As Jesus told the Parable of the Banquet, it ended with someone who would not put on the new. Matthew 22: 11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. 13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” [1]
You may wonder at this. The king had invited these people on short notice; how were they to have the proper attire? During this time, the host often supplied wedding clothes for the guests.[2] All this man had to do was to change into the finery that the king provided. But for some reason, he had not.
Putting On Jesus
Jesus’ work on the cross enables us to live a transformed life. He paid the price we could not pay for the forgiveness of sins. As a result, we get to “exchange coats” with Him. He takes our dirty coat of sin, and we get to put on His coat of righteousness.
Ephesians 4:21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.[3]
Just as the wedding guests had clothing supplied, Jesus provides us with His coat of righteousness, but we must put it on. If we don’t, we risk being thrown into outer darkness.
Many are Called, Few are Chosen
We like the idea that God calls the unlikely and those who didn’t think they could be invited. But as Jesus calls us, He means to transform us. God doesn’t leave us where we are. When the blind and lame came to Jesus, He healed them. He did not leave them the way they were. His love refused to let them stay as they were. Jesus transforms, heals, and restores us.
The word called means invited, but not all people will accept the Lord’s invitation to come to Him in faith. Chosen refers to those who accept the invitation and are chosen by God. I don’t know why some people harden their hearts, and some respond to God’s call to faith. I know this, we can’t control other people, but we can freely respond to God’s call and come to Him. As we do, we will receive the greatest blessing we can imagine.
To learn how to put on the new, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/parable-of-the-banquet
[1,3 Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Turner, D., & Bock, D. L. (2005). Cornerstone biblical commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark (p. 280). Tyndale House Publishers.