And he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Matthew 22:12
The foreman of a crew of workers building a new office building had assigned a young labourer to dig a trench for laying pipes under the floor. The young man got to work as the rest of the crew began work elsewhere on the project. A short time later, the building inspector entered the area where the young labourer was digging the trench. Because the weather was warm, the young man had tossed his jacket aside, and had set his hard hat on top of the jacket as he swung the pickax. The inspector fired the young man on the spot, for violating the policy that hard hats are to be worn at all times on construction sites. The young man had no appeal against the dismissal, any more than the wedding guest without the proper garment in today’s text.
Was the requirement for a wedding garment a little harsh? After all, this guest was a last-minute addition to the dinner because the invited guests had refused to come. Maybe this man had not been told that a wedding garment was necessary? No, those arguments don’t hold water, because the guests, as they arrived for the wedding, were issued the appropriate garments. Not putting on the garment was rejecting the king’s requirement. When it comes to the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb, God has one requirement for all the guests, the wearing of the wedding garment of righteousness. Scripture makes it plain that we are unable to make or obtain this garment by ourselves. The only way for us to receive this garment is for it to be provided to us by God Himself. When we were saved, we received the righteousness of the Lord Jesus. His salvation conferred this righteousness upon us such that, once received, it can never be taken away. With such a wedding garment, we are ready for a life of service and devotion to our Lord, and an eternity celebrating the presence of our Lord and Saviour.
As we look around us today, it is not always possible for us to detect those who have the wedding garment. There are times and places where the Christians are not discernible from those who are not. There are also times when the Christians act like those who are not. There are also times when those who are not Christians act as though they were. You and I can make mistakes in identifying the wearers of the wedding garment. But God cannot make such a mistake. The Lord knoweth them that are His (2 Timothy 2:19).
We should live to display the reality of the wedding garment of righteousness that we wear. But let us also rest in the assurance that any weakness on our part will not deprive us of that garment. -Jim MacIntosh