IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Be Clothed for the Wedding Banquet

Date: Sep. 20, 2026

Passage

Matthew 22:1-14

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

22:1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Matthew 22:12

And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.

In response to the religious leader’s efforts to murder him (21:46), Jesus gives them a final parable of the kingdom. Like the first invited guests, they had great privileges as God’s people (2-4). But they were self-important and hostile to their king (5-6). The King’s response brings justice (7).

Dealing with rebels is a secondary matter. God’s focus is on the wedding feast for his Son, the wedding of the Lamb (Rev 19:9). God chose to open his feast to anyone who would come, regardless of their being good or bad (8-10). What a precious invitation! The hall was filled. But one man did not have the right attitude to receive and wear the wedding clothes, and as a result was cast out (11-13), as invited, but not chosen (14).

Through the gospel, we are chosen ones, not only as guests, but as the bride (Eph 5:23)! Are we joyfully making ourselves ready (Rev 19:7)? We have been given wedding clothes (Rev 19:8), the person and character of our Lord Jesus (Ro 13:14). In response to God’s choosing us on the basis of his mercy in the gospel, let’s receive Jesus, and clothe ourselves with his compassion and kindness as we await that joyful feast (Col 3:12-15).

Prayer: Father, thank you for the privilege of being invited to your kingdom through the gospel. Help me clothe myself with Jesus today.

One Word: Be clothed with Jesus’ character

Daily Bread

Unlawful Sexual Relations

Leviticus 18:1-30

Key Verse: 18:5

You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.

Read More

Intro Daily