Matthew 22:11-14

“Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

The allegory of the wedding banquet comes to a joyous and happy conclusion with the  news that the hall was completely filled with newly invited guests, both good and bad. But somewhere along the line as the gospel of Mattew was edited in the early days of the church, a little parable was added describing the unhappy ouster of the guest without a wedding garment.

This is obviously not a message to the religious leaders of Jesus’ day but to the first century Christian community, especially in those parts of the Church where people were reveling in the good news that everyone was included, that there was no distinction between the good and the bad. We see from Paul’s letters how people reacted to the death of the Law and the new life of forgiveness and mercy that was theirs in Christ Jesus. 

Some had concluded that they might as well continue in sin so that grace might abound, and Paul was incensed. We can imagine him using this parable in his congregations and saying that the robe of righteousness was required at the banquet. Even though the garment was free for the good and the bad, it was not optional! The kingdom of heaven was not the land of “anything goes!”

Thought for the Day: How shall we treat those who turn their backs on grace?