Cast Out with Full Knowledge

Scripture: So the servants did, and brought in all they could find, good and bad alike; and the banquet hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the wedding robe provided for him. "Friend," he asked, "how does it happen that you are here without a wedding robe?" And the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, "Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 22:10-13

Observation: Jesus previously provided the parable - a metaphor - of the rich owner who leases his vineyard to farmers, who then kill his servants and even his son ... this was the Jews who killed the prophets and soon Jesus himself, who will be supplanted by others who will respect God. Now he repeats a similar message. At first, those invited to the king's wedding feast for his son don't come, so he has them destroyed and the servants sent out to find whatever guests they can rally.

However, at the feast, there is an example of this one guest, a person who refuses to wear the wedding robe provided by the king himself. This man can't even explain himself, and the king has him thrown into the abyss of the darkness.

In this second part of the story, the wedding feast is the wedding feast of the lamb, the new guests are believers who have been brought in via the gospel, but this guest is one who has rejected the 'robe of truth' ... rejected the good news about salvation through faith in Jesus. Now that he sits in the midst of the truth, he cannot explain his own rejection, yet he is clearly exposed by the fact that he refused to accept that which was freely given to him. By this act he has decided for himself that he does not belong as a guest at the wedding, and so is cast out.

Application: It is really this simple ... the Lord just gives everyone the truth about Jesus, and everyone can decide to accept or reject that free gift of salvation. Those who reject it will be cast out into darkness.

The saddest part to me is that they'll know it. In the end, they will see the truth as clearly and obviously as they can see anything. They will set there, now recognizing that all along the love and greatness of the Lord has been real and true, and yet they will be without even a defense for why they rejected it. It is in that context - the context not of ignorance but of full knowledge of the truth and full understanding of their own rejection of that truth - they will be cast out.

This is the world I see ... people rejected God with all the knowledge they need to make a different decision. They may not conceive all the Lord is due to their rejection of him, but the basics of salvation have been given to them. They won't even take a nice robe and slip it on in order to attend a wedding feast!

Prayer: Lord, what can I do to help others accept your free gift? Please show me this day. Amen.