Get dressed! By Aije Barnes, October 4, Issue 2 Vol 4

'For many are called, but few are chosen.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭14‬ NLT)

 

Jesus gave this parable saying:

 

“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭2-13‬ NLT).

I have often wondered how the man who did not wear his wedding clothes got into the wedding banquet hall? I guess the servants who invited him did not notice because they invited or called, both good and bad alike but the King who sent out the invitation knew exactly who was dressed for the occasion. 

 

Being called is great but being chosen is much better. The man without his wedding clothes was called and came but he was not worthy to be chosen because he was not dressed. He was chucked out, yes with his hands and feet bound and thrown right out of the wedding banquet into outer darkness!!!

 

What are the wedding clothes? Why are they so important? It meant so much in the parable above, so it is wise to find out what there are, so that we will not be like that unwise man. Did you notice that when he was asked, he could not even give a reply? I guess this is because frankly there was nothing to say. Lets see why:

 

Below is a similar occasion described in the book of Revelations. Here, it explains what the wedding garment is:

 

'Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself. [Ps. 118:24.] She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white–for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God's holy people). Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down: Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those who are summoned (invited, called) to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me [further], These are the true words (the genuine and exact declarations) of God. (‭Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭7-9‬ AMP)

 

This could not be any clearer! 

 

The man's life in Jesus' parable did not represent the righteousness (upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) expected from a child of God. 

 

Let us, like this Bride above (and yes it is meant to be us), get ourselves ready. 

The bible says:

 

'For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ NLT)'

And Jesus said:

 

'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ KJV)'

 

So, let us get dressed!

 

Shalom