Why was the friend not wearing his wedding garment?
He was unprepared.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw
there a man which had not on a wedding garment [Matt. 22:11].
"What is that wedding garment? The King’s invitation
is for everyone, but there is a danger of coming without meeting the demands of
the King. That wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ which is
absolutely essential for salvation, and it is supplied to all who believe. The
apostle Paul speaks of this imputed righteousness: “But now the righteousness of
God without the law [that is, apart from the law] is manifested, being witnessed
by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of [from] God which is by
faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all [it comes down upon all] them that
believe: for there is no difference” (Rom. 3:21–22). All have to have a wedding
garment."
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in
hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless [Matt. 22:12].
"Notice that he was speechless! I hear some folk say
that they don’t need to receive Christ, that they will take their chances before
God, that they intend to argue their case. Well, our Lord said that this fellow
without the wedding garment was speechless." McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible
commentary: The Gospels (Matthew 14-28) (electronic ed., Vol. 35, p. 106).
Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
"22:11 a wedding garment. All without exception were
invited to the banquet, so this man is not to be viewed as a common
party-crasher. In fact, all the guests were rounded up hastily from “the
highways” and therefore none could be expected to come with proper attire. That
means the wedding garments were supplied by the king himself. So this man’s lack
of a proper garment indicates he had purposely rejected the king’s own gracious
provision. His affront to the king was actually a greater insult than those who
refused to come at all, because he committed his impertinence in the very
presence of the king. The imagery seems to represent those who identify with the
kingdom externally, profess to be Christians, belong to the church in a visible
sense—yet spurn the garment of righteousness Christ offers (cf. Is. 61:10) by
seeking to establish a righteousness of their own (cf. Rom. 10:3; Phil. 3:8, 9).
Ashamed to admit their own spiritual poverty (see note on 5:3), they refuse the
better garment the King graciously offers—and thus they are guilty of a horrible
sin against His goodness.
22:12 And he was speechless. I.e., he had no excuse."
MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p.
1434). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.
As a reminder Cross Reference is number 7 on
Satan, Inc. (TOL Heretics list) in the Misc.
category.
Right, we overcomers. We have overcome: the world (John 16:33), the flesh (2 Pet. 2:19, 20) and the devil (1 John 2:13, 14).
Where did you get that idea? 1 Co 10:12