Matt. 22:1-14
How many weddings have you attended? While preparing this devotional I did some quick math in my head and came up with seven. But no matter how many weddings you’ve been to over the years, I’ll bet you’ve never seen one like the one described in this story.
You might have been able to figure out the procedure by reading it, or maybe you’re familiar with it from other studies. When someone was getting married, they would send out the invitations months in advance. All of these people would've R.S.V.P’d originally that they were coming, but according to the story they dropped out with excuses at the last minute. Jesus apparently told multiple (but slightly different) versions of the story, since Luke records some pretty lame excuses in his Gospel’s telling. But Matthew’s telling, with special regard for his fellow Jews, has an implicit warning for what would happen in A.D. 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem after Israel rejected her Messiah. God has infinite mercy (when we repent) but limited patience in waiting for us to wake up.
Now why in the world was the king so miffed about the guest in non-approved attire? Well, no one at the wedding would've been dressed appropriately on his own, since they were all brought in off the street. So it looks like the king would've had to supply the clothes at the door, but this man somehow slipped in without availing himself of the offered gift. This is a wonderful picture of grace, by the way, since all of us in heaven will be there dressed in righteousness not our own. However, this is also a warning to all pseudo-believers: You will be found out. Abraham Lincoln said you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time. Well, you can fool God NONE of the time. You might think you can slip in without being exposed, but eventually the truth will come out.
But what about us, those who are trying to do the right thing? If I’m saved and trying to obey Christ, am I in this story? Of course you are, and you have a very important job: Inviting people to the wedding! You have an official appointing by the King to go to the “street corners” (wherever that is for you) and invite people to this. He wants all types of people there to celebrate the wedding of his Son, and he won’t be satisfied until his “wedding hall” is filled to the brim. There’s always room for one more!
Lord Jesus, may your joy be mine. It’s the delight of your soul to see people taken out of the darkness into the glorious light of celebration. What’s my part in all this?
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