PROPER ATTIRE

PROPER ATTIRE!

Zeph 1:7-8

7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord  is at hand: for the Lord  hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord 's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

Matt 22:8-13

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.

           These words of Jesus seem unreasonably harsh until we research the customs of His day. According to Adam Clarke, “The person who invited the guests prepared such a garment for each, for the time being; and with which he was furnished on his application to the ruler of the feast. It was this which made the conduct of the person mentioned in the text inexcusable; he might have had a proper marriage garment, if he had applied for it.” The person arriving at the wedding improperly dressed was not simply committing a social faux pas but was in rebellion against the host. “Among the Asiatics, garments called caftans, great numbers of which each nobleman has ordinarily ready in his wardrobe, are given to persons whom he wishes to honour: to refuse to accept or wear such a dress would be deemed the highest insult.” (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)

           The spiritual application is clearer now. God, through the costly sacrifice of Jesus, has provided us a suitable garment. If we insist on wearing our own garment, fashioned by our own works and efforts, we greatly insult Him. Once again I quote Adam Clarke’s Commentary. “Among the orientals, long white robes were worn at public festivals; and those who appeared on such occasions with any other garments were esteemed, not only highly culpable, but worthy of punishment.”

Rev 7:13-14

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Dear Lord, I once was clothed in the paltry rags of my sin but now I wear the robe of righteousness you have provided for me. Thank you Lord! AMEN