The conclusion of the parable about the wedding feast is in
Matthew chapter 22 verses 11 through 14.
"And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a
man which had not on a wedding garment:
And he saith unto him, Friend, how earnest thou in hither not
having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and
take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are
chosen."
Dr. K.C. Pillai, in LIGHT THROUGH AN EASTERN WINDOW,
explains what awful breech of etiquette brought about the severe
penalty. According to Dr. Pillai, in the ancient orient when a
king's son was married, the wedding was not held at the bride's
home as was the case with common people. Instead it was held
at the palace. For the guests benefit, a robe with the royal seal
was sent to their home a day or two before the wedding. This
was done to guarantee that everyone would be properly attired.
It would be an unpardonable breach of etiquette to appear in
one's own wedding garment after having received the royal robe.
The man without the proper garment was mercifully allowed to
explain why he broke the rules, but remained silent. This
indicated that he had no explanation. He was not a foreigner. He
had received the garment. He knew the rules. He simply chose
not to wear it. Why?
Possibly because he did not believe there would be any
consequences for his disobedience. Maybe he felt his own
garment was better. Whatever the reason, when he had the
opportunity to explain to the king, his rationale fell short and he
knew there would be no acceptable excuse.
Because the man's guilt and disrespect for the king were
apparent he was quickly disposed of by the king's servants.
Throughout the Bible, God represents His righteousness as a
garment. See Zechariah 3:3-4 concerning the high priest Josua.
"Now Josua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before
the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood
before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him.
And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to
pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with a change of raiment."
It has always been God who has clothed man with
righteousness. Man has never, through his own work or logic,
been able to approach God's righteousness. See Isaiah 55:8-9.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts."
God has made known his will through biblical knowledge. When
biblical knowledge is adulterated or discarded and tradition is
installed in its place the result is disobedience, unrighteousness
and spiritual poverty. Jeremiah's warning to Israel likens their
forsaking of God's word to choosing a broken pot when a fresh
water fountain is available. Jeremiah 2:13:
"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken
me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns,
broken cisterns , that can hold no water."
Hosea also warns God's called people in Hosea 4:6.
"My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge: because thou
hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt
be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy
God, I will also forget thy children."
The apostle Paul, in Romans, declares that the Jews, through
ignorance, have tried to clothe themselves. In doing so they have
rejected the righteous garment that God would have given them.
See Romans 10:1-4.
"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that
they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a
zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being
ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish
their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto
the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth."
Israel, though called out by God and given the oracles of the law
for their own benefit, have largely rejected God's righteousness
by rejecting the very Messiah they sought and continue to seek.
The Messiah is Jesus Christ.
He is the incarnation of God's love and mercy. He is the Word of
God. The very Image of God. He is the lamb sacrificed from the
foundation of the world and worn as a garment by Adam and Eve
as they left Paradise.
He is the garment of atonement given to Josua, the high priest.
He is the royal garment of salvation and mercy worn by the
chosen at the wedding feast. See Isaiah 61:10 and 11.
"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my
God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he
hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a
bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride
adorneth herself with jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her
bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to
spring forth ; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and
praise to spring forth before all nations."
Happy are those few who will rejoice in the garments of
righteousness and salvation God will provide at the Resurrection
of the Just. Pity to the many who will find themselves bound
hand and foot and tossed into outer darkness (or worse).
Copyright Pete Lounsbury 1994
| Chapter 12 The Royal Wedding Garment |
