---COMING TO THE WEDDING ~~
--[Please Read / Matthew 22:1-14]

---"Verily, Verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep."
---[John 10:7]

----Weddings provide happy times for families. In today's Bible reading, Jesus told a parable about a king who invited guests to his son's wedding. They didn't want to come. A second set of invitations went out, but these were rudely answered with flimsy excuses. Some actually killed the king's servants who had invited them. This greatly upset the king. He sent out his "national guard" to kill these people and destroy their city. But the wedding was still waiting, so the king sent out invitations to whoever wanted to come. Finally the wedding hall was filled.

Then another problem arose: one man came without being properly dressed--he wore no wedding garment. The king ordered him to be cast into outer darkness.

What does this parable mean? What is a wedding garment? Does this mean that we must dress or act in a certain way?

To find the answer, let's consider another parable Jesus gave. I John 10, Jesus called Himself the door of the sheepfold. Those who come in must enter by the door. Entering by the door means repenting sincerely, confessing our sins, and putting personal faith in Christ. It is not enough simply to be baptized. Mere church membership will not do.

The wedding garment is the robe of righteousness that Jesus gives to those who enter by the door. Life's most important question still hinges on what Jesus told Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must be born again." --[John 3:3]

---BSW/PM