Matthew 22:1-14
A few weeks ago, my wife and I attended one of my co-workers’ wedding. They provided the venue, food, and even a chauffeur to drive us from the parking lot to the main hall. The only rule we were expected to follow was to not wear white because that was reserved for the bride. Even if we wanted to dress in white, how inconsiderate would it have been to disregard their wishes in order to satisfy our own? Considering all that they had provided us with during the occasion, following the dress code was the least we could do. In Matthew chapter 22:1-14 there is a parable that has to do with a wedding. The parable includes three important factors: the invitation offered, the invitation received or declined and the conditions of attending.
The Invitation Offered
In verses 1-4 the king sends the invitation to those he wanted to attend. “Tell those who are invited to see that I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatted cattle are killed and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” Verse 4. An invitation to a wedding is an opportunity to share in a moment that has been, in many cases, anticipated for a long time. Since accommodations are limited, special effort is invested in deciding who would be invited. The Almighty, represented as the king in the parable, has issued the invitation to all humanity to join in the marriage of the Son of God and His church (bride). The point is made clear that He has made all things ready for us to attend but the choice is ours. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20. And “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. The key to open the door is provided to us by the One who is knocking. When we are told “come to Me” the path and direction is made plain before us by the one doing the inviting. Otherwise, we wouldn’t know which direction to turn in order to find Him. As the king in the parable, God has assumed the responsibility of doing the heavy lifting needed to arrange the ceremony.
The Invitation Rejected
In verses 5-9 it’s recorded that the invitation was rejected by the first group and accepted by the second. Jesus wasn’t one to miss a teaching moment. The rebuke was to the Jewish people who had been given continuous chances to be healed from the sickness of sin. In the past, God sent prophet after prophet to give the invitation but it was rejected. In some cases, the prophets were thrown in prison and even killed. All in an effort to keep them from interrupting the affairs of the people. Luke 13:34 tells of Jesus’ lament over the people of Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! “In verse five of the parable we’re told, “But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.” Although this was referring to the Jews it applies to us today. Is there anything that has our will so bound that we cannot give it over to the Lord? Is our time so occupied that we are not available to pray? Has fellowship and sharing with others become an afterthought? We each have a soul that needs to be healed (saved) and tending to its welfare is our first business. Yet how often we reject the invitation of mercy with its eternal benefits for the temporal affairs that are evaporating before our eyes. Regardless of where we are, God is inviting us to move forward into a more complete submission to the light that He has allowed to shine upon our path.
The Conditions for Attending
The remainder of the parable, verses 10-14, makes it clear that showing up to the wedding was not enough. The king had set the rules and provided the garments expected to be worn. All the attendees had to do was use what was given to them. According to verse 11: “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.” There was an inspection conducted by the king and there is an inspection being conducted now. 1 Peter 4:17 states, in part, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God…” We each are being inspected during the character-building time of our lives but especially those who profess to be followers of the Lord. This particular guest could’ve rejected the invitation, but he didn’t. Nonetheless, he attended on his own terms. Like the offering of Cain, his efforts were rejected. God does not lower His expectations and it’s for our own good. To give up the sin-stained attire that is natural (even comfortable) for us to wear we need to better understand the true nature of evil. Only then will we see the beauty in complying with His requirements and trusting in His methods.
Conclusion
Like Adam after he ate from the tree, this guest wore the garment of his own design. How can we relate to this? How are we attempting to cover ourselves with our own works versus accepting the righteous covering of God? This is the deciding factor between eternal life and eternal death. Humble faith (trust, dependence) is the key to being pleasing to the Lord. As Abraham realized according to Genesis 22:14, we can rest assured that Jehovah Jirah is the God who provides for all our needs including the needs of our final salvation,