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Post by Mark on Dec 20, 2009 5:05:55 GMT -8
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few [are] chosen.
(Matthew 22:11-14 KJV)
I've seen on bill-boards, heard it in songs and sermons, the invitation for anyone and everyone to "come as you are". Yet, this passage suggests that maybe there might be a requisite for entering into or participating in the Kingdom (the bridal feast) of God. Does anyone want to launch into this?
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Post by zionlion on Dec 20, 2009 10:20:32 GMT -8
The parable represents Elohim's offering of salvation to the gentiles when so many of His people Israel rejected His Son.
The man without a wedding garment represents someone who tries to get into the Kingdom but is not a believer in His Son.
There is a pre-requisite. One must be a sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd.
This would be my interpretation.
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Post by Mark on Dec 20, 2009 16:34:23 GMT -8
By what in the text do you use to determine that the "wedding clothes" represents acceptance of the king's son?
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Post by Mark on Dec 21, 2009 7:38:09 GMT -8
I'd like you to read through the context of this series of stories as they are a single message intended by the author to his readers. It starts in chapter 21 when Messiah comes into Jerusalem. First he reeks havoc (or from our perspective, restores order) in the Temple, overturning the money tables and chasing out the merchants. This isn't about accepting Yeshua as the Messiah, it's about living according to our own agendas, having our own priorities and doing our own thing, thinking that if it's good for us it must certainly be good for Adonai (after all, He loves us so much).
He reminds them that they rejected the Prophet John (because he was inconvenient for them) and He tells them a story of two sons, both rebellious; but one is repentant and the other deceptive. Both are inclined to go their own awy; but one, out of respect for the father, changes his way to be obedient, while the other thinks that he was been deceiving the father all along, and thus doesn't believe that there is any schism in the relationship.
The next story is culminated in the rejection and murder of the lord's son; but as a climax of the level of rebellion in the spirit of the husbandmen. The story is about the rebelliousness and self-will of the people, not about the redemption offered by the Son.
Then we come to the story of the marriage feast, where everyone who is originally invited reject the invitation. The king then reaches out and invites all the commoners of the land. The king singles out one man who was not dressed appropriately for being at a wedding feast. He had accepted the invitation. He was not hiding under the table and stealing the fruit. He was there legitimately, knowing that the invitation was open; but he came in hi street clothes. He said, "If the king is going to have me to his table, he's going to have to take me just the way that I am."
I believe that this phrase is directed specifically to the gentile church who has accepted the invitation to the Wedding Feast; but they beligerantly and arrogantly come in their street clothes, not willing to change their manners and customs to a standard acceptable to the Lord, God, the King of Israel.
It's easy to point fingers; but really, we all bear in us that inclination to say under our breaths, "The likes of me is good enough for the likes of God." We are prone to continue to do things our own way, the way we like them, the way that we are familiar and comfortable with, instead of realizing that stepping into the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords requires a change in our practices and methodology. It requires humility, something that the church, as the priesthood to whom Messiah was speaking, as the likes of me, does not allow ourselves to think that He has told us what it means to come in His presence through His Word, and we have dismissed it. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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Post by zionlion on Dec 21, 2009 11:05:01 GMT -8
If the parable is also a prophetic reference to the marriage supper of the Lamb, which it seems to be, then acceptance of the Son would be applicable. Remember that the parable is speaking of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Since the Lord doesn't explain why He mentions the man without the proper clothing, I would be hesitant to venture a guess.
But your explanation is certainly valid.
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and one ordinance for you and for the alien who sojourns with you. [Numbers 15:16]
