Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
Invited to the Heavenly Wedding Banquet
These are the readings for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost.
(This Worship Help aligns with the lectionary readings from Christian Worship 1993 and Christian Worship: Supplement.)
God’s Word for This Week
Are you worried about what the future holds? Are you sure of your heavenly inheritance? Are you dressed for reception into the heavenly wedding banquet? Thanks to Jesus and his perfect life and substitutionary death, we confidently answer all three questions in the affirmative. What a grand and glorious day it will be when we find ourselves seated at God’s heavenly banquet table!
First Lesson – Isaiah 25:6-9
What are the “shroud” and the “sheet” that will be destroyed according to verse 7? Explain.
The “shroud” and the “sheet” are the veils that blinded the people from a correct understanding of their natural depravity and sinfulness and kept them from recognizing Christ as the Savior of the world. In conversion, the Holy Spirit removes the blinders and gives God’s people the spiritual vision to understand and accept him as the promised Messiah and Savior from sin.
According to verse 9, what will be our bold profession on the Last Day?
It might sound something like this: “We placed our confidence with unwavering certainty in the Lord our God, and he has not disappointed. The time for us to experience and enjoy the blessed fulfillment of God’s promises is finally here. Hallelujah!”
Supplemental First Lesson – 2 Chronicles 30:1-5,10-22
Read the context of the lesson in 2 Chronicles 29. What radical changes was King Hezekiah making in Jerusalem?
He abandoned the idolatry of his father and was seeking to restore the worship of the true God.
What reasons did Hezekiah have to invite all the people to the Passover celebration?
First, this was commanded by God. Second, it was a chance for people to return to God in repentance. Everyone was invited.
What kind of response did the invitation receive?
Some came, some did not. Some came properly prepared; others came either ignorant of God’s will or ignoring it. But Hezekiah’s prayer is a great model for us as we do outreach, “May God pardon everyone.”
Second Lesson – Philippians 4:4-13
The fundamental sentiment of a Christian’s entire life is happiness. On what is our happiness based?
Our joy is always in the Lord and on account of the Lord. We are jubilant and exultant over the free gift of salvation attained through the atoning work of Christ. It’s especially during periods of trial and tribulation that we take time to reflect on and rejoice in the changeless love of our God.
What remedy does Paul offer for dealing with anxiety?
Prayer. When we are consumed with worry and concerned about the future, entrust it to the Lord, leaving all matters to his fatherly direction and care. Whether it’s the most monumental problem or the most insignificant detail, bring it to the attention of your merciful God, who has demonstrated time and time again that he is deeply concerned about the welfare of his beloved children.
What kinds of thoughts should fill the believer’s mind?
To paraphrase verse 8, the believer’s mind is flowing with thoughts that are truthful and sincere, open and honest, just and right, chaste and clean, wholesome and pleasant, excellent and laudable. In short, in all our thoughts, the sanctification of the Christian should be evident.
Supplemental Second Lesson – Romans 11:1-10
What does Paul maintain about his fellow Israelites and their relationship to God?
God did not reject them. His call to faith in Christ, goes out to all. Many of the people of Israel and many in the world today reject that gracious invitation.
How was Paul an excellent example of the remnant chosen by grace?
He was an Israelite who was not called because of his obedience. No, he was a persecutor of the Church, but God in grace sent out the invitation to all, the good and the bad. Paul’s invitation was hand-delivered on the road to Damascus. That sinner-turned-saint is a wonderful reminder that the few who are chosen are chosen solely by grace.
Gospel – Matthew 22:1-14
God has invited everyone to his heavenly wedding feast, but so few attend. Why?
Many people simply are indifferent and apathetic to God’s urgent call. Others are distracted by their own private, earthly affairs. As in the parable, some even go to the extent of being hostile toward the messengers of God’s invitation.
Is it possible to sneak into God’s heavenly wedding banquet without proper attire?
Impossible. God has provided a wedding garment of spotless righteousness and purity for every sinner he has invited to the feast, courtesy of his Son, Jesus Christ. The garment is required to cover the filth and nakedness of their sin. All intruding wannabes will be detected, sentenced, and thrust into the outer darkness of hell.
