The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 22:11-14,
"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. Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are invited, but few are chosen."
This is a portion of a parable Jesus taught about the kingdom of heaven. In this parable a king puts on a wedding for his son but none of the guests came. So, he told his servants to go get anyone from the street corners they could find and invite them. When they did so, the above continues the story.
The parable is about how the Jews, as a nation, would reject Jesus, but foretold that the Gentiles would embrace him. Two things I see in the above verses:
The wedding clothes that were missing on one of the attendees from the street corner represent the "garment" of righteousness that is required to enter into the kingdom of God. Those who fail to be robed in righteousness (a reality that happens the moment we embrace Jesus Christ in faith in this life) will be suffer the judgment of God.
Secondly, and again, it references the missing "wedding garments", the righteousness we become clothed in when we embrace the Lord in faith, "many are invited, but few are chosen." This is a reference to God's invitation to all through the gospel message. However, only those who embrace the Lord in faith will be chosen to enter in. Many believe we need to be "good enough", but it isn't about being good enough. None of us are good enough to get into heaven. The question is whether we have placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ when the gospel message is made known. Only those are the ones who have be chosen by God. He didn't chose good deeds as those he wants in his family, he chose faith. God wants all who place their faith in him.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"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. Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are invited, but few are chosen."
This is a portion of a parable Jesus taught about the kingdom of heaven. In this parable a king puts on a wedding for his son but none of the guests came. So, he told his servants to go get anyone from the street corners they could find and invite them. When they did so, the above continues the story.
The parable is about how the Jews, as a nation, would reject Jesus, but foretold that the Gentiles would embrace him. Two things I see in the above verses:
The wedding clothes that were missing on one of the attendees from the street corner represent the "garment" of righteousness that is required to enter into the kingdom of God. Those who fail to be robed in righteousness (a reality that happens the moment we embrace Jesus Christ in faith in this life) will be suffer the judgment of God.
Secondly, and again, it references the missing "wedding garments", the righteousness we become clothed in when we embrace the Lord in faith, "many are invited, but few are chosen." This is a reference to God's invitation to all through the gospel message. However, only those who embrace the Lord in faith will be chosen to enter in. Many believe we need to be "good enough", but it isn't about being good enough. None of us are good enough to get into heaven. The question is whether we have placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ when the gospel message is made known. Only those are the ones who have be chosen by God. He didn't chose good deeds as those he wants in his family, he chose faith. God wants all who place their faith in him.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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