Woops… Forgot My Wedding Clothes
by Tyler Zach
Ever show up to a meeting, a wedding, a class, or some other event in which you were severely underdressed? What, business casual? What, a tie?
Well, one man found himself severely under-dressed and paid dearly for it. Matthew 22 tells the parable. This dude was invited to come to the wedding ceremony, but got the boot really quick.
We read: “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."
I’m sure the dude wasn’t naked. Couldn’t he have received a little grace? You know, since God is so loving and graceful? If we can forgive someone for not wearing a tie to a wedding, couldn’t have God, the King, forgiven this man for not wearing the “right” wedding clothes?
In this case, the answer is no, because this idea of “wedding clothes” has significant meaning within the Kingdom.
The clothes we wear have to do with the issues of the heart. Whichever set of clothes you have on represents a deep conviction about yourself and God.
The religious leaders of the day were pretty boys. Not in the sense that they were good looking, but that they tried really hard to look good. They would spend hours in front of a mirror trying on different robes and fixing their hair with expensive Hebrew gel.
They thought that their robes and other outward appearances would impress people… and ultimately impress God.
In Luke 20 we get a glimpse of this when Jesus says, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets… These will receive greater condemnation."
These types of people will be thrown out of the Kingdom some day just like the dude in the parable. So, what do we do? Where do we get the “right”eous wedding robes? Hint: Not at your local mall.
The only robe worth wearing to the wedding ceremony of all ceremonies someday will be the robe that Jesus gives us.
“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness…” - Isaiah 61:10
It’s pretty simple.
1) Repent of your own self-righteousness – this is taking off your robe.
2) Accept Jesus’ robe of righteousness – this is putting your trust in Him and in what He has done for you – namely - saving, redeeming, and restoring you from the time of the cross up until the present time.
Then and only then you will get on the guest list and stay on it. Some people might use the term “book of life” :)
Ever show up to a meeting, a wedding, a class, or some other event in which you were severely underdressed? What, business casual? What, a tie?
Well, one man found himself severely under-dressed and paid dearly for it. Matthew 22 tells the parable. This dude was invited to come to the wedding ceremony, but got the boot really quick.We read: “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."
I’m sure the dude wasn’t naked. Couldn’t he have received a little grace? You know, since God is so loving and graceful? If we can forgive someone for not wearing a tie to a wedding, couldn’t have God, the King, forgiven this man for not wearing the “right” wedding clothes?
In this case, the answer is no, because this idea of “wedding clothes” has significant meaning within the Kingdom.
The clothes we wear have to do with the issues of the heart. Whichever set of clothes you have on represents a deep conviction about yourself and God.
The religious leaders of the day were pretty boys. Not in the sense that they were good looking, but that they tried really hard to look good. They would spend hours in front of a mirror trying on different robes and fixing their hair with expensive Hebrew gel.
They thought that their robes and other outward appearances would impress people… and ultimately impress God.
In Luke 20 we get a glimpse of this when Jesus says, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets… These will receive greater condemnation."
These types of people will be thrown out of the Kingdom some day just like the dude in the parable. So, what do we do? Where do we get the “right”eous wedding robes? Hint: Not at your local mall.
The only robe worth wearing to the wedding ceremony of all ceremonies someday will be the robe that Jesus gives us.
“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness…” - Isaiah 61:10
It’s pretty simple.
1) Repent of your own self-righteousness – this is taking off your robe.
2) Accept Jesus’ robe of righteousness – this is putting your trust in Him and in what He has done for you – namely - saving, redeeming, and restoring you from the time of the cross up until the present time.
Then and only then you will get on the guest list and stay on it. Some people might use the term “book of life” :)
posted by Tyler Zach at 12:17 PM
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