The Wedding Banquet
“‘So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.’”
Today’s Text: Matthew 22:1-14 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
The New Testament is basically eschatological in nature. In other words, the teachings of the New Testament, the Gospels in particular, focus on revealing and preparing us for the end times and the return of Christ.
The parable of the wedding banquet is explicitly about the end times. And in part, the lesson that it teaches us is that, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to go out and gather as many as we can to the “wedding banquet.” Those who refuse to come will be swept up in God’s judgment.
The “banquet hall” is, of course, basically a metaphor for the church. The character of those whom we invite is less of an issue. Those who are “not wearing wedding clothes” are those who attend church but don’t truly believe. If they truly believed, they would have understood the implications of that belief, and they would have lived their lives accordingly—that is, in obedience.
Sometimes, however, we misunderstand what it means to be “watchmen” or “gatekeepers” of the kingdom of God (Ezekiel 3:17).
It is not necessarily our job, as servants of Christ, to sort out those who truly believe the gospel from those who don’t. Ultimately, we are in no position to judge regarding someone’s salvation. To claim that we are in such a position is to put ourselves in God’s shoes.
However, it is our job to teach the word of God and to keep people accountable to the teachings of the word of God—to be disciples and make disciples. In the end, the Lord Himself will sort out those who ultimately belong at the “wedding banquet” and those who do not.
But the primary message for us is that we ourselves ought to be properly dressed in “wedding clothes” when Jesus returns. That is, because Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we must live our lives in keeping with the gospel of Jesus Christ, the word of God.
In particular, if the fact of Jesus Christ returning is not shaping our worldview and the priorities of our lives, can we say that we will be “dressed in wedding clothes” when Jesus suddenly comes?
Many churchgoers don’t like hearing any lesson from the word of God that implies that their worldview and priorities are off. They feel like they are being judged and condemned. But I have received a dire warning from God, myself:
“‘But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’”
— Ezekiel 33:6
I don’t want to offend anyone. But at the risk of offending some, I’d rather not offend God!
Father, You are mercy. You have extended Your mercy from the beginning of time to today. Your mercy is that You have warned us of the coming day of the Lord. If you had not warned us, You would not be merciful. But You did warn us. Thank You. But give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand, and wisdom to receive Your mercy. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
