Dear NP,You mention the garment as a representation of walking with Christ. That's good however these folk were dragged in off the street. Not much chance of them understanding what walking with the lord meant, do you suppose? May I submit that this whole thing is an acceptable heart issue and not one of performance aside from an acceptable heart. Performance can be a mask for an upright heart.Thanks, :-)rm
About this wedding garment: if I understand this correctly, people were given this at the door as they approached the wedding feast. Now here you had a person at the feast without one which means he refused to take one. When we come to Jesus, he offers cleansing of our sins, a new heart and mind which is required in order to walk with him or "to be able to participate at his wedding feast". Now if one refuses to be cleansed - or accept the wedding garment - he is to be thrown out! Unless you have been cleansed of all that filthiness in your heart and life, you cannot have communion with Jesus. Are we all sayig the same thing but using different words to describe it? Interesting and edifying thoughts shared here...ginnyrose
_________________Sandra Miller
Thanks Ginny,Basically, but what I read I don't believe satisfies the understanding Jesus would have us recognize in the parable. Other than that, we are saying much that is the same.Ravi Zacharius said this that explained much to me concerning present day attitude/condition in the church. He said: "Guilt is expelled by irreverance". Now I have a question: Do you think the "casual Christian" will be a joint-heir with Jesus Christ? For that matter, do you believe the "casual Christian" wears a wedding garment? Do you believe he even knows anything about a wedding garment, or cares? My view is that the wedding garment represents more than just salvation. [u]It is given to the Christian[/u] and in that light and along with Biblical context, it should be viewed as the beginning of intimacy with the Father; Kingdom habitation.I'm open for correction on this but ask first ask yourself the question: "Why was he speechless"?What say you -- or anyone? :-orm
Hello Ormly,I really believe what brother Habakkuk posted on this subject sums up the message that the Lord intended for us to learn from this portion of the parable about the wedding garment.
"Now, as without holiness no man can see the Lord, we may at once perceive what our Lord means by the marriage garment-it is HOLINESS of heart and life: the text last quoted asserts that the fine, white, and clean linen (alluding to the marriage garment above mentioned) was an emblem of the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the SAINTS."
_________________Noel Pautsky
I am curious, why do you think the man was speechless? God bless you.