The man wearing the wrong clothes

This section of Scripture reminded me of how our normal wedding ceremonies are conducted. The invited guests all assemble at the wedding venue and then sit/stand together waiting for the bride to arrive. The groom and his attendants normally stand in front of everybody, nervously searching for the bride as well, and as such have a very good view of all the guests gathered before them.

And in this story, our King also came before the proceedings started and looked at those who had been invited and who had accepted the invitation, when He noticed the gate crasher among them.

There is an Old Testament parallel to this:  Zep 1:7, 8 Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. “On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes.”

What are these wedding clothes mentioned above?

Isaiah 61:10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.

Rom 13:14 “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Even the disciples of Jesus had to be accountable for what they did with their invitations – Judas was called “Friend” by Jesus in Matt 26:50 and look how he turned out. Not everyone who accepts the invitation does so from the sincerity of their own hearts (maybe they accept Jesus because of peer pressure, or because their parents expect it). They may do so in inappropriate ways (maybe holding on to false beliefs like keeping idols to worship as well). Or maybe they are not doing this with the seriousness that it deserves (and therefore they just carry on with their lives as if nothing has changed).

Matthew 22:12 “He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.” 

There was nothing that this man could offer to excuse his behaviour. He had known that special wedding clothes were required by the King but had decided to follow his own preconceived ideas and beliefs, instead of bringing honour to the King and fulfilling HIS requirements. In his life he had followed the notion that he was “free” and as such, could do as he, and he alone, had decided was valid. His life choices therefore did not line up with his position as a child of God.

Points to ponder:  Do you follow Jesus because you love Him, and only because you love Him? Do you live a life of thankfulness towards Him? Has repentance become a lifestyle?