Shallow, Superficial, Self-Centered

SHALLOW, SUPERFICIAL, SELF-CENTERED
Monday, November 15, 2021

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 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.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.” (Matthew 22:1-6).

In this parable the king is God the Father. His son is Jesus Christ. The wedding feast is the union of Jesus Christ with those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior. His servants are the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptizer, and Jesus Christ and the New Testament disciples and apostles who called the people to faith in Christ. Those who were invited are the Jews.

The parable reveals God’s grace, mercy, and patience. Beginning with Abraham (ca. 2090 B.C.) the Lord repeatedly called the Jews to faith and obedience in Him and the promised Christ. He gave them the Mosaic Law, priesthood, sacrificial system, etc., to draw the Jews to faith and obedience. He sent His prophets to bring people to repentance of sin and faith in Him. A few did, most didn’t. The people were more concerned about their personal lives and pursuits.

For over a year John the Baptizer, the last of the Old Testament prophets, called the Jews to repentance of sin and faith in the coming Kingdom of God. He even pointed them to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29,36). Jesus then embarked on a 3-year ministry calling Israel to faith in Him as the Messiah of God. A few believed and were saved. Most of the Jews were awed and enamored by Jesus, coming to Him for what He could physically and emotionally offer them. Their ‘faith’ (which was not saving faith) was at best shallow, superficial, and self-centered. Shallow, superficial, and self-centered. When they finally realized Jesus was not the Messiah they wanted, they sided with the Chief Priests and Elders to have Him crucified. Their contempt for God and lack of fear of God had reached its zenith.

Through it all, God has kept a remnant who have true faith in Jesus Christ. What if God, desiring to show His wrath and to make known His power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory - even us whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed He says in Hosea, “Those who were not My people I will call ‘My people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out His sentence upon the earth fully and without delay” (Romans 9:22-28).

“Thank You, Lord, for the remnant that remains faithful to Jesus. Through their witness the Gospel continues to spread throughout the world. To Your praise and glory, Amen.”

Pastor