Have you ever gone to a social gathering of some sort, and found yourself dressed totally inappropriately? Perhaps this was a casual, backyard affair, yet you came dressed in a formal suit and tie, or evening dress. Or even worse, it was a very formal social gathering, but somehow you came dressed very casually in shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-flops. How embarrassed and ashamed you would feel! In our Gospel passage for today, Jesus tells a parable of a wedding, and what happened to the guest who was not dressed in the appropriate manner. Let’s take a look, and see what the Lord would teach us.
As Jesus addresses the crowds a few days before He would be crucified, He tells them the parable of the wedding feast. A king had arranged a wedding for his son, and had sent out invitations to attend. On the day of the wedding he sent his servants out to call the invited guests to come, yet those initially invited wouldn’t come (vs. 2-3). The king sent some more servants to tell those invited that all was ready and the feast prepared, yet these were also ignored. Some of the people beat up those servants, and even killed some of them (vs. 4-6). The apathy and rejection of this royal invitation was a slight and terrible affront to the king. His righteous and indignant response to these people was to send his soldiers to destroy them (vs. 7).
The king still wanted guests at the wedding, and since those initially invited had so rudely and violently rejected the invitation, he sent servants to invite others. Many came, and the wedding hall was filled (vs. 8-10). However, as the king was surveying the guests, he saw one who was not properly attired. When questioned, the guest had no answer, so the king had him thrown out (vs. 11-13).
In order to properly understand the parable, we must first know something about the customs of a wedding in Biblical times. Invitations would be sent out way in advance, and then when the actual day arrived, servants of the wedding host would come to escort those invited. They would also be provided with the proper wedding attire, usually an elegant robe to put on. To refuse to wear the robe provided was an insult and slight to the host. Without the proper attire, they weren’t allowed in, and if they somehow did manage to enter, they would be escorted out when found dressed in the wrong clothing.
The king of this parable is God, and the wedding feast is that for His Son, in the heavenly kingdom. The invitations were first sent to the people of Israel. God sent His servants, the prophets, to the people telling them to come, yet they rejected the invitation, attacking the prophets and killing some of them. Despite this rejection, God had patience and forbearance with those who deliberately spurned Him. He continued to extend the invitation (vs. 4). Finally God’s vast patience was finally exhausted, and He judged them (vs. 7). The invitation to the wedding feast of the Son, the Lamb of God, was then extended to others. The free offer of the Gospel of salvation, is extended to all indiscriminately (vs. 9).
The wedding garments were supplied by the king. There was one man who rejected the king’s gracious provisions, which was an insult (vs. 11-13). This man represents those who identify with God’s Kingdom externally, who profess to be Christians and attend or belong to a local church, yet spurn the garment of righteousness that Christ offers. They boast of their own righteousness. They believe their own good works are enough, rejecting Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for them personally. The wedding clothes picture the righteousness needed to enter God’s kingdom. Jesus has provided this garment of righteousness for everyone, but each person must choose to put it on in order to enter God’s banquet, which is eternal life. No one could enter wearing their own clothes. They had to put on what was provided. We cannot enter the kingdom with our own righteousness. We have to put on the righteousness that is provided by Jesus Christ. We have to accept His righteousness, His sacrifice on the cross for us.
As Jesus ends this parable, He tells us that many are called, but few are chosen (vs. 14). Many people hear the Gospel message, but few respond. As I close, I am reminded of the words of a great old-time hymn. “Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?”
No comments:
Post a Comment