WEDDING INVITATION (Matthew 22)

“That’s what I mean when I say, ‘Many get invited; only a few make it.’” (Matthew 22:14, Message)

Escalating tension is a plot device writers learn. Something bad happens to start the story. More and even more bad things fill the story until the final “black moment,” when the hero wins the day.

Jesus’s parable reminds me of the escalation factor. First the King invites the lords and ladies of the kingdom to his son’s wedding.  They all reject the invitation.

The king invited them a second time. They gave lame excuses. Instead of sitting inside Westrminster Abbey with William and Kate, they weeded their gardens and worked in their shops. A few of them killed the messengers.

The king leveled that city, but he still had a problem: he wanted guests at his son’s wedding.  He sent his servants to the busiest marketplace in town. Like barkers at a carnival, they caught everyone passing by, handing them a golden ticket to the most important event of their lives.

These people knew the value of the golden ticket. They went home, scrubbed their skin clean, laundered their best clothes, and prepared for the wedding.

All except one. He showed up at the wedding in the same clothes he was wearing when he received the invitation. He got tossed into hell.

It’s not enough to belong to the family. The upper echelon of the kingdom was invited, and they refused. It’s not enough if your parent believe if you don’t.

It’s not enough to receive the invitation but ignore the steps. The one man didn’t exchange his dirty old clothes for the ones provided for him. We can’t get in the kingdom unless we are clothed in Christ.

We’re all invited.

But hdo we R.S.V.P.?