Sunday, October 11, 2026

Matthew 22:11-14 

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” 

One of my seminary professors, Dr. Gerhard Forde, once gave a lecture to push back against preachers who preach until folks decide to choose Jesus. He said, “I like to preach until folks realize they have no choice.” 

The ending of this parable illustrates what Dr. Forde was saying. The unrobed guest needed to either put on Christ or be thrown into the outer darkness. That’s not much of a choice, is it. 

But to round out that perspective, I had another professor, Dr. Arland Hultgren, who gave me something else to think about. He argued that yes, no one comes to the Father except through Jesus, but since Jesus is who Jesus is, he will find the way to get us to the banquet. That’s because God’s loving grace is not a passive invitation; God’s grace is relentlessly active in Jesus. It’s why the poet Francis Thompson describes him as the “Hound of Heaven”. 

– Pr. Paul  

Lord Jesus, in my heart of hearts I know that your love for me is my only hope and the only source of life and meaning. But I get distracted from that truth so easily. Thank you that your love is constantly pursuing my wayward heart. Amen.