Wedding Party Clothes

Choose what you put on wisely.

If we’re honest, this is probably one of Jesus’ most difficult parables. Jesus is doubling down on the religious leaders from yesterday. But he takes it further in this parable. The conclusion he shares is easy enough (“Many people are invited, but few are chosen.”). But some of the details within might seem opposing to the Christ we’ve come to know.

Carefully consider the details of the parable in light of Jesus’ own summation. Who are the few in the parable? Who is the “fewest”? Who holds the power in the parable? Who holds it rightly? Who looks most like Jesus in the parable? Is it possible that the parable is told backwards? …that the hero emerges in the end and not the beginning?

(It might be helpful to know that the first verse reads like, “The kingdom of the heavens was likened to a man, a king…”.)

Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus responded by speaking again in parables: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding party for his son. He sent his servants to call those invited to the wedding party. But they didn’t want to come. Again he sent other servants and said to them, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look, the meal is all prepared. I’ve butchered the oxen and the fattened cattle. Now everything’s ready. Come to the wedding party!”’ But they paid no attention and went away—some to their fields, others to their businesses. The rest of them grabbed his servants, abused them, and killed them.

“The king was angry. He sent his soldiers to destroy those murderers and set their city on fire. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding party is prepared, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. Therefore, go to the roads on the edge of town and invite everyone you find to the wedding party.’

“Then those servants went to the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding party was full of guests. Now when the king came in and saw the guests, he spotted a man who wasn’t wearing wedding clothes. He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he was speechless. Then the king said to his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet and throw him out into the farthest darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.’

“Many people are invited, but few people are chosen.”

Prayer

God,

You have invited all people to rejoice in the goodness of your love.

Help us to be hospitable to all people at your banquet, so that all might receive your blessing.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.