PUT
ON THE WEDDING GARMENT
“...For
the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And it
was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the
fine linen is the righteousness of saints” – Revelation 19:7b-8
(KJV).
Wedding is usually characterised by a
sense of joy, honour and beauty. It usually involves long and intensive
preparation which may be stressful to especially the prospective couple. One aspect
of wedding preparation that both the prospective couple and invited guests take
much interest in is the garments to wear. While the prospective couple,
especially the bride, looks forward to put on their best garment; a number of
the invited guests concern themselves with wearing garments that befit the wedding
ceremony or its decorative colours. When it comes to weddings, prospective couples
and attendees are mindful of the garments they wear.
In Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus narrated a
parable that demonstrates the necessity of wearing the right garment for a wedding
ceremony. In that parable, a king sent his servants to invite some specific
people to attend the wedding ceremony of his son. “...Tell them...I have
prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are
ready: come unto the marriage” (v.4). Notwithstanding, the said invited guests
gave different forms of excuses, spitted the king’s servants and dishonoured
the invitation. The king subsequently commanded his servants, “Go ye therefore
into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage” (v.9).
The servants thus gathered as many guests (good and bad) as they could to
attend the wedding. However, when the
king came to see the guests, he noticed that one of the guests “had not (put)
on a wedding garment” (v.11). Because of this, the king commanded his servants
to bind that guest and cast him into “outer darkness,” a place of weeping and
gnashing of teeth (hell), which they did.
Why was the king so particular about
wedding garments? After all, all he needed was guests who were desirous to
attend his son’s wedding ceremony. Besides, the guests who attended the
ceremony were gathered from the highways. Perhaps, the man who did not wear a
wedding garment did not have enough time to prepare towards the ceremony.
However, the fact that that man was the only guest who did not put on a wedding
garment may mean that there was a great possibility of getting one if he did
what was required. Like the parable of the five foolish virgins, this man
probably failed to prepare for the wedding; he just attended it. Whatever might
be the case, the king was not just interested in any guest; he needed guests
who had their wedding garments on. “For many are called, but few are chosen”
(v.14).
The wedding garment in the parable
above signifies righteousness and purity of followers of Jesus (Revelation 19:7-9).
Purity denotes holiness which demands setting oneself apart unto God and for
His use. It also means being different from worldly people, refusing to conform
to the standards of this world and conforming only to God’s word (Romans
12:1-2). Holiness also calls for being at peace with God and people (Hebrews
12:14). For Rev. Dr Selwyn Hughes, “...God’s primary concern is that we might
become holy...the holier we are the happier we will be.” The guests who
attended the wedding did not qualify
to attend it because they were only invited after the initial guests
dishonoured the wedding invitation. They therefore attended it by God’s grace. All followers of Jesus have been
saved just by the grace of God. But that grace requires us to put on the garment
of purity and righteousness. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” - Titus
2:11-12.
Like the above parable, God at the
end of this age will organise a marriage supper for Jesus and the church which
is the bride (Revelation 19:7-9). Only
guests who have the garments of purity on will be called to attend the marriage
ceremony. This means that only followers of Jesus (Christians) who continue to
walk in purity and righteousness according to God’s word will partake in Jesus’
wedding ceremony, which will crown the end of this age. Have you put on the
garment? Remember, those who do not put on the garment will be cast into the
hell fire! Be ready for the wedding of the Lamb of God (Jesus). Put on the
wedding garment for without holiness no one can see God (Matthew 5:8; Hebrews
12:14).
Richard
Obeng Mensah, author of Daily Wisdom
Blog:
www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com Email:
richardobengmensah@gmail.com
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