Sermon Text for 20th Sunday after Pentecost


20th Sunday after Pentecost 

Isaiah 25:6-9  
Philippians 4:4-13  
Matthew 22:1-14

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

The 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson wrote a brief poem from which, I regularly see the first line in various publications. Since the poem is brief, I will read the whole thing. 

Tell all the truth but tell it slant – 
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise
As Lightning to the children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind

During his teaching and healing ministry, Jesus found himself in regular conflict with other religious leaders over Biblical interpretation. For example, many Pharisees loudly disagreed with Jesus’ insistence on healing on the Sabbath. Today’s Gospel is part of a lengthy conversation Jesus has with the Temple priests, elders, and Pharisees. The Temple priests also disagree with Jesus’ words and behavior but for different reasons.  

In general, Jesus chooses to respond to disagreement in one of two ways. One is to cite Scripture and speak the truth as candidly and bluntly as humanly possible. The other is to, as Emily Dickinson says, “Tell all the truth but tell it slant.” Today’s parable is the third short story that Jesus tells them. Confronting them straight on will get nowhere. Telling them a story just might go somewhere. So, he tells his parables that are full of truth. The parables are told in a way that the truth is revealed at an angle. The truth comes to the religious leaders at a slant where it has the potential for entering their minds and illuminating their thoughts and hearts. 

The parable is centered around a wedding. Jesus’ choice of imagery is no accident. The image of marriage between God and Israel was one of several ways that the prophets talked about the covenantal relationship that God established with Israel. Along with the Old Testament reading in Isaiah 25, you can also see the imagery in play in Isaiah 54, Jeremiah 3, Hosea 2, and elsewhere. So, Jesus does not have to explain the significance of the scene. Just as his interlocutors will understand the theological significance of the wedding, they will also quickly surmise that the king is a reference to God. The challenge lies in figuring out who is the king’s son. And, who are the idiots that dismissed the king’s invitation to come to the wedding? And, who exactly, are the good and the bad that are brought in from the community to replace those that spurned the king’s generosity? 

Eventually, the pieces fall into place. Those that dismissed the king’s original invitation are the political and religious leaders of past and present who reject the message of God that the prophets proclaim. Jesus is also a prophet. He teaches God’s Word. He brings God’s Word of judgment and grace. While the people in general embrace Jesus, many of the religious leaders do not. For their rejection of the ones that God sends, they will receive their just reward. This truth told slant is perceived by them eventually. They are under God’s indictment for refusing to receive the Son. 

The religious leaders discern also that Jesus identifies Himself not only as a prophet, but also as the Son. They reject the Son too. Jesus is not the Messiah they are looking for. 

As Jesus explains in John 3:16 and elsewhere, the Father sends Him for the whole world. He is sent first for the Jews, then for the Gentiles. When Jesus is lifted up on the cross, his sacrifice is for all people, including the good, the bad, the Jew, and the Gentile. His atoning sacrifice on the cross and the forgiveness that it brings is for all to receive by faith. 

The cross bridges the gap between Jew and Gentile. Under the cross we are all the same. You are married to God through faith because of Christ’s death for us. Christ Jesus makes you redeemed sinners. He saves you by His grace and mercy. You receive his covenantal promise through faith. 

In first century Israel, the host of the wedding feast provides the festive wedding garment for all their guests. Each garment is unique to that one event. If you do not have a garment, everyone knows that you are not on the guest list. If you are not invited, you do not belong. You are excluded from the celebration. 

The wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ. You receive Christ’s righteousness when you receive His gifts through Holy Baptism. In Holy Baptism, God acts upon you. The Holy Spirit arranged for you to be at the baptismal font. The Holy Spirit, through the gospel of God’s Son, creates faith within you to receive the gift of God’s promises. He wants you in His Kingdom. Through the spilled blood and the death of Christ, you receive Christ’s righteousness and the forgiveness of your sins. The righteousness of Christ is the wedding garment that brings you into the everlasting wedding feast. 

In three successive parables, Jesus told the truth slant. In the parable of the Two Sons, He emphasized that the kingdom of heaven is available to any who have faith.  The Parable of the Wedding Feast tells the three-fold truth of the Parable of the Tenants. First, Jesus is God’s Son. Second, Israel of the past and present persist in the long-standing tradition of rejecting God’s prophets. Third, Gentiles are included in God’s kingdom, now and in eternity. The Son comes to redeem all sinners from the clutch of sin, death, and the devil. 

Emily Dickinson said, Tell all the truth but tell it slant – Success in Circuit lies. Jesus did. The religious leaders got the point of Jesus’ stories told slant. They understood. They chose to not believe. Their faith lay elsewhere. 

For those of you with faith in Christ as your Savior, you wear the festive robe of Christ’s righteousness with gratitude. God’s own Son died on the cross and rose on the third day so that you may be with Him forever. Hold fast to God’s promise that on account of Christ’s righteousness you shall feast at the everlasting banquet table. You will dwell for eternity in God’s kingdom where there is no longer sin, sickness, death, hunger, or cruelty of any kind.  That promise is cause for celebration. 

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.    





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