Garment
KJV Matthew 22:2-14
2. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6. And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13. Then said the king 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.
14. For many are called, but few are chosen.
First take a look at the physical aspects of the text and put them into your own words. Here we see that a king, a very important person is preparing a wedding for his son. Even in fairy tales, when a king prepares a wedding for his son the entire kingdom hears the news. The citizens of the kingdom would do anything to receive an invitation. But in this case we see the people receiving an invitation preferred not want to attend the wedding. We have to ask ourselves the question, is this normal? This is a wedding of a prince. Now a days if we see a celebrity marriage it is a status symbol to receive an invitation. The last time we saw a prince being married it was televised all around the world. All the world leaders were invited. They spent millions on the preparations. How many people turned down that invitation? Since it is unlikely that anyone would turn down a wedding invitation from a king we need to understand that this text must have a spiritual meaning.
Not only did these people ignore the invitation to the wedding but they killed the king’s servants bringing the news. Of course, this meant war and that is how the king responded, he destroyed all those who turned down the invitation.
Next, the king’s servants are directed to go to the common people and invite them to the wedding that had been prepared. When the king walks into the wedding he sees one person that did not have on a wedding garment. This is usually where the sermon begins. The speaker will proceed to describe details that are not found in the Bible. Here we will ignore tradition and look at the Bible, relying only upon God’s word to give us the information.
We can first look at some of the key word meanings from Strong’s concordance, to gain a deeper insight.
4. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
Strong’s Ref. # 1401
from GSN1210; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):
5. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Strong’s Ref. # 272
from GSN0001 (as a negative particle) and GSN3199; to be careless of:
7. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city
Strong’s Ref. # 4153
adverb from GSN4152; non-physically, i.e. divinely, figuratively:
10. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Strong’s Ref. # 4190
from a derivative of GSN4192; hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from GSN2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from GSN4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively, calamitous; also (passively) ill, i.e. diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, i.e. derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners:
11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Strong’s Ref. # 1745
from GSN1746; investment with clothing:
11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Strong’s Ref. # 1742
from GSN1746; apparel (especially the outer robe):
12. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Strong’s Ref. # 3361
a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas GSN3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverbially) not, (conjunctionally) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer [whereas GSN3756 expects an affirmative one]) whether:
After reading the definitions above which add greater detail to the text I am sure the Holy Spirit is working on your mind already, giving you a deeper understanding of the text. There is no need for any of my comments.
What does the wedding garment represent? We will let the Bible answer that question by looking up other texts containing the word garment.
KJV Isaiah 61:10
10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
KJV Job 29:14
14. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
KJV Psalms 132:9
9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
KJV Psalms 132:16
16. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
KJV Numbers 15:38-40
38. Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
39. And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40. That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
Isaiah 61:10 provides us with the best explanation. We are clothed with garments of salvation and covered with a robe of righteousness. There are a number of details Isaiah teaches us in this short text. A garment and robe are used in the same text. Garment represents salvation and a robe represents righteousness. Does this mean there is a difference between the two? It would take another study to answer that question. Can one physically obtain a garment of salvation or a robe of righteousness? The answer to both of these is no. Therefore it would be futile to look for a physical explanation, thus there must be a spiritual explanation. We can only obtain spiritual explanations through the use of Biblical text.
In Isaiah we are clothed in garments of salvation and covered with a rode of righteousness. In Job we are clothed in righteousness while Psalms shows we are clothed both in righteousness and salvation.
We are clothed in a garment and a robe. We are also clothed in salvation and righteousness. The garment in the wedding feast represents salvation and righteousness which only comes through Christ.
KJV 2 Timothy 3:15
15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
KJV Romans 3:22
22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
