THE WEDDING GARMENT

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 3, 1856

THE WEDDING GARMENT.

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment; and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? and he was speechless.” Matt. xxii, 11, 12.

On this passage, Cobbin in his Descriptive Testament remarks: “In the east every one that came to a marriage feast was expected to appear in a handsome and elegant dress, which was called the ‘wedding-garment.’ This was frequently a white robe. Where the guest was a stranger, or was not able to provide such a robe, it was usual for the master of the feast to furnish him with one: and, if he who gave the entertainment was of high rank and great opulence, he sometimes provided marriage-robes for the whole assembly. . . . It must be remarked also that it was in a very high degree indecorous and offensive to good manners to intrude into this festivity without this garment.”

With these facts before us we can easily understand the force of our Saviour’s parable. We can see why the man was speechless. It was usual for the master of the feast to furnish those with a robe who were strangers or not able to furnish themselves; therefore he might have had a garment if he would. His not being furnished was the result either of gross neglect, or a refusal to avail himself of the privileges within his reach.

As teaching that spiritual lesson which doubtless by this parable the Saviour designed to convey to the minds of those who are preparing for the marriage-supper of the Lamb, we can also see its force. No man is obliged to go without the wedding-garment. We may have it if we will; for he who bids us is able to provide it for us. Our poverty, and weakness, and unworthiness are no excuse; for he takes us as we are, if we sincerely desire to come, and for poverty gives us riches, for weakness strength, and for unworthiness, forgiveness. If therefore we are found in the trying moment not having a wedding-garment, it will be either through our refusal to accept, or our neglect of the privileges of the gospel. So absolutely will the fault lie at our own door that a just God will be vindicated in casting us into outer darkness. Is not allusion made to the same subject in Zeph. i, 7, 8, where it says after speaking of the day of the Lord as at hand, that “it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice that I will punish the princes and the king’s children and all such as are clothed with strange apparel?”