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Dressed for The Wedding - Matthew 22:1-14
Dressed for The Wedding - Matthew 22:1-14
The wedding was planned and the invitations sent. When the event arrived, many simply chose not to attend. They made whatever excuse they wanted. Mark Twain once commented that “any excuse will do if you don’t want to do something”, and such idea is prominently on display in this parable.
The King then invites everyone who will to come and attend. Many came. Upon seeing one attendee who was not dressed appropriately, the king had him severely punished.
In trying to understand the application of this parable, the first part seems evident. Jesus came and was rejected by most of the Jewish people. Upon such the wrath of God comes. To reject the Son of God is to be condemned to suffer the wrath of God (Mark 16:16; etc.).
The second part of this parable gives a twist to the story that most religious people today refuse to acknowledge. The invitation has been expanded unto ‘as many as you find’. The wedding hall is filled with those who have come.
The invitation is freely given. Those invited were NOT invited ‘because they were ‘worthy’ but out of the good pleasure of the King. YET, they were expected to honor the king by being dressed in ‘wedding clothes’. My understanding of the wedding feasts that Jesus here speaks of included the idea that the host provided all such guests with both food AND clothing. This removes any problem of such guests not being able to afford such proper attire. They were expected to make use of what was provided. A failure to be attired properly then was simply an unwillingness to honor the King and His son.
It is this last section that seems to have application unto us today. We have been invited to partake of this great feast. God has out of his goodness, mercy, and graciousness provided not only the feast but also that which is necessary for us.
This is not about clothes, but character. We are to be clothed in garments of holiness (cp. Ps. 29:2; 110:3). We are to put on Christ and make no provision for the flesh (Rom. 13:14. We are to be "renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph. 4:23-24). We are to grow in sanctification in that we are to put away from our lives that which is sinful and unholy.
Paul would write: "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Peter would write: "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Pet. 1:14-16).
The Hebrew writer would write: "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
We have come to the wedding feast of the King, but are we dressed for it?
Hugh DeLong
