PREPARATION: Clothed, but exposed!

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son." ...

"But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless.

Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw 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 22:1-2, 11-14

In California we have several toll roads which have been built by private groups; electronic transponders scan each car as it enters, recording a code from a permit tag the owner has purchased.

One of my sons recently received a ticket for driving on one of these roads without the proper tag on his truck; he was lost and did not know his way. His ticket arrived by mail; the accompanying fine was substantial.

In the wedding feast parable as told by our Lord, one guest arrives without proper wedding clothes. The king had the man bound and thrown out.

At His own feast, the Lord Himself will scan those who wish are in attendance, and immediately identify those who are lost and know not the Way. Only those who are properly attired will be allowed to attend the Lord’s feast. Those found without the proper clothing won’t receive a ticket or a fine, rather, they will be bound hand and foot and thrown "into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen."

Christianity, Eschatology,
Illustrations, Religion