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Speechless Before The King
– Matthew Twenty-Two –
Matthew twenty-two pictures occasions when people stood
"Speechless Before The King": (1) Matthew 22:1-14 -- the man without
a wedding garment, (2) Matthew 22:15-22 -- the Pharisees that asked about
paying tax, (3) Matthew 22:23-33 -- the Sadducees that questioned the
resurrection, (4) Matthew 22:34-40 -- the Pharisees that asked Jesus about the
greatest commandment, and (5) Matthew 22:41-46 -- those Pharisees that could
not answer Jesus' questions about why David called Him Lord even though He was
David's son.
In Matthew 22 we have one of the saddest of Jesus' parables. This
parable has to do with the Savior's mission among the Jews and their rejection
of Him. The King had prepared a wedding feast for His Son. The Jews were
invited to this great feast. Sadly they made light of the invitation, and went
their way, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise. Some of the Jews
even "took the Kings servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew
them." The problem was "the wedding was ready, but they which were
bidden were not worthy."
The Jews were unworthy because they chose things of the world
rather than heavenly things. They could have come but they "would not
come!" The King sent His servants
to get others to come to His feast. The Jews had rejected the feast so the
Gentiles would now be invited. Today, thanks to our amazing God, everyone is
invited to His glorious salvation feast.
A man in disrespect came in without a "wedding garment."
There was no excuse for such conduct. The King that prepared the feast also
provided the garments. The man was just unrighteousness in his actions. The
result was that he stood "speechless" before the King. The King said,
"Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer
darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth..." God requires
humble obedience from all that would come to His feast.
The Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus many questions that
"they might entangle him in his talk." Jesus "perceived their
wickedness" and gave unbelievable answers to their questions. When they
tried to trap him with a question about tax He answered, "Render therefore
unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are
God's." They marveled at His answer.
The Sadducees asked Jesus a question about the law of marriage.
(Deuteronomy 25:5-10) Moses said that when a man dies leaving a wife and no
children, that his brother ought to marry her and have children with her in his
brothers name. This kept the Jewish families and tribes distinct. The Sadducees
ask Jesus about seven brothers that had all been married to the same woman.
They wanted Him to explain whose wife she would be in the resurrection. Jesus
answered, "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in
marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."
A
lawyer asked Jesus about the greatest commandment. Jesus said to him,
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind." This is the great commandment because God is
the source of all blessings and goodness.
This chapter closed with Jesus asking the Pharisees some very
difficult questions. He asked, "What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?
They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in
spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right
hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how
is he his son?" Jesus was David's Lord and his Savior in a spiritual
sense. Never was wisdom or truth any more clear, never more triumphant than
with Jesus Christ!
The man without a wedding garment –
Matthew 22:1-14: The man without a wedding garment stood
speechless before the King. The message came "all things are ready, come
to the wedding." Those that were invited made light of the invitation.
(Matthew 22:5-6) The Jews rejected Jesus and this rejection opened the door for
the Gentiles. "Go into the highways, and as many as you find; invite to
the wedding." (Matthew 22:9) The one that came in without a wedding
garment shows an attitude opposite that of faith, humility, penitence and
reverence that prepares one to enter the Lord's kingdom.
The question about taxes – Matthew 22:15-22:
The Pharisees that asked if it was lawful to pay tax to Caesar stood speechless
before the King. They desired to entangle Jesus in His talk. (Matthew 22:15)
Their question was, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
(Matthew 22:17) Jesus answered "Render therefore to Caesar the things that
are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21) He
taught plainly that Christians have both a duty to God and to government. The
Pharisees "marveled and left Him." (Matthew 22:22)
The question about the resurrection – Matthew
22:23-33: The Sadducees, that deny the resurrection, questioned
Jesus about the "Levitate" law of marriage. (Deuteronomy 25:5-10)
They wanted to know who this woman would be married to after the resurrection.
Jesus said their questions came from a basic mistake. "For in the
resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels
of God in heaven." (Matthew 22:30) Then Jesus astonished them and made
them speechless by saying, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
(Matthew 22:32) The Sadducees that questioned Jesus about the resurrection
stood speechless before the king.
The greatest commandment and an
impossible question – Matthew 22:34-46: The Pharisees Jesus
asked about the greatest commandment. He gave them that and more. "You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with
all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like
it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39) The
lawyer and other Pharisees were speechless before the king because they
realized they were in violation of not only the first and great commandment,
but the second also.
