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One day, Jesus and the disciples went to the temple. The chief priests and Pharisees confronted Jesus as He began to teach. He began telling them The Parable of the Wedding Feast…

“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son.” (Matt. 22:2 NKJV) He went on to tell how the king sent out invitations but, when he sent his servants to tell the people that the banquet was ready, they refused to come.

So, the king ordered his servants into the highways to invite everyone they could find. These accepted the invitation, came to the wedding, and filled up the hall.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matt. 22:11-13 NKJV)

This man was not wearing the garment provided for him. He presumptuously entered in his own attire, without honor for the king.

The custom of many countries in biblical days was to wear long, white robes at weddings and other occasions. Those having wealth, and especially royalty, made every provision for those invited to a wedding, which included the furnishing of wedding garments.

Refusing to accept or wear one of these garments was not only the highest insult and disrespect, but, in some countries, also worthy of punishment.

God has provided and honored us with our wedding garments, as Isaiah said, “He clothed me with garments of salvation; He put on me the robe of righteousness, even as a bridegroom is adorned with his ornament, and as the bride wears her jewels.”

The acceptable wedding garment cannot be purchased; it is given only as a gift. The King has generously provided each one of us with the wedding garment of righteousness and holiness through His Son Jesus. We cannot enter the wedding feast without it.

The writer of Hebrews tells us to “seek to live a clean and holy life, for one who is not holy will not see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14 TLB)

*Do we insult the Father by wearing our own garment of self-sufficiency rather than the one He has given us?
*Do we live a clean and holy life, keeping our wedding garment spotless?
*Are we dressed properly?