
Episode #1837
Matthew 22:11
Thursday, 20 August 2026 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. Matthew 22:11 “Having entered, also, the king, to view those reclining, he beheld there – man, not ‘having been donned, apparel, nuptial’.” (CG) In the previous verse, Jesus continued the parable, noting that the king’s servants went to the roads and gathered as many as they found, both evil and good, filling the nuptial. He next says, “Having entered, also, the king, to view those reclining.” The verb theaomai, to look closely at, is used. It is as if gazing at a spectacle. As seen previously, it is the root of théatron, a spectacle in a theater, something one carefully sees and contemplates. The king is pleased to look upon his guests and see them all acceptably ready for the event. However, it next says, “he beheld there – man, not ‘having been donned, apparel, nuptial’.” The eye of the king, while looking over the theater of humanity who have been invited from all areas, lights upon a single man who is not appropriately attired. Many commentators refer to ancient customs where those attending weddings were given special garments by the one inviting in order to identify them as members of the wedding party. A list of verses from the Bible is given, none of which prove this was a universal custom. Despite that, it seems logical that this is the case here, not because it was standard custom, but because of who was invited, meaning everyone they could find, including both evil and good. It would be unlikely that the poor would have a particular garment identifiable to a king at a wedding. Hence, as the invitation was accepted, for the sake of the parable, a garment identifiable to him would be issued. That is referred to by Jesus in Revelation – “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5 Although referring to a different group in Revelation 19, the same metaphor is clearly explained there – “And it was given to her that she should be clothed – ‘fine linen, pure, and radiant’. The ‘because’ fine linen: the ‘righteousnesses, the saints’ it is.” Revelation 19:8 (CG). Although one might ask, “How could someone get into the wedding banquet if this is referring to a time after the rapture?” Such a supposition would mean that God made a mistake in rapturing someone who wasn’t worthy. That is not the point. A single man is identified out of the seemingly endless number of people there. Thus, the point is one of limitation. Not a single person who does not possess the righteousnesses of Christ will be accepted. Thus, the meaning is that one will not be accepted because of wealth, status, culture, intelligence, or any other reason than the imputation of righteousness from Jesus to the individual. Therefore, the “man, not ‘having been donned, apparel, nuptial’,” is an advanced warning that if one has not called on Christ, he is not worthy of participating in His wedding feast. As the parable is spoken to the people of Israel who are under the law, Jesus is telling them, quite plainly, that they will no longer be a part of. what God is doing. The burning of the city, the rejection of their supposed worthiness, and the calling of all others is the highlight of this verse, summed up in the man’s not wearing the appropriate attire. It is a truth that extends to all in the future, but the focus is on Israel and the law at this time. Only in coming to Christ is one acceptable before the Father. Life application: Those in Israel who were determined to hang their proverbial salvation hat on Moses would never the righteousness of Christ. Original sin blocked them from being qualified, and sinning under the law marked them as incapable of overriding the fallen nature of Adam. This is what law does. It puts up a barrier between God and man. And more, in pursuing the law instead of resting in Christ’s righteousness, pride is revealed. That only puts a greater barrier between the two. It is a barrier that cannot be breached but which must be removed entirely. In Romans 8, Paul writes of the law of the Spirit (trust in Christ) being opposed to the law of sin and death (living under the Law of Moses). He sums up that thought, saying, “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). If you are trusting in adherence to the Law of Moses, you are not pleasing to God. You are an affront to Him. He has given us the way of righteousness by sending His Son to do what deeds of the law could never do. Trust in Christ, give up your arrogance of law observance, and be reconciled to God before it is too late. O God, how foolish we are if we think we can do better than what You have done in the sending of Jesus. May we trust in His merits alone to obtain our garments of righteousness. Thank You that they are attainable through what He did for us! Amen.