The Pharisees were speechless before the king when He asked them
questions about David. Jesus asked, "What think ye of Christ? whose son is
he? They say unto him, The Son of David." (Matthew 22:42) Then He said,
"If David then calls Him Lord, how is He his Son?" (Matthew 22:45)
Jesus asked how the Messiah could be both David's son and David's Lord. Their
lack of understanding of the Messiah, who He was and what is His work, made it
impossible to answer these questions. From that time no one "dare question
him anymore." (Matthew 22:46) They were speechless!
We too will stand speechless before the King in judgment if we
fail to become Christians (Acts
- - - - Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: In Need Of Prayers: Jerry Barr, Linda Bender, Mae
Beverly, Janice Box, Peri Chapman, Marie Curlee, Chris Duncan, Roy Goodwin, Berniece
Gorum, Montine Hardin, Latrelle Harrell, Evan Hartsell, Billy Heartsill, Mary
Jo Hoffman, Jerry Johnson, Wanda Kyser,
Mary Lawrence, Percy Newton, Glenn
Phillips, Mary Powell, Jack Queener, Ottey Simno, Ralph Sims, Brenda Stallings
(mother of Kimberly Hittell), Bobby & Mary Lou Terrell, Mary Williams and
Melissa Woodruff. Crowne Health Care: Mable Harrell (grandmother of Dustin
Harrell), Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, and Iva Lou Wright.
2. Baptized Into Christ: Donald Loveless was baptized into Christ
on Tuesday. He is an inmate at Butler County Jail. Encourage him if you have
the opportunity. Pray for him often.
3. It’s A Girl: Congratulations to Ryan and Melissa Bagents on the birth of their daughter, Isabella Nicole. She weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces and was 19½ inches long. Congratulations to grandparents Ricky and Terri Lynn Bagents, and Sherry and Bill McSwean; and to great-grandparents Ed and Sue Bagents.
4. Please Pray For: The following people are serving in
5. Mail For Jason Godwin: The only way to communicate with Jason
Godwin is through his e-mail, jason.e.godwin@us.army.mil. This will be used
until he comes home. The mailing address is no longer any good.
6. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: July 2nd Gary Bozeman, July 3rd Debbie Acree and Hunter Owens, July 5th Lorene Beverly, July 6th Dennis Phillips and July 7th Wyatt Fullington.
7. Youth Devos: Thank you to Stacy and Patricia
Harrell for hosting a teen Devo last Tuesday. Also there will be an all age Devo
after evening services on Sunday, July 1st.
8. Bridal Shower: There will be a miscellaneous shower for Donna
Patterson and Steve Hoffman on July 8th after the evening services.
The congregation is invited and is asked to bring finger food.
9.
10. Regular Schedule: We are planning to do
11. Thank You:
12. Fish Fry: Thanks to all that had a part in making our fish fry
a great event. God bless you.
13. Backwoods Christian Camp:
Our week at Backwoods will be July 8-13. Camp fees will be paid from the
Carl Sessions Camp Fund for all
http://walnutstreetchurchofchrist.org/backwoods/backwoods_christian_camp_2007.htm.
14. Bible Award: Jamey Thomas recently received the highest
achievement, Bible Award at
15. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a)
July 8th-12th – Gospel Meeting – Mott Church of Christ –
Speaker John Dickinson – weeknights
Great Bible Truths
The
Bible, God's word, is true from cover to cover. God's great truths are for both
time and eternity. Following are some great Bible truths which should help in
preparing for eternity.
God
is real. The first words of the Bible speak of God. "In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) Only a
fool would say there is no God and only a fool would say no to God. "The
fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God…" (Psalm 14:1)
The
Bible is God’s inspired word. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16-17) The Bible is simple,
profound, beautiful, deep and powerful. It will not
pass away. (Matthew 24:35)
Salvation
is only through Jesus. Jesus
came to save His people from sin. "And she will bring forth a Son, and you
shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
(Matthew 1:21) His mission was that of seeking and saving the lost. (Luke
19:19) There is no other in whom salvation is found. "Nor is there
salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved." (Acts
Though
salvation is available through Jesus, not all are saved. God desires
the salvation of everyone. (I Timothy 2:4) Even though God desires salvation
for all the majority of mankind is still lost. (Matthew 7:13-14)
Only
those that obey the gospel will be saved. God's vengeance will be taken
on those who obey not the Gospel of Christ. (II Thessalonians 1:8-10) To obey the gospel one must hear the word (Romans
Have you obeyed the gospel? Are you faithful to God? If you died today would you go to heaven?
- - - - Charles Box
The total
history of almost anyone would shock almost everyone.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
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