This Bible study focuses on a passage in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.

Matthew 22:1-14

Objective: To understand that all are invited to partake of

the kingdom of heaven but many miss the kingdom to their own

carelessness. We enter the kingdom of heaven only when

clothed in proper clothing - the righteousness of the king.

Introductory question: What are weddings like in your

culture? Describe the most impressive wedding celebration

you ever attended.

Introduction: Several times Jesus used the example of a

wedding banquet to describe what the kingdom of heaven is

like. Pass close attention to the story to discover what

kind of people are in danger of missing heaven's banquet,

according to Jesus.

Reading the Passage: Have the group read the passage

silently before you discuss it. Then have someone retell the

story in their own words. Discuss any words that might be

unfamiliar to people in the group.

Questions: Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like the banquet

described in this story. If the is so, who do you think the

king in the story represents? Who is the son? Who would the

guests represent? Why do you think Jesus used the idea of a

banquet to represent heaven?

V 1-7 - How would you react if you were invited to a wedding

for the son of the ruler or president of your country? What

is the reaction of the first set of invited guests in the

story? The Bible says that God extends an invitation to us.

He is knocking at the door waiting for us to invite him into

our lives. If people are like the guests in the story, what

kind of responses could we expect to God's invitation?

V 8-10 - Who finally gets to come to the wedding? How are

these people different from what you expect wedding guests to

be? If the wedding represents God's kingdom, what kind of

people will be part of God's kingdom according to this story?

V 11-13 - What is appropriate to wear at a wedding? Why was

one of the guests cast out of the wedding? What do you think

would be appropriate clothing for the kingdom of heaven? How

do you think one might obtain such clothing?

V 14 - Jesus concludes his story by saying, "Many are called,

but few are chosen." How is this true in the story? What do

you think Jesus intended this statement to mean in regard to

the kingdom of heaven?

Thought Questions:

The religious leaders of Jesus' time rejected his teaching

and his authority. The common people, including social

outcasts, sinners, and prostitutes, heard him gladly. How

do you think these people might have interpreted what Jesus

was saying in this story?

What do you think was the main point of this story? What do

you think Jesus wanted to accomplish by telling it?

With whom in the story would you most identify and

why? To whom is the story directed? What type of person

would need to hear this story?

How would you apply this story to your own life? How do you

think Jesus wants us to live.

Closing: Ask if the group has any questions they would like

to ask. Ask permission to say a simple prayer to close the

discussion. Thank God for his invitation to the banquet in

heaven that he has extended to each one of us. Ask him to

clothe each one in his righteousness.

Copyright Information:
Several questions in this study were taken from the Serendipity New Testament for Groups, InterVarsity, 1987.