Matthew 22:10
“So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.”
We need to see that everyone was invited, we can't think in a way that would exclude anyone from knowing Jesus and accepting Him as our Lord and Savior. As we open our hearts and we understand the excitement of the invite we must believe that we are new creations in Christ. Paul shares this in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” At that time we need to put on our new cloths and ask, seek, and knock and believe all that God has for us. We don't need to earn anything when it comes to Jesus, He has been given to us, we just need to confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that He was raised from the dead, and we will be saved.
(Read Romans 10:9) We have to see that our belief needs to be present and our new lives being lived. Verses 11-12 continue to say, “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.” The problem wasn't with who was there, but that person not having any reply. Our reply is shown by our life lived, and by what we clothe ourselves with. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit and He will show us what clothes are needed and He will give us the correct reply as well. The thing is, we have to make that choice to listen and grow. In the end It doesn't matter about what we do in our strength it's about who we are in Him, and that takes surrender.
This parable ends with verses 13-14 which say, “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.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.” See, it's not about earning, it's about believing that you belong. I love what it says in Ephesians chapter 4 verses 23-24 “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Let's not be caught without the right clothes and with no reply, we must be thankful and know that His love is real and we have a choice. Amen