Come and See!

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (3/8/15)

Scripture
Matthew 22:1-14 (ESV)  
And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, [2] "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, [3] and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. [4] Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.' [5] But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, [6] while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. [7] The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. [8] Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. [9] Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' [10] And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.  [11] "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. [12] And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' [14] For many are called, but few are chosen." 

Questions for Reflection

1. What do you like or dislike about weddings?
2. How do you tend to react when long-awaited plans fail to materialize?
3. How did people respond to the king’s invitation? (22:3)
4. Upon hearing that no one would come to the wedding, what did the king do? (22:4)
5. How did the invited guests react to the king’s second appeal? (22:5)
6. To what shocking acts did some of the people who were invited resort? (22:6)
7. The king went to a “Plan B” that included what changes? (22:8-9)
8. How did the king’s alternative plan work out? (22:10)
9. What keeps people from accepting Jesus’ offer of eternal life?
10. The wedding clothes in the parable that were needed for admittance to the banquet are meant to symbolize what quality that is necessary for entry into the kingdom of heaven?
11. What will happen to those who either reject Christ or try to enter His kingdom on their own terms?
12. In what area(s) of your life have you been putting off a response to what God has asked you to do?