Today’s 333 Devotional: “Many Called Few Chosen”
The parable of the wedding feast is probably one of the more difficult parables to understand, as many people wonder, “How could someone get into heaven without the wedding garment of Christ.”
But this parable isn’t talking specifically about the future wedding feast, but rather about who is invited, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)
Entrance is a matter of grace. Notice it says the servants went out and gathered everyone, “both bad and good.” (Matthew 22:10)
The garments the guests were wearing are the garments of salvation.
Isaiah 61:10 says, “He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
As believers we are to be clothed in Christ.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)
The ones found without these garments are those within the church today who don’t believe.
Within the church there are those who want to attend, but they don’t want to come through the Son, Jesus Christ. They are coming with their own ideas of what it means to be a Christian and how someone gets into heaven.
But God searches the hearts to see if they are prepared for His presence.
When the king entered the feast, it says he “saw.” This isn’t a casual glance, but rather it’s a thorough investigation for the express intent of seeing the real nature and character of those who are presence.
The Lord said, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10)
Therefore, it is the light of the gospel that throws the hypocrite into utter darkness because they have refused the wedding garment of God’s salvation.