[The following was received from South Lincolnshire with this remark, “The enclosed letter has been so blessed to one of our dear village women.” The sender suggests that in the pages of Tidings it might be of use to others. Feeling that God may graciously make it a further blessing, we herewith send it forth. ―ED.]
I WAS reading this morning, in the 22nd of Matthew of a certain King, which made a marriage for His Son. He sent out his servants to invite guests to the wedding, but instead of accepting the invitation they each began to make light of it. Their own affairs were of far more importance than the invitation; while some of them even slew the servants that were sent to invite them.
The King was wroth, and said, “The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.”
He then ordered other servants to go into the highways, and to bring in as many as they could find. The servants did as they were told; and we read, they “gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.”
The King walks round to see the guests, when suddenly he stops. His eye is fixed on one, seated among the rest, who has come to the feast clothed in a garment of his own. He had refused to put on the garment which the King had provided for all.
By doing this he as good as said, I am fit for the eye of the King; I shall not trouble to put on the garment that he has provided: mine is good enough.
But he found out too late that, to the eye of the King, his garments were but “filthy rags.” “Friend,” said the King, “How camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (vs. 11).
The order of the King then is, “Bind him hand foot, and take him away and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Now, I think we can see what Christ meant by this parable. I am born in sin, and cannot, however hard I may try, do away with one sin, or make myself fit to stand in the presence of a holy God.
Christ came to His own people, the Jews, but they refused to have Him. And then, as though God said, “Very well, I will proclaim forgiveness to both Jew and Gentile,” that believe on My Son; there shall be no difference, for “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)).
So in the death of His only begotten Son, God provided a garment, “a robe of righteousness,” in which I may approach Him.
If I go to God and confess what a guilty sinner I am, and deserve only hell, but that I believe on, and desire to be clothed with Christ, I can count myself as forgiven. God will no longer view me according to what I am, but according to what Christ is. Christ, whose blood was shed, is my robe, my righteousness before His eye. A. D.