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This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lhm.org.
[Jesus was saying,] “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.” (Matthew 22:11-14)
It may be my least favorite of all the stories Jesus told. This king represents God, right? So, why couldn’t Jesus have Him say, “Friend, what happened, did the dry cleaner lose your suit? No problem! Here, have one of Mine.” Jesus told other stories like that. Think of the shamed son who slouches back home expecting to be disowned but then gets the best robe from his father (see Luke 15:11-32). I love that story! But this story, the one about wedding feast, Jesus told it for a different purpose.
It’s more like the story about The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson, the one about the ruler who never went anywhere except to show off his new clothes, and some shrewd tailors from out of town promise to make him a suit crafted from such sophisticated cloth that it could not be seen by anyone who was unfit for his station or else intolerably stupid. So, when the emperor paraded around in his new clothes, everyone praised him for the clothing they were too ashamed to admit they couldn’t see. It took a little child to tell the truth. And when everyone started whispering, “He hasn’t got on anything at all,” the Emperor’s flesh crept, for it seemed to him they were right. “But all the same,” he thought, “the procession has started and must go on.” So, he held his head higher and took even greater trouble to show off his suit which wasn’t there at all.
Jesus’ story, likewise, is a warning about how we can fool ourselves into thinking we can cover ourselves with accomplishments and titles and in-group identities. But God can see right through it. Jesus had exposed the religious people of His day who tried to cover themselves with their own righteousness. Jesus exposed them, not to shame them, but to offer the cover of real honor and true belonging as His followers. Jesus was speaking as the Son of God, the Creator who put on our human frame. But the religious leaders thought He was an imposter. They had Him stripped naked and crucified. He endured this shame so that He could fulfill God’s promise to cover us with “garments of salvation” and “a robe of righteousness” (see Isaiah 61:10).
The warning of this parable for us is not that God might kick you out of His kingdom if you’re not dressed fancy enough. The warning is that if you insist on stitching together your own cover, then you won’t be content with the humble robe Jesus offers. But you and I can’t save ourselves from our shame. When Adam and Eve tried to hide behind fig leaves they had stitched together, God provided them with more durable clothing—genuine leather—animal skins—the first animal sacrifice—a sign of the greater sacrifice to come (see Genesis 3:21). Jesus is even better than leather, more breathable, too. He rose from the dead to be your cover. And when you put Him on, when God looks at you, He doesn’t see through you. He sees Jesus.
WE PRAY: Thank You, Father, for covering me with a robe of righteousness in Jesus. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour.
Reflection Questions:
- When was a time you were embarrassed by what you were wearing (or not wearing)?
- How are you tempted to find “cover” in accomplishments, status, or human associations?
- What difference does it make when you “put on Christ” (see Romans 13:14), today?
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