, God is still God. He is holy, righteous, and just. He cannot tolerate evil and will not abide sin. Just because he has lavished grace does not mean he has forgotten evil, sin, and the putrid things that Satan unleashes on the world through those who do his will.
While the world may think it wants a softer God, one who tolerates evil in people and does not hold us accountable for the transgressions we commit, deep down we know better. God's grace will save us, but not all receive that grace. Jesus' death will pardon us, but not all call on Jesus as Lord and Savior.
When people will not recognize the grace available to them and live for Christ, they come to his wedding feast in the rags and filth of sin and rebellion. The Father sees this insult as disgusting as a refusal to come at all!
Today's Prayer
O mighty and holy Father, thank you for all you have done to invite me to your feast of joy and love. Thank you for the price Jesus paid to make my inclusion at this great banquet even possible. Please fill me with your Spirit as I try to live for you in ways that bring you glory and honor the sacrifice Jesus made to include me. In Jesus' precious and holy name I offer my thanks. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Jesus used stories to say some other things to the people. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a king that prepared a wedding dinner for his son. The king invited some people to the feast. When the feast was ready, the king sent his servants to tell those people to come. But the people refused to come to the king's feast. "Then the king sent some more servants. The king said to the servants, 'I have already invited those people. So tell them that my feast is ready. I have killed my best bulls and calves to be eaten. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.' "{The servants went and told the people to come.} But the people refused to listen to the servants. Those people went to do other things. One person went to work in his field, and another person went to his business. Some of the other people grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them. The king was very angry. The king sent his army to kill those people that killed his servants. And the army burned their city. "After that, the king said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready. I invited those people, but they were not good enough to come to my feast. So go to the street corners and invite all the people you see. Tell them to come to my feast.' So the servants went into the streets. They gathered all the people they could find. The servants brought good people and bad people to the place where the wedding feast was ready. And that place was filled with people. "Then the king came in to see all the people. The king saw a man there that was not dressed in the right clothes for a wedding. The king said, 'Friend, how were you allowed to come in here? You are not wearing the right clothes for a wedding.' But the man said nothing. So the king told some servants, 'Tie this man's hands and feet. Throw the man out into the darkness. In that place, people will cry and grind their teeth {with pain}.' "Yes, many people are invited. But only a few are chosen."Matthew 22:1-14
Related Scripture Readings
— Rev. 22:12-16
— Matt. 7:21-23
— Rev. 22:5-8
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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