The PassionSample

When I was younger, I tried to get into a fancy club wearing a baseball cap. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t get through security! Certain events and circumstances require appropriate attire.

Even so, the end to the Parable of the Wedding Feast is somewhat shocking. In the face of the rejection of the original invitees, the King graciously sends his messengers into the streets to invite anyone who could be found—good and bad—to the wedding feast for his son. An initial reading might suggest that the invitation to the “bad” shows that, regardless of a person’s wickedness or sinfulness, all are welcome. And while that is certainly true, this doesn’t alleviate the requirement for all guests to be in the appropriate attire.

That might seem like an unfair requirement: could the king really expect those who received the last-minute invitations to have the appropriate dress ready to go?

Interestingly, in those days, Kings would often provide their guests with the appropriate attire for their feasts. The person found without the proper garments, then, is not merely ill-prepared, but has rejected the gracious provision of the King.

This is both a warning and incredibly good news. Just being ‘in the room’ doesn’t mean you’re ‘in the Kingdom.’ Being truly in the Kingdom requires you to be clothed in righteousness, and without perfect righteousness, you will be cast out and judged. But the incredibly good news is that the King provides the clothing for you—for those who trust in Christ are clothed in His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) says: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Today, ponder this: Have you repented of your sin, placed your faith in Christ, and now live being clothed in the righteousness of Christ? Or are you just ‘in the room’: attending church and enjoying the benefits of being part of the community, but still wearing your old garments? What would it look like for you to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ?