Dear Family and Friends,

Do you dress up for weddings?

I suspect we all do out of respect for the bride and groom. It’s our way of honoring the couple on their special day.

And just as it is today, it was customary for people in Jesus’ day to dress up for weddings.

All the guests were ‘expected’ to dress in a simple nondescript robe provided by the host. 

As we continue to prepare our hearts for Easter, let’s look at a parable from Tuesday of Passion Week that dealt with this very topic.

“Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.’

But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬,11-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever wondered why not wearing wedding clothes was such a big deal? Didn’t the punishment seem rather harsh for the faux pas?

The following passage best describes the true meaning of the parable and the wedding clothes.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’

And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.’”  ‭‭
Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The wedding clothes represent the covering of righteousness provided by Jesus our Savior.

The man’s refusal to wear the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness (see Isaiah 61:10), and his choice to enter the banquet hall in his ‘polluted garment’ (see Isaiah 64:6) signified his rejection of Jesus.

Because he rejected the wedding clothes, Jesus declared the man and the religious leaders to be self-righteous. 

But did you notice that we will all dress alike one day? “For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22-23 ESV

Yet those who are self-righteous feel they are better than others. That they can attain righteousness on their own. That they don’t need Jesus. 

Or so they think…

I gave myself a little test the other morning – to see if I could go a whole day without sinning.

I failed my self-righteous test within the hour…and I’m embarrassed to say I kept failing…

The Apostle Paul failed as well.

“For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭18-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I encourage you to try doing the same this week.

Don’t cheat. Don’t rationalize. Be honest with yourself.

If you’re true to yourself you will be humbled. And your appreciation for Jesus will grow.

A well known preacher once said, “Christianity is not about us leading a righteous life and offering it to God. It’s about His Son leading a righteous life and offering it to us.”

Therefore if you ever feel the urge to think, look or act religious in front of others, stop. Let’s not be like the Pharisees.

Let’s instead simply accept that we are sinners who need Jesus. 

His righteousness is more than we need — and deserve.

In love always,