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?” And the man had no reply.
Matthew 22:11-12 (NLT)
This week’s lesson comes with a word of warning! If you only like to hear “feel good” messages, then stop reading right now because you won’t like this one. “Feel good” messages allow you to feel warm, cozy, and religious while you knowingly ignore God’s call for righteousness. If this describes you, then skip this lesson.
On the other hand, if you yearn to become closer to God and are willing to sacrifice your worldly desires for Him, then continue reading.
Our focus this week is on Matthew 22:1-14, the parable of the wedding feast. In this parable, Jesus tells us about a king who had prepared a great wedding feast for his son. Invitations were sent to many people; however, everyone who was initially invited, made excuses. They all refused to come to the celebration. Finally, the king extended invitations to everybody—both the good and the bad.
As customary in that day, the king provided wedding garments for the guest. However, one guest refused to wear the proper clothes. He may have been prideful and thought that he was above following custom, or maybe he didn’t sincerely want to be at the wedding. It doesn’t matter what his reason was. His refusal to wear the proper attire was an insult to both the king and the king’s son. Therefore, the king ordered that the man be seized, bound hand and foot, and thrown into utter darkness, where “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13).
Like the king in this parable, God has prepared a great wedding feast. The invitations have been sent and the wedding garments have been purchased. Do you plan on attending?
In order to attend this grand celebration, you must first put on the wedding garment. The required garment is a clothing of God’s righteousness, which is only possible through your faith in Jesus Christ. If you refuse to put on the proper attire (righteousness), you cannot come to the feast.
Righteous living is an unpopular teaching in our world today. Whether it is popular or not, it does not change God’s Word. “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). In order for you to enter in through Heaven’s gates and join in the wedding feast, you must put on a holy garment—one without spot or blemish (Ephesians 5:1-8, 27).
But how in the world can you put on (and keep on) a garment of righteousness when you are constantly surrounded by sin?
You can’t be righteous on your own power—it is impossible. However, God loves you and He provided the way that you can overcome sin. That way is through the blood sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.
Through Christ’s sacrifice, you can be reborn and empowered with the Spirit of God. When you are spiritually reborn, His Spirit begins teaching you how to resist evil temptations. He shows you how to become holy, and thus, He helps prepare you for the great wedding feast. All you have to do is surrender yourself to Him and obey. When you do this, you become clothed in His righteousness. “…walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
Is God’s Spirit currently dealing with you about something in your life? Are there any areas that He is asking you to clean up? No matter what it is, whether it is what you say, what you do, or what you hear, if God’s Spirit is trying to get you to stop some impure behavior, listen to Him. Let Him remove the spots from your filthy, worldly garment.
You have been invited to a great wedding celebration. Will you accept the invitation? Are you willing to put on the wedding garment?
Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
Psalm 15:1-2
Three Key Concepts:
1. A garment of righteousness is required for the heavenly wedding feast.
2. The wedding garment has already been purchased.
3. When you obey God’s Spirit, you become clothed in righteousness.
