[The Bible is an “Eastern” book.  It was written many years ago in the “East” which today we refer to as “The Middle East.”  As such, there are many customs and idioms that are not familiar to the “Western” mind.]

The month of June is traditionally a month when there are a lot of weddings.  So, let’s get some insight into what to wear to a wedding in Bible times.

Jesus spoke a parable about a guest at a wedding who did not have on a proper wedding garment.  This parable about a guest who was improperly dressed has caused confusion to many readers. Understanding the customs of the lands and times in which the Bible was written gives great insight to this parable.

In the parable, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, we learn is that this particular wedding was the marriage of a king’s son.  This is the key to the parable.

What Did They Wear?

In Bible times affluent people owned what is referred to as wedding garments, or, wedding robes.  This attire for weddings indicated a person’s social standing. The more affluent people wore elaborate decorations on their wedding garments. Many times this clothing was passed down in the family.

Many weddings in our culture today do not specify a dress code. I have officiated at weddings where some male guests did not wear a coat or a tie.  I have even seen this at what we would call a “formal” wedding.  Never have I seen anyone escorted out of a wedding for improper attire.

But in Bible times, they attended weddings wearing their wedding robe. In the parable, there was a man who was attending without the proper wedding garment.

Maybe He Was Too Poor

Now there are those who might argue that perhaps this man could not afford the proper attire for the wedding.  They might argue, “Well at least he showed up for the wedding.  Why was he escorted out?”

I mentioned that the key to this parable was that it was the marriage of a king’s son.  In Bible times if you were invited to a wedding given by a king for the marriage of one of his children, you did not wear your own wedding robe.  Attending that marriage with your own wedding robe would be a great insult, because the king would provide a wedding robe for all the guests.

The king would make careful arrangements to see that all the guests were given a wedding robe for the occasion.  The garments would be delivered to each guest.  Everyone who attended would then be wearing the attire provided for them by the king.

So when you attended a wedding given by a king, you didn’t come showing your own social standing, wealth, or prestige, but rather you were showing the king’s power and prestige.

Those Listening Understood

Those hearing Jesus speak this parable understood what he was saying. They lived in this culture and practiced these customs. They understood that this man was not too poor to acquire a proper garment.  They understood that this was not a mistake, but a deliberate act by the man in refusing what the king provided.  They understood why the king ordered him to be thrown out of the wedding.

The last verse of the parable is often misunderstood.  It reads, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

If you are “called” to a wedding, then you have been invited.  It would be better understood as, “Many are invited…”   Many are invited, but few have chosen to accept the invitation and put on the robe that was provided them.

Jesus was teaching about the kingdom of God.  Because God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.  Those that accept Christ are made righteous.  You could say that they are clothed in God’s righteousness.  You can’t earn your own righteousness; it is freely given to you because of the work of Christ.

The invitation by the King is to all of mankind.  Some will choose to accept Christ; others will not.

The king was not unfair or cruel.  He had extended the man the invitation and provided the robe for him.  The man refused to wear the robe which was an insult to the king.

Are You One Of The Chosen Few?

Many wonder if they are one of the “few chosen.”   The choosing was whether the man would wear the robe that the king provided.  It was a free will decision by that man to accept the invitation and to wear the robe.

The “chosen” are those who choose to accept what God has to offer. Otherwise, many would be called or invited, and then God would pick and choose who gets to stay and who has to leave.  There are some who think that’s the way God operates!  If that were true, then we would have no free will to decide. But God never takes away your free will.

This parable is about the kingdom of heaven.  The choosing is by the individual, whether he is going to accept what God has extended in Christ or not accept it. Will you accept the righteousness that God has extended to you?

The choice is up to the individual.  Will you accept the invitation that He extended in Christ and put on what has been given you free of charge? Or will you reject the invitation?

It is not of our own abilities, but rather the King’s abilities. Doing your own works to make yourself righteous before God is to refuse the righteousness that He has already freely made available to you through the completed work of Christ.  Few have chosen to accept both the invitation and all that God has freely extended in Christ.

So, how do you know if you are one of the few?  Make the choice!  Accept God’s invitation which is to all of mankind. And, accept His righteousness which is freely yours thorough the completed work of Christ.

Matthew 22:1-14
And Jesus answered and spoke unto them again by parables, and said,

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Then said he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

And he said unto him, Friend, how came you in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Please leave a comment about wedding customs you know about, or any comment about this article.  We’d love to hear what you have to say.

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Mike Verdicchio
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There are a number of books that you can read to get insight on customs, manners, idioms and meanings from the eastern culture in which the Bible was written.  The best I know of were written by by Bishop K. C. Pillai.  I have had the pleasure of listening to recorded teaching by him.

He wrote three books, and they are hard to find, and are usually over priced.  But, if you want to you can check this link to see what Amazon has to offer. Light Through an Eastern Window

Another great resource that I have used for years is a book called, “Manners and Customs of the Bible,” by James Freeman. Mine was printed in 1972 and I know they have newer additions. For the newest edition, just click the link and it will take you to Amazon. The New Manners and Customs of the Bible (Pure Gold Classics)