Sometimes the parables that Jesus spoke almost came off a bit harsh. So, why would a good, loving and kind God use language that would shock us?
In a recent TikTok video, Kelly K looked at the parable of the wedding feast to uncover just exactly why God would use the kind of stark warning that He did in this story.
In Matthew 22, Jesus shares a powerful parable about a king who hosts a wedding feast for his son. The king sends invitations to a select group of guests, but many decline, too busy with their own lives. Frustrated, the king opens the invitation to everyone—good, bad, Jew, Gentile—hoping that anyone willing to come will join the celebration.
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However, when one guest arrives without the proper wedding clothes, the king orders him to be thrown out into outer darkness. The question arises: why such a harsh response to something as seemingly trivial as attire?
Kelly K addresses this question by emphasizing that the parable isn’t about a “dress code” to heaven. The key to understanding this lies in the symbolism behind the wedding clothes. In ancient times, a king hosting such a grand feast wouldn’t expect guests to bring their own attire. The king would provide the necessary garments.
K explains that the king wasn’t asking the man why he didn’t bring clothes from his own closet, but rather, “Where’s the clothes I gave you?” The man’s failure to wear the clothes provided by the king represents rejecting the king’s offer—just as rejecting Jesus’ righteousness is akin to rejecting God’s invitation.
This truth is rooted in Isaiah 61:10, which says, “For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation, and he draped me in the robe of righteousness.” K points out that “the clothes you needed to come to this party that were bought and paid for for you” were already provided, but the man chose not to wear them.
The righteousness offered by Jesus is not something we can earn; it’s a gift given to us through His sacrifice. Christians must quit relying on their own efforts to earn favor with God. As K explains, “You and I, who had no right standing with God, get to be in right standing with God because Jesus, who knew no sin, traded us His righteousness for our sin.”
Righteousness isn’t something we can achieve on our own. It’s a gift from God. The only thing we need to do is put it on, acknowledging that we are made right with God not by our actions, but by the righteousness of Jesus. As K puts it, “The only thing you need to get into the greatest party of all time—eternity with the creator of the universe—you just gotta put on the right clothes.”
Many are called to God’s kingdom, but only those who accept His gift of righteousness—who “put on the right clothes”—are chosen. The question is: will you choose to put on the robe of righteousness Jesus is offering you today?
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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
