“‘Then he said to his servants, “The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.” So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, “How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?” The man was speechless.’” -Matthew 22:8-12
When I read this passage recently, the symbolism of wedding clothes overtook my thoughts. In this parable, Jesus illustrated the Kingdom of Heaven and the wedding banquet that we will one day experience with Jesus. The king invited many to come and dine at the wedding feast for his son. Those he initially invited refused to come, so he opened the invitation to everyone! However, one guest was found without proper wedding attire.
Am I dressed and ready in my wedding clothes? Am I helping others to be dressed and ready for the coming wedding banquet?
In ancient Jewish weddings, it was customary for the host to provide wedding garments to guests, symbolizing honor and readiness to participate in the celebration. Not wearing the provided attire demonstrated disregard for the host and the occasion. What are these exact garments as symbolized in this passage?
“‘Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)” -Revelation 19:7-8
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” -Ephesians 4:22-24
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” -Isaiah 61:10
Followers of Jesus, who have put their trust in Christ and have believed in their hearts and confessed with their mouths that He is Lord, are dressed accordingly. It is upon our salvation that God clothes us in righteousness, holiness, purity, and perfection. We choose, by repentance and receiving salvation, new clean garments that are our wedding clothes.
The man who was spotted at the wedding feast did not have the righteousness of Christ as his garment. He refused to wear the clothes, signifying a rejection of God’s provision and a lack of true repentance. Showing up is not enough; we have to receive righteousness on God’s terms. It makes me think that he somehow walked through the doors into the wedding feast, looking and sounding the part and blending in easily with all the others who were actually clothed in proper attire. But the king knew; he could see what others could not. What a sobering thought.
“He came into the banquet when he was bidden, but he came only in appearance, he came not in heart. The banquet was intended for the honour of the son, but this man meant not so; he was willing to eat the good things, but he intended no respect to the prince.” -Charles Spurgeon
“‘Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?”Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”’” -Matthew 7:22-23
Here is what we can glean from this passage with urgency and vision:
The invitation is open to all: Go everywhere you can and invite everyone you can find to get their wedding clothes on so they can attend the wedding of the Lamb one day soon. It’s not your job to determine how they respond, but it is your responsibility to tell them about salvation in Jesus.
Readiness requires proper attire: Being part of God’s Kingdom requires being clothed with the righteousness of Christ (Romans 13:14). Have you put on the garments of salvation? Showing up in God’s presence is not enough; we must come to Him on His terms.
Grace partners with accountability: While salvation is a gift, God expects us to live in a manner worthy of our calling. Are we being transformed into the likeness of Christ, reflecting His power in and through our surrendered lives? Salvation is not just a ticket to Heaven; it’s a life proclaiming and demonstrating the risen Christ!
Lord Jesus, get us ready in our spirits, with urgency, for our soon-coming King! I pray You would transform Your people to live in a constant state of preparation for God’s Kingdom and not the things of this world. Make us bold in this hour to warn those who are not yet dressed in wedding attire. Burden us deeply, by Your Spirit, with this reality, and consume us with the power and courage of Your Spirit to head to the highways and byways to invite everyone to come to Jesus! A wedding banquet is just around the corner!
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