A garment, and what it covers
The Wedding Garment
In Jesus' parable of the marriage feast, the hall is filled with guests gathered from the highways, but one man is found without a wedding garment. His presence without the proper covering exposes a solemn truth about how we come to God.
“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:”Matthew 22:11
The garment in Scripture
The garment in Scripture. A king made a marriage for his son and sent his servants to call the invited guests, but they would not come (Matthew 22:2-3). So the king sent his servants into the highways to gather as many as they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests (Matthew 22:9-10). Then the king came in to see the guests, and he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment (Matthew 22:11). He said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And the man was speechless (Matthew 22:12). Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:13). Jesus closed the parable with the words, For many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). The feast was open to all who were gathered in, the bad and the good alike, yet there was still a garment required, and the man who lacked it had no answer to give.
What it means
What it means. The wedding garment stands for the righteousness required to sit at the King's table, a righteousness that must be received, not manufactured. That the man was speechless is telling. He had no defense, no excuse for coming to the feast in his own clothing when a garment had been made available. The parable warns against presuming upon God's welcome while refusing His provision. It is not enough to be gathered into the visible company of the feast. There must be the proper covering, and that covering is not one we bring but one the King supplies. The good news is that the garment is offered freely to all, bad and good alike, who are called in from the highways. The sober warning is that to appear before God clothed only in ourselves, having spurned the garment He gives, is to have no answer at all when He looks upon us. The feast is grace, but grace received on God's terms, wearing the garment He provides.
How it points to Christ
How it points to Christ. The garment required at the King's feast is the righteousness God gives, and the gospel names that righteousness as Christ. To come clothed in ourselves is to be found, like the speechless man, with nothing to say. But to come clothed in Christ is to be welcomed at the table. Isaiah sang, he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), and this is the wedding garment the King has always provided. Paul writes that as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), and he calls us to put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14). Elsewhere he prays to be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, but that which is through the faith of Christ (Philippians 3:9). The wedding garment is not our achievement but God's gift, Christ Himself, and the one who wears Him is fit to sit down at the marriage of the Lamb.
Questions people ask
What does the wedding garment stand for?
It stands for the righteousness required to be received at God's feast, a covering that the King provides rather than one the guest produces. The parable warns that being gathered into the visible company is not enough; one must have on the garment God gives, which the gospel identifies with Christ (Philippians 3:9).
Why was the man cast out for one missing garment?
Because his lack of the garment showed he had spurned the King's provision and come in his own clothing, and he had no answer when questioned (Matthew 22:12). The parable teaches that presuming on God's welcome while refusing His righteousness leaves a person with nothing to plead before Him.