The Bride of Christ and Her Wedding Garment

But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:11-14)

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The Church is the Bride of Christ. One scripture where this is made known is (Revelation 19:7-9). No doubt most people who are professing Christians are aware of this fact. Or perhaps, have heard this stated before.

But what kind of a bride has Christ taken for himself? What are some good adjectives that describes this bride?

… a loving bride?

… a joyful bride?

… a peaceful bride?

… a patient bride?

… a kind bride?

… a good bride?

… a faithful bride?

… a gentle bride?

… a self-controlled bride?

How about some that are not so positive.

… a sexual immoral bride?

… a lustful bride?

… a sensual bride?

… an idolatrous bride?

… a prideful bride?

… a jealous bride?

… an angry bride?

… a divisive bride?

… an envious bride?

… a drunken bride?

… a materialistic and covetous bride?

I would like for us, to take a minute and look at the parable of the Marriage of the Kings Son. This parable is found in Matthew chapter twenty-two (22), verses one (1) through fourteen (14).

The events leading up to this particular parable include:

– Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, beginning in chapter twenty-one (21);

– His cleansing the Temple of those buying, selling, and changing money… for the second time;

– His cursing of the Fig Tree, which would be a prophetic indictment against the nation of Israel;

– And a run in with the religious leaders which would result in two (2) other parables preceding this one. The parable of the two sons (not to be confused with the prodigal son) and the parable of the tenants.

So let us now read beginning at verse one (1).

1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” (ESV)

Here we have our Lord giving us an analogy as to past, present, and future events.

As seen in verses one (1) through six (6).

In times past, God the Father had entered into a covenant relationship with Israel. Throughout their history Israel had been unfaithful, and so God had sent prophets (His servants) to call them to repentance, but seldom did they listen. Time and time again, He continued to send His servants, but they would not come to Him. According to the King James, “They made light of it”. It even went beyond indifference to animosity, on Israel’s part. To the point where they even began mistreating and killing the servants God was sending to them, this includes the prophets and the apostles of Christ.

Verse seven (7) gives the prophetic consequences the nation of Israel would suffer due to these actions. And in 70 A.D. Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.

Now the Lord God is a sovereign God, and all this happened according to His will, so that salvation would be offered to the whole world.

We see this taking fruition in verses eight (8) and nine (9). In which God now sends His servants into the world to invite those who were strangers to come to the Wedding Feast. To call all who will come into covenant with Him. Not simply as spectators, but as participants, to be betrothed to His son Jesus, as a bride.

And so, many do come into the Wedding Feast (the scripture says both good and bad) and many do not. For those of us who do come in, we are presented with a Wedding Garment. It is a garment we did not possess ourselves, but it has been given to us.

But… what is this wedding garment?

Revelation chapter nineteen (19) verse eight (8) tells us… it is the “righteousness of the saints.” A garment made of fine linen, clean and white.

Well now, will this garment be comfortable? Most of the time, probably not. However, it would appear that we are expected to wear it regardless. As we see in verses eleven (11) and twelve (12), God has arrived and taken notice of one who has not placed it on. When God asks this one why he has not dressed appropriately, this person is unable to give an answer. Why? Because he is without an excuse.

The end result is a sad one. We see God ordering that this one who has decided to spurn the wedding garment, to be bound and thrown into outer darkness.

What is ‘Outer darkness’…? Jesus makes other mention of this term in Matthew 13:42, 50 and 24:51. It would appear to be a reference to Hell.

Beloved, I hope you can see what is taking place here. The picture that is being painted for us. Because of Israel’s rejection of Christ, salvation has come to us, who did not know Him. We are those, who are in the main roads and are being invited into the wedding feast.

Now, there will be many who will come in. But once inside, how many will actually put on the wedding garment? This garment that is given to us by God… and it is beautiful, clean, spotless, and righteous.

Undoubtedly, we will at times fall and soil it or get it dirty. But just as a bride to be takes extra care with her wedding dress, to attempt to avoid such. So shall the believer with their wedding garment.

However, when we do soil it. If we have a sincere sorrow, we have the ability to take it to Jesus and ask Him to clean it for us. Which He will gladly do.

Are you willing to put this garment on, despite how uncomfortable it may be? Or are you going to stay in the same comfortable dirty clothes?

Maybe you are saying to yourself, “Boy, those wedding garments look awfully uncomfortable. Think I’ll wear my comfortable clothes for right now, I have time before the King gets here.” My friend, you do not know when your soul will be required of you. Do not take comfort in the fact that you are simply present at this feast. This parable shows that to be true. It is binding upon us to dress ourselves accordingly.

Are you at this feast expecting the almighty God of the universe to accept you on your terms rather than His? Do you hold to the Burger King philosophy of Christianity… “I’ll have it my way!”? Have you created your own version of God that exists solely in your mind, and, in turn,  forsaken the God who has revealed Himself in the Bible. Friend, if you have that is a violation of the second (2nd) commandment… That’s idolatry.

My dear friends, if  any of you have deluded yourselves into thinking that you are prepared for the wedding. And have not shed the filthy rags of this world, for the clean beautiful garment provided by our Lord. Then I implore you… “Ready yourself!”

Do not find yourself in that position of being unable to utter a word in defense of your lacking. Do not think that the undressed person in this parable is a reference to those who deny Christ openly and never acknowledge Him. Remember, there are still people on the outside of this wedding feast who have never came in. No, this is a reference to those on the inside. Those who will name the name of Christ. Yet do not love Him enough to obey Him when He bids us to wear His garment so that “His” glory and righteousness might reflect off of us.

Going back to the beginning, where I mentioned the two separate lists of adjectives for the Bride. I would posit that the first list is descriptive of a bride dressed accordingly. It actually corresponds to fruit born of the Holy Spirit, and this same list is given to us by Paul in Galatians chapter 5. While the second list, also found in Galatians chapter 5, is known as the works of the flesh. This is who’s at risk of a forceful escort out the door.

Let me ask you a question… if you were truly examine yourself, which list do you think you would fall under.

Please, do not be contented to have a professing Christianity… but a practical atheism.

Make sure you are in the faith and if you find that you are not, admit to the Lord you are a sinner. Turn from your sins and ask Christ to come into your life and give you a new heart and a new nature, through His Holy Spirit.

With that, I come to the point where I will end. And will finish up with a quote from the godly English preacher, Richard Baxter from his sermon. “Making Light of Christ”:

“When men are informed of the truths of the gospel, and on what terms Christ and his benefits may be had, and how it is the will of God that they should believe and accept the offer; and that be commands to do it upon pain of damnation; and yet men will not consent, unless they could have Christ on terms of their own: they will not part with their worldly contents, nor lay down their pleasures, and profits, and honour at his feet, as being content to take so much of them only as he will give them back, and as is consistent with his will and interest, but think it is a hard saying, that they must forsake all in resolution for Christ: this is a making light of him and their salvation. When men might have part in him and all his benefits if they would, and they will not, unless they may keep the world too: and are resolved to please their flesh, whatever comes of it; this is a high contempt of Christ and everlasting life.”