The last four verses of this week’s Gospel lesson may seem jarring to progressive Mainline Christians (like me) because we are so accustomed to understanding God as all-merciful and all-loving. After all, the reading tells us that “the king’s” banquet hall is filled with folks “both good and bad” (v. 10). So why was the guest tossed out for a dress-code violation? What could Jesus possibly mean?

The “wedding robe” question raises many issues central to how we are stewarding our lives of faith, issues that have profound consequences. Could we – church goers and folks who confess Jesus as Lord – be among those caught without a “wedding robe” at God’s banquet?

There is much to unpack, first of which is the whole “wedding banquet” image. Life eternal is perhaps our popular culture’s go-to interpretation, but another understanding is that the “wedding banquet” refers to the here-and-now life abundant that Jesus promises us in John 10:10. Support for this idea can be found in this week’s reading from Isaiah, which speaks of God providing God’s people “a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow” (Isaiah 25:6). Is the “wedding banquet” in the life to come or the here and now? Probably some combination of both/and. Whatever way we understand the “wedding banquet,” we all want to be guests in good standing, right? 

Next there is the whole business of “a wedding robe.” Jesus does not unpack the meaning of this image, which has been the object of much scholarly research and faithful speculation. For me, the writings of Paul seem an obvious place to turn for guidance:

Colossians 3:5-14: “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (v. 12). “And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (v. 14). 

Romans 13:11-14: “So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 12-14). 

Ephesians 4:20-24: Paul advises God’s people to “put off your old self” … “to be made new” … and “to put on the new self.”

A preacher going in this direction may consider one of these readings as a worthy substitute for this week’s appointed Epistle reading. 

In these and other passages, Paul is not talking about salvation or justification. After all, it was Paul who repeatedly emphasizes (in Romans 3:28, Ephesians 2:8, Galatians 2:16 and elsewhere) that salvation is God’s gift through Jesus, and NOT something we could possibly earn. Instead of salvation, clothing oneself anew is a matter of sanctification and holy living, which does demand, first, our prayerful introspection, and then a plea for God to help us change our heart and behavior. Indeed, the Gospel understanding of repentance is not merely a cessation of sinful acts, but a complete metamorphic life change – from sinful “caterpillars” to blessed “butterflies.” 

Though the Holy Spirit may encourage and guide our transformation, we are not passive objects of God’s grace in our sanctification. With every crossroad we encounter, every choice we make, we either move towards holy living or away from it. Hence, Paul invites us to cast off our old “clothes” and put on new robes.

Returning to the wedding guest dilemma of Matthew 22:11-12, it may be that the guest is without a “robe” because he is clueless that the Christian life required a “change of clothes” – or worse, that he knew but had no intention of changing. Perhaps that is why he “was speechless” when the king asks how he got in (v. 12). 

Matthew’s parable of the wedding banquet provides everyone a vivid invitation to the joyful, fullness of life we have in Christ, but also a warning that while God invites us all to the feast, entry requires the proper “dress code.” What dress code? Paul suggests, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).



In Worship
Focusing on what is meant by the all-important “wedding robe” in the Gospel reading, create “invitations” that can be inserted into the Sunday bulletins or passed out as congregants arrive to worship. The invitation is to “God’s Wedding Banquet.” Craft it to resemble a fancy wedding invitation to a swanky venue. On it write in bold letters, “Proper Attire Required.” During announcements before service, or at the beginning of the sermon, ask congregants to ponder what “Proper Attire” would be for God’s Wedding Banquet.



With Youth
In a time with youth, look over the parable in Matthew 22. Invite them to discuss what the “wedding banquet” symbolizes, looking at Isaiah 25:6 for guidance. Invite them to speculate on what could be the “wedding robe” (Matthew 22:11-12) for which the guest was kicked out of the banquet.

Turn to Colossians 3:5-13 and explore what “old clothes” Paul advises Christians to take off (v. 8) and what “new clothes” we ought to put on (v. 12) Talk about what “old clothes” behaviors youth see in their school or in our culture. (With bullying and teasing at epidemic proportions with the rise of social media, this might be a good avenue of exploration.) What does it mean for us to discard those garments and put on new clothes? How does this help make us fit to attend God’s “wedding banquet”?



With Children
In a children’s sermon or time with the youngest saints, describe a hypothetical situation in which they are invited to a fancy birthday party at a fancy children’s party venue. Ask them what they would wear? Their old, tired, ripped or dirty clothes? Or something nice, clean, presentable? Obviously, we would want to dress nicely. Now draw the lesson of the Gospel, that we are invited to God’s banquet of a good life. What would we “wear”? God wants us to cloak ourselves in kindness and love. You could bring a windbreaker or jacket to symbolize this, calling in your “jacket of love.” Invite the children to think of what their own “jacket of love” would look like, and how they would wear it in their lives.



Previously published reflections for Proper 23, Year A:
2023 – We all are invited to God’s sumptuous feast
2020 – A strange story indeed
2017 – The welcome table
2014 – Come to the feast
2011 – ‘Pity party’ or ‘plenty party’?