The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1921-02-04

nEf ERENCE MATERlAL-ISa. STILL;
Matt. 11:2S-3O; Luke H:15-24; Rev. 22:17
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Story of We'd
ding Party.
JUNIOR TOPIC-An Invitation to a
/ Wedding
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Accepting and Extending the Great In
vitation
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
| The Great Invitation
In the previous parable the respon-
sibilities Of the subjects Of the king
dom were before us for consideration
in the light of the obligation to rem
der to the householder the fruits of
his vineyard. In this one the ethic
is changed, and the privileges and
blessings of the kingdom are placed
on exhibition. This parable lifts the
conception of the kingdom and places
1t on high plane. 1t is much more
than paying rent to king; 1t is feast
ing at the Kings table on fat things
which He has prepared with great ex-
pense to Himself.
i. The Kings Feast Despised wv.
1-O.
The previous parable exhibits the
attitude of the Jewish people toward
the king up to the crucitixion of
Christ. This one carries us beyond
the cross, even through the present
age of the Gentiles. The marriage
feast which the king made for his son
and to which he invited guests repre-
sents the gracious offer OF God to give
JOY and blessing to certain of His
creatures. This feast has been made
in honor of his Son and is an exceed
ing rich one. His oxen and fatlings
are ready. His repeated invitations
show Gods earnestneSs in seeking
to bless men. God does more than
simply invite men once; He presses
His invitation again and again most
earnestly How many times from our
childhood has He not pressed His in
vitation upon us The attitude of |
those invited, toward the invitation and |
toward the king IS passing strange
and exceeding sinful. To treat the
kings sinvitation with such contempt
after he had made such costly prepa-
ration deserves the severest punish
ment. They not only neglected 1t but
made light of it and hurried on to
their worldly business, showing that
they regarded it as of more impor-
lance than the salvation of their poor
lost souls. Some went forth and even
did violence to the messengers of the
king, killing them.
While this is a picture of the atti-
tude of the Jews from Christ's cruel
ixion to- the destruction of Jerusalem,
t has Its counterpart in the day in
which we live. Some today are indiff-
.rent to Gods invitation some are
making light of Gods way Of salvation
Ind others are hostile to the mes
engers of Christ. Their attitude and
melted the anger of the king
md he executed vengeance upon them.
BURNING up their city. This was his
orically fulfilled In the destruction
# Jerusalem by the Romans in 20 A.
D., and is typical of what He will do
o those that neglect or reject His in
itation at the close of this dispense
ion.
II. The Kings Invitation Accepted
w. 9-10).
When those who were first invited J
efused, the king sent his servants I
others; for his table must be pro
fded the guests. He has prepared 3
his feast at an infinite cost. and {
lost urgently invites to the accept
nee of it. Though He urgently in. U
ties, He will not compel any one to
ccept Those that were shut out were ;.
tut out because they refused to ac-
ept, not because the king was unwil-
ng. When this was done he sent
Is servants among the Gentiles, .
hich is shown In His going into the
ghways and hedges. o
ILL.,. The King Inspecting the Guests
". 11-14. IL
As he made this inspection the king o .
und one among the guests who had
It on a wedding garment-had not
to the regulations of the $
asst. The custom in the East was 9.
r the king to furnish the guests with fs
suitable garment There could thus s.
no excuse for not having one on Ia
lerefore, this act of the man showed 81
at he only accepted the invitation
r selfish ends not desiring to con- ia
rm to the regulations of the king. Ia
lie wedding garment which the King
divided in this case is the righteous TO
SIS of Christ, which alone will en- Id
lie one to the place at the Kings 70
lrriage feast This righteousness ts
toinoJ bv foi+b :, +bo o+opino Mood er
TpcI1c Christ 1V