Will You Be Ready?
2. And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables, and said,
3. “The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a certain king, which held a marriage feast for his son,”
4. “And sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding: and they would not come.”
8. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is prepared, but those who were invited were not worthy.”
9. “You go therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, invite to the marriage feast.”
10. “So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.”
11. “When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which did not have on a wedding garment:”
12. “And he said to him, ‘how did you get in here without having a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.”
13. “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
14. “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:1-4, 8-14
Why Should You Be Ready?
Preparation is not only the key to opportunities in this life, but also the critical element in consideration for eternity. The questions arise: how to get prepared, when will eternity take place, and lastly, what will be our condition in eternity. When it comes to spiritual preparation, many have softened their views on the Return of Jesus Christ for His Church. Some believe that things will go on as they have in the past and so they don’t prepare. Some don’t believe that Jesus Christ is going to return so they scoff at the this view altogether. As a result, only a few are preparing for our Lord’s return. In this parable, Jesus points out that many are called, but few are chosen.
There are three things we learn from this parable that applies to believers preparing for the Return of Jesus. Make no mistake about it, this parable points to a future Heavenly celebration and people must be prepared. First, don’t ignore the announcement of Christ’s return. Second, watch for the signs of the wedding assembly. Lastly, wear the garment that God has assigned.
Don’t Ignore the Invitation.
Most of us ignore junk mail, whether it comes through the mailbox or the inbox on our computer. We don’t like and don’t read junk mail. We assume that someone wants to sell us something or wants to trick us into signing something that we will regret later. In this parable, the situation is different. The wedding celebration is totally free and has no strings attached except attendance. The event is totally paid for by the King and does not ask the guests to even bring a wedding gift. The wedding celebration is for the King’s son and the feast was announced well in advance. So, let’s get this straight. The King is throwing this huge wedding celebration, the guests are only required to attend. Even the clothes are furnished by the King. Attending the event would honor both the King and His Son. Why would anyone ignore the invitation?
Why would anyone ignore the invitation to have fellowship with Jesus Christ in this life? I don’t think there is any question that people want to go to Heaven, or is there? If we follow this parable, there were those “special guest” who ignored the King’s wedding invitation and it states their reasons. Some ignored because they were more concerned with farm interest. The others ignored because they were more interested in their business interest. It even says that some ignored the invitation and began to mistreat and kill some of the messengers as a result of their own personal interest. Ladies and gentlemen, if this is not a picture of the world today, I don’t know what is. It is reflection of people rejecting the Gospel because of money, fame, fortune, evil practices, and their own self-interest. The conclusion is simple. Some people have their own personal reasons as to why they reject the notion of Heaven because they are pre-occupied with their own agenda. If they decide to go to the wedding celebration, then they would have to follow the King’s rule and authority. Some would rather go to hell.
Notice what happened to those who rejected the King’s invitation. Matthew 22:7, When the King heard this, He was angry: and sent forth His armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city … then He said to His servants, “the wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.” What a picture of God rejecting those who rejected Him! If this parable demonstrates anything it is the fact that you cannot ignore God’s invitation and assume there are no consequences. The consequences will be fierce, and they will be final.
Watch for the Invitation.
Don’t assume for one moment that those who are willing to come to the wedding feast bear no responsibility. While we might dismiss the ones, who ignore the Gospel invitation as wicked and disinterested, believers should take warning. Have we become casual and cold to the Gospel message? Are some believers becoming disinterested and more concerned about worldly things? While there are a lot of people who profess to be Christians, they lack both fellowship and followship. The best way to respond to the King’s invitation is to watch.
According to the customs of those times. The wedding invitation was in three parts: there was the initial announcement, the invitation reminder, and the final invitation on the day of the celebration. If you recall the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, the final invitation could happen at any time. While the King sent out the invitation well in advance for people to plan, He did not set a time of day. The King would later send out servants to remind the people that the celebration was soon. Then on the day of the celebration, the servants would make the final announcement for the guests to come immediately. For that reason, it was imperative for those awaiting the final call to be prepared. Please note, there was no need to bring food, gifts, or garments because all those items would be provided by the King. Just have “oil in your vessel and light in your life.” Also note in today’s text, the servants went out on the day of the celebration into the highways and gathered as many as would come. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.” Here in this parable, we see the goodness and mercy of God to invite anyone who was willing to come. Isn’t that the great invitation of the Gospel? Whosoever will, let him come. Good or bad, rich or poor, it does not matter. All that matters is that people respond to the invitation.
Put On the Wedding Garment.
The good news is that the wedding celebration was furnished with guests just as the King had planned. There was not one vacant seat. Guests that had been bad were there in attendance. Guests that had been good, likewise were in attendance. It is also noteworthy to recognize that the King personally greeted each guest. What a great King who would take the time to greet everyone! Normally, a servant would announce the guest’s name, the King would nod His approval from a distance, and the guests would be seated. This is not the case with God. He knows everyone on the guest list as well as their background. No one will be able to say, he or she does not belong in Heaven on that day. God Himself has given approval for their presence. The dying thief will be there. The woman caught in adultery will be there. The murderer will be there. The only catch is that they must have on the wedding garment.
In the parable, someone did the unthinkable. They were given the wedding garment but did not put it on. “When the King came in to see the guests, He saw there a man which did not have on a wedding garment … “And He said to him, ‘how did you get in here without having a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.”
In the culture of that day, guests were to wear the garment provided. To wear something else was an insult to the King and a violation of His authority. Just to be clear, the garment, along with the food, and even the gifts were all provided by the King. Why would anyone come to the celebration dressed in their own attire? In the parable, the King wasted no time in pronouncing judgment on the offender. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” … “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The point is this. If God gives you a garment, you need to wear it. The application is critical to your going to Heaven. There are a lot of people wearing their own labels or garments to identify themselves. Some gang members wear garments to identify their membership to a certain gang. Big executives wear tailormade clothes to identify that they are business tycoons. Professionals and those in certain trades identify themselves by the garments and logos they display. Gay people wear gay clothes. Politicians have their garments and signets of identity. If they don’t wear garments, they wear titles. None of those things will matter when you get to Heaven. Please understand this. The King will accept you whether you are good or bad, but you will not enter His presence with your good or bad garments. Everybody has his garments of identity that they proudly display. You must change.
The fact is you can change. You don’t have to wear those old clothes. Drug addicts don’t need to wear druggy clothes. Lesbians don’t need to wear those old clothes. The Apostle Paul says, And such were some of you … but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11. You can change. The King will give you the change of garments, but you must change before the final invitation. The King said, many are called, but few are chosen. I don’t want to get all the way into the celebration to find out that I am wearing the wrong garment. As a matter of fact, I have already changed. If you want to know what garment I will wear on that day, it will be the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It will be the blood washed robe of His Grace. Think about it, if the wedding is for the King’s Son, don’t you think that the King will let you in, if you are dressed like His Son?
Here is how Jesus wants you and me to look when we show up on Celebration Day. John 17:22, Father the Glory which You gave Me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as We are one. I not only want to make it to the celebration, I want to look like Jesus on that Day. God bless.