DRESS FOR THE OCCASION 

MATTHEW 22:1-14 

          This is one of several parables taught by Jesus to explain the Kingdom of Heaven.  This particular parable relates to entrance into the Kingdom.  Verses 3 to seven relate to the Jews and the fact that they were originally the people who had covenant relationship with God.  But no matter what God did, the Jews continued to disobey sin against God and break their covenant vows.  In the parable, those who would be initially invited to the feast by a king would have been the wealthy, the religious and political leaders, the dignitaries, and others in the community who were thought to be important.  It is not stated why all those who were invited did not want to come.  But as the people rejected the king’s invitation so the Jews continue to reject God and his desire for relationship with them. 

          Verses 9 through 10 represent the calling of the Gentiles, those peoples of the world who did not originally have covenant relationship with God.  When the Jews rejected Jesus, they opened the door for the Gentiles to enter into relationship with God. 

ACTS 13:44 – 49

          On the previous Sabbath Paul had preached to many of these same Jewish leaders of the Synagogue and it seemed that they would receive the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.  However, when these Jews recognized that the great masses of people were showing up to hear what Paul and Barnabas had to say and that these people would no longer follow the Laws of Moses, they began to argue and contradict Paul, trying to cause confusion among the people. The Jews rejected the Gospel but the Gentiles received it gladly.  Like the poor, the beggars and outcast of Matthew 22, the Gentiles were excited about the invitation extended to them. 

MATTHEW 22:11 – 13

          To many this treatment of his guest might seem harsh.  We feeling sympathy for the man, think thoughts like, maybe he did not know what to wear or maybe he came in the best that he had.  Why would this king invite him and then punish him for coming without the proper clothing.  It seems mean of the king to behave in this way.  It would seem this way to us because there are customs of that day that we are not familiar with.  Recognizing that all who were invited to the festive occasion might not have the proper attire, the king made provision for them from his own extensive wardrobe.  It was considered a mark of honor to be allowed to receive and wear a garment that had been used by royalty.  So the king not only invited those who would have deemed themselves unfit for such an honor, but he honored them by providing them with the needed apparel from his own wardrobe.  So you see there was no reason for this man to be improperly dressed.

          Jesus ends this parable by saying that many are called but few are chosen.  This might lead one to think that God handpicks those who will enter the kingdom, but notice that only those who refused to come and those who showed up improperly dressed are the unchosen or those headed for destruction.  In our day, those who refused to come represent those who have no relationship with God and are not interested in building one.  They are the masses of unsaved that recognize that they are unsaved and choose to remain in that state.  Yes they are blinded and are being deceived, but even when offered the light they choose to remain in the dark.  They recognize that they are in the dark but do not wish to seek the light.  Those initially invited to the feast recognized the importance of the occasion and the honor that was being bestowed on them.  But, it did not matter to them.  The wishes of the king and the honor of the feast were secondary to their own desires.  God’s desire for relationship and the honor offered to man through relationship with God is secondary to the sinners desire to live as he chooses.

          The one who showed up improperly dressed represents those who want relationship with God, but only under their own terms.  This man wanted access to the feast but was not willing to accept the requirements for entrance.  He did not want to dress for the occasion.   This is that group of people who believe that God is exactly who he claims to be.  They believe in heaven and hell.  They can share the plan of salvation with you and sometimes know more about the Bible than most who are saved.  They want to go to heaven when they die.  They want to believe themselves to be a child of God.  But they are not saved.  With all of their knowledge, they will not accept the required conditions for relationship with God.  They want to set their own requirements.  They want to dress however they chose and still come to the party.  Meaning that they want to live however they want and still be allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven.  They want to come to the party, but not be required to dress for the occasion.  But like this improperly dressed beggar met a destructive end, so it will be for the man or woman who seeks to enter the kingdom of heaven having not met the requirements.  All who will enter heaven will be dressed for the occasion. 

EPHESIANS 4:20 – 32

          Those who will enter the kingdom of heaven are required to put off or strip themselves of their old lifestyle.  You see being saved is more than just words.  We must have actions to support our words.  We are to renew our minds or take on new attitudes, and actions that show a lifestyle of righteous and holy living.  As Christians we are to stop lying and tell only the truth.  We are to not let anger rule our actions.  We are to not make allowances for our flesh and not give an opportunity to the devil to draw us into sin.  We are to work and not steal or cheat.  We must watch what we say, and watch how we treat others.  We are to live in such a way that our lives will not bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit.  We must be particular in how we present ourselves because as Christians we represent God.  This list of attitudes and actions that must be put off and a new list that must be put on are repeated again in Colossians Chapter three.  Along with these two lists, the Bible teaches us to put on:

1.     The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness – Is 61:3

2.     The whole armor of God – Ephesians 6:11

3.     The armor of light – Romans 13:12

4.     The Lord Jesus Christ – Romans 13:14

To be clothed with a person signifies to take on the interest of another; to enter into his views and to be totally on his side, imitating him in all things.  I want to encourage all of us to look at our lives, see areas where we are imitating Jesus and strengthen those.  We should also submit areas where we are not imitating Jesus to the Holy Spirit that He might change us into the image of Christ from glory to glory.  If we are going to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be dressed for the occasion. 

What is the Occasion? Revelations 19:7-9 speaks of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  God is preparing a marriage feast for Jesus and we who are saved are the honored guest.  There we will be introduced live and in person to the savior of our souls.  This is a grand occasion for which we must be properly dressed.

          Also keep in mind that no one puts on fine, expensive, valuable clothes smelling musty or stinking.  Before dressing we bathe.  In this physical life we use water and soap.  In our spiritual lives we use the Word of God (Ephes. 5:25-26 - Christ gave himself for the Church that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word) and the Spirit of God (Titus 3:5 -     Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost).

          Normally, in the natural, after we Black people bathe, we put on lotion and perfume or cologne.  We want our skin to look good and smell good.  In the spiritual we want to put on the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  

HEBREWS 12:14

Finally, we put on clothing.  Our clothing in the spiritual is a life of holiness (2 Cor. 7:1; 2 Peter 3:11-14).

2 Corinthians 7:1

The promises spoken of here are recorded in 2 Cor. 6:16-18. There we see that God promises to live with us and walk in us. He promises to be our God and to accept us as his people. He promises to be a father to us. And because has made these great promises to us we are to cleanse ourselves from all sin and to walk in true holiness.

2 Peter 3:11-14

We are told here that because we recognize that this earth and this life are temporal and because we are looking for the coming of the New Heaven and the New Earth we should be living a holy and godly life style.

The marriage supper of the Lamb is coming.  Are you dressed for the occasion or will you be an unwelcome guest trying to enter the feast without being properly dressed. Will you be bathed in the Word of God and the Spirit of God?  Will you be smelling like the fruit of the Spirit?  Finally will you be decked out in true holiness?  For without the proper clothes you are headed for destruction.  For only those who are dressed for the occasion will enter into the banquet.