More than showing up...

Matthew 22:11-14 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 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.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” Jesus had put out the invitation to come to His banquet, to enter His kingdom, to follow Him. Many had physically followed Him in the parade to the Passover. But lest we think that following Jesus is just showing up in a particular place at a particular time, he challenges that thought with this parable. It is His banquet, in which He wants us to be fully engaged. The lack of proper attire here shows that this man was not really there; He wanted the feast and celebration, but not to celebrate with the King and His Son. He was not willing to abide by the rules of the kingdom. He wanted to come his own way - not clothed in the the garments the King provided. There is only one way we can enter the Kingdom, and that is Christ and the righteousness He provides. He wants us to fully trust and follow Him.