THE IMPORTANCE OF A WEDDING GARMENT

In Matthew 21 & 22, Jesus was teaching in the Temple, and when the Chief Priests and the Pharisees challenged His right to teach, Jesus spoke to them in parables (Mt. 21:28-45).  Those questioning His authority to preach, "perceived that He spoke of them."  He continued in Matthew 22:1-14; where Jesus taught "the Parable of the Wedding Garment."  In it, He tells of a guest who was not wearing a "wedding garment" (Mt. 22:11).  The King's reaction begs the question, "What is a proper "wedding garment?"  I believe the answer is found in the following verses.

The "wedding garment" is the man's righteousness:  "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" (Rev. 19:7-8).

But God's Word says, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom. 3:10)!  And in Isaiah 64:6, we read:  "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags...."

The explanation of how an unrighteous person becomes righteous is stated in Job 33:26:  "He shall pray unto God, and He will be favorable unto Him: and he shall see His face with joy:  for He will render unto man His righteousness."

And in Isaiah 64:10, we read:  "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 her jewels."

But how can a righteous, Holy God justify declaring an unrighteous man to be righteous?  After all, the Word says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23), and it also says:  "The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23)! 

Praise God, Romans 6:23 does not end there; it continues saying, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Yes, the answer is found in the love of God; John 3:16-17 says:  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."  You see, God "... hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21)!

 

IF YOU WANT TO BE PRESENT AT CHRIST'S WEDDING, YOU MUST HUMBLE YOURSELF AND ACCEPT THE FREE GIFT OF THE WEDDING GARMENT!