September 3rd

September 3rd -- Matthew 22:1-14

Read the parable, please!

Admittedly, when I first read this passage, I just sort of sat there at first shaking my head like "Uhm... wait... what?" I was more than a little confused. Haha. THANK GOODNESS FOR STUDY BIBLES. Lo and behold, there is a nice little explanation of the parable as well as an additional note on the meaning behind the guest without wedding clothes. So, for anyone who doesn't have a study Bible... get one...haha... but for now I'll explain it.

In this parable, the guests invited and brought in would be all of us. The king in the story represents God. In my opinion, Jesus as well as the prophets and anyone else in modern ministry would represent the servants who were sent to invite guests. The wedding feast is salvation, or heaven, or an eternity on the new earth, once God has turned it into the City of God. I say that those in ministry (as well as Jesus and the prophets, obviously) are like the servants sent to invite guests because they are the ones who typically invite us into a relationship with God, being the same idea as the servants inviting the guests to the banquet. Just like the servants who were killed, many of those who are calling people to God will face hatred from this world, and like the murderers of the servants, those in this world who show the hatred to God's children will be punished for it. So, where does the wedding clothes stuff come in? Well, the king was holding a wedding feast. When guests came, they were the be given what was known as wedding clothes. If a guest refused, it was dishonoring to the one who invited them, as it gave the idea that they didn't want to take part in celebrating the wedding, or they were simply too prideful to accept them, thinking their clothes were fine. Sometimes, when we come into a relationship with God, we forget to "change clothes". I'm obviously talking about metaphorical clothes. You could, if you wanted to, think of it as the armor of the Holy Spirit (from the helmet of salvation right down to the boots of peace). However, I do mean it even more figuratively than that. I mean are you "clothing" yourself in selfishness or selflessness? Are you "clothing" yourself in love or hate? Sometimes, people try and get into Heaven but won't wear the right "clothes" - you think what you had on before was good enough, but if you won't change, you will be thrown out. See, the ticket to Heaven isn't belief in God - even the devil believes in God. The ticket to Heaven is obeying His commandments and living for Him - or, taking part in the life He wants for you to have, like the guests took part in the wedding feast.

So, what spiritual clothes are you wearing? Are they the ones God wants you to be, or should you be looking to get some of those on?

Think on it! God bless! Shalom!