The 5 People at a Wedding

According to Jesus

It’s wedding season, so you know what that means. Fancy clothes, some awkward conversations, and the occasional unruly guest. We get a few stories and parables of weddings from Jesus. You have to imagine that in a day and age without a lot of the comforts and affluence we enjoy, weddings illustrated a place of enjoyment comfort, and happiness, and this is why they make a good illustration of what Heaven will be like.

In Matthew 22:1-14 you see Jesus say the kingdom of Heaven is like… and then go on to tell a parable.

To briefly summarize: A king invites a load of guests, but the guests say no and mistreat the king's messengers. The king then opens the invite to everyone, but when the wedding comes, a man is found at the wedding not wearing wedding clothes, and is thrown out.

The question I ask is, who is the man not wearing wedding clothes? Am I in danger of being this man and if not which guest in the story am I?

The King: This one is God. Easy. If you didn’t get this one you’re really lost. Spend more time reading your Bible.

The invited guests: These were the religious elite at the time. The Israelites who had been entrusted with the law but did not realize who Jesus was. The ones who mistreated the prophets, and believed righteousness was something they could attain on their own. They were invited but did not accept the invitation.

The street corner guests: The king then extends the invitation to everyone, and tells his messengers to go and grab people off the street corner and whoever they can find. That this is the good news! Your accomplishments or your status don’t get you your invitation. It is not rescinded, the RSVP has been sent out. John 14:7 Jesus says if you know me you know my father. We have been invited and are welcome when we accept the invitation. You don’t lose it if you mess up. Your salvation is assured in Christ Jesus.

No Wedding Clothes guest (name still in consideration): Why is this man thrown out, when everyone was invited? In many ways, what is said here reminds us of the infamous verse from Matthew 7, where Jesus says on that day many will say to me Lord Lord, and he will respond depart from me I never knew you. What I believe is being addressed in both cases, are people who claim to be a Christian, but in actuality do not know Christ. Isiah 61:10 says he has clothed me with garments of salvation and a Robe of Righteousness. Galatians 3:27 says we are clothed with Christ, and David says in the Psalms you have become my salvation. When we accept Jesus as our saviour we are clothed in his righteousness. We are no longer dressed in our own clothes (no matter how nice we think they are) our "wedding clothes“ are the garments of Christ. This guest came in trying to wear his own righteousness, not knowing Jesus, and thinking he was good enough. If we want to stay at the wedding, we need to be dressed for it. Put on your wedding clothes. You look nice in them.

The messengers: I had never before realized this character in the parable. The ones often mistreated, forgotten, and overlooked were overlooked by me. The messengers or servants are the ones found doing the work of the King! They are the ones going out and extending the invitation. They have a glimpse of how great this wedding will be and are on the street corners telling everyone. While we are not all called to street corners, we are all called somewhere. An office, a school, a sports team, a family. There are people who do not know about the wedding, let us tell them.

So which guest are you?

I pray this blessed you in some way. If you are interested in seeing more content like this and seeing it more frequently, please subscribe and let me know in the comments below.

God loves you,

Aodhan Williams