Jesus responded by speaking again in parables: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding party for his son. 3 He sent his servants to call those invited to the wedding party. But they didn’t want to come. 4 Again he sent other servants and said to them, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look, the meal is all prepared. I’ve butchered the oxen and the fattened cattle. Now everything’s ready. Come to the wedding party!”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went away—some to their fields, others to their businesses. 6 The rest of them grabbed his servants, abused them, and killed them. 7 “The king was angry. He sent his soldiers to destroy those murderers and set their city on fire.8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding party is prepared, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. 9 Therefore, go to the roads on the edge of town and invite everyone you find to the wedding party.’ 10 “Then those servants went to the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding party was full of guests. 11 Now when the king came in and saw the guests, he spotted a man who wasn’t wearing wedding clothes. 12 He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet and throw him out into the farthest darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.’ 14 “Many people are invited, but few people are chosen.” (Matthew 22:1-14, CEB)
Why was this man without a wedding garment? There are texts that say that the king provided wedding garments for the guests, so this person would have been given the proper clothing to wear when they arrived at the feast, so then why were they not wearing them? Maybe they didn’t think they needed to wear the clothing. Maybe they didn’t like the way it looked. Maybe they just believed they didn’t need it.
Is there anytime that we don’t wear the clothing God has given us?
God supplies us with garments to wear and yet we want to wear our own things. We want to do it our own way, and while God is a loving God, sometimes there is a need to wear the garment. Because God has so richly dressed us, we dishonor God by not wearing what God has provided. And while wearing it can not earn us a place in the banquet, we are already invited and accepted there, by not wearing it we can upset God.
And maybe these garments are not outward garments, but clothing of our hearts. Meaning we are here in the gathering but our hearts hold animosity and hatred for others and that is seen by God who knows that is not what we should be thinking and feeling.
How can we cloth our lives in the beautiful things God has given us and know that God loves us?
Surrender yourself and your life to God and allow God to cloth you and lead you. And love everyone and pray for them. So that all may know they are welcome at the banquet and have the beautiful garments waiting for them.
aSacredRebel 