The Parable of the Wedding Banquet. "The Guest without a Wedding Robe is thrown out", 1712 copper engraving, by Caspar Luiken.
Matthew 22:1-14 - And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
This parable should make us all look very carefully at our lives. Very carefully!
Here's what I glean from this parable (note: I am not an expert, corrections welcome) :
- Christ is speaking of a future day, his second coming
- Christ sent out an invitation to his guests (Israel) but they refused to come.
- Therefore, Christ invites everyone who will come. (Gentiles, everyone who will come)
- Christ provided the guests with wedding garments. (Justification, the righteousness of Christ)
- There are those at the wedding (Wedding Crashers), who presume to belong at the banquet, but do not possess the proper attire. (they said Lord, Lord, with their mouths, but Christ, the Holy Spirit, was not with them. True regeneration has not occurred)
- Not having the proper attire (the effectual call, chosen, the elect), they are removed from the banquet, and thrown into hell.
This is a sobering parable. Being a devout atheist, and directly opposing God is one thing, but here we see those who believed they belonged, at the wedding feast, thrown out.
We must all ask ourselves a very important question: How can I know, for certain, that I am saved?
Please click the link above, and if necessary, do some careful soul searching.
