A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET  

Matthew 22:11-12 “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.” (Read Matthew 22:1-14) 

The king invited many guests to a banquet honoring the marriage of his son. As hard as it is to believe, many of the invited chose not to attend, giving a variety of reasons why. The king was not going to be embarrassed so he sent his servants out into the streets to invite total strangers.   

Jesus’ parable was all about the gracious invitation of God the Father to the Jews to believe in His Son Jesus. As you know, many, many in unbelief and denial decline the Father’s invitation. So, He then extended His invitation to Gentiles. Many accepted. One in particular accepted, but for whatever reason chose to decline wearing proper wedding attire. Since the Father, by tradition provided that attire, all the man had to do was put it on.   

In this parable the garment provided by the Father to all the guests “ . . . signifies the righteousness of God, which covers our sin.” The parable pictures a man wanting to be acceptable to God by his own way rather than the way the Father provided. “ I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10)    Through Jesus your heavenly Father provides you with a “robe of righteousness.” Thus John’s vision into heaven, “Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)   Prayer: Thank You, heavenly Father, for providing me my wedding garment through Your Son Jesus. In His holy name. Amen.  

A multitude comes from the east and the west  
To sit at the feast of salvation  
With Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the blest,  
Obeying the Lord’s invitation.  

Refrain: Have mercy upon us, O Jesus! 

O God, let us hear when our Shepherd shall call  
In accents persuasive and tender,  
That while there is time we make haste, one and all,  
And find Him, our mighty defender. Refrain: 

All trials shall be like a dream that is past,  
Forgotten all trouble and mourning.  
All questions and doubts have been answered at last,  
When rises the light of that morning. Refrain: 

The heavaens shall ring with an anthem more grand  
Than ever on earth was recorded.  
The blest of the Lord shall receive at His hand  
The crown to the victors awarded. Refrain:  

A Multitude Comes from the East and the West // LSB 510