How do you interpret this scripture?

[distracted]

In St. Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus says that the kingdom of Heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast but they refused to come… He kept inviting - and people kept refusing…

"Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his buisness. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was eneraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, “The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, “My firend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?” But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

What, exactly, is the wedding garment???

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

A pure soul.

USCCB - NAB

[11] A wedding garment: the repentance, change of heart and mind, that is the condition for entrance into the kingdom (Matthew 3:2; 4:17) must be continued in a life of good deeds (Matthew 7:21-23).

[13] Wailing and grinding of teeth: the Christian who lacks the wedding garment of good deeds will suffer the same fate as those Jews who have rejected Jesus; see the note on Matthew 8:11-12.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

In St. Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus says that the kingdom of Heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast but they refused to come… He kept inviting - and people kept refusing…

"Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his buisness. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was eneraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, “The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, “My firend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?” But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

What, exactly, is the wedding garment???

A narrative device, perhaps ? It could be a Christian addition to what Jesus originally said.​

The parable as a whole - you’ve summarised part of it - looks like a fusion of at least two parables or parts of parables; which may have happened in the course of the transmission of the traditions known to the Evangelist.

 

[Trishie]

The Jerusalem Bible study notes: “These verses explain that the man who accepted the invitation should have been dressed for the occasion–in other words, good works must go with faith.”

 

[Reformed]

What, exactly, is the wedding garment???

The wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ. Only those clothed in Christ’s righteousness are actually presentable to God. What is your wedding garment?

Romans 13:14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Romans 10

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

 

[Reformed]

The Jerusalem Bible study notes: “These verses explain that the man who accepted the invitation should have been dressed for the occasion–in other words, good works must go with faith.”

How much good works is needed? Please look at the end of this parable. “For many are called, but few are chosen”.

 

[Trishie]

Hi!

As your question draws from the bible notes, I’'ll pass on its comments on ttis final phrase of the parable.

“This sentence appears to refer to the first part of the parable rather than the second. It is a question not of the elect as a whole but of the Jews, the first to be invited. The parable of verses 1-10 neither asserts nor denies that some (a few) of the Jewish people have accepted the invitation and are chosen .” The notes then refer one to Matthew 24: 22+ "Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees etc.

Your comments suggest that we could head off onto topics regarding the means of salvation and faith and good works, justification and grace, so may I refer you to other threads on the subject? There are some recent threads.

God bless you,

Warm regards, Trishie

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I was taught that the wedding garment is sanctifying grace, the life of God in the soul. God is the king. He invites all of us. When we accept him and are baptized we are clothed with sanctifying grace. This is available to all but we must accept it.

The teacher who explained this to my grade school class said that the host would provide the wedding garments. The fact that the guest wasn’t wearing one meant that he had refused to put it on.

 

[Reformed]

Hi!

As your question draws from the bible notes, I’'ll pass on its comments on ttis final phrase of the parable.

“This sentence appears to refer to the first part of the parable rather than the second. It is a question not of the elect as a whole but of the Jews, the first to be invited. The parable of verses 1-10 neither asserts nor denies that some (a few) of the Jewish people have accepted the invitation and are chosen .” The notes then refer one to Matthew 24: 22+ "Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees etc.

Your comments suggest that we could head off onto topics regarding the means of salvation and faith and good works, justification and grace, so may I refer you to other threads on the subject? There are some recent threads.

God bless you,

Warm regards, Trishie

Thanks for the kind reply. The wedding garment is a very insightful question with a very essential answer.

 

[distracted]

A pure soul.

USCCB - NAB

[11] A wedding garment: the repentance, change of heart and mind, that is the condition for entrance into the kingdom (Matthew 3:2; 4:17) must be continued in a life of good deeds (Matthew 7:21-23).

[13] Wailing and grinding of teeth: the Christian who lacks the wedding garment of good deeds will suffer the same fate as those Jews who have rejected Jesus; see the note on Matthew 8:11-12.

thanks… I figured it was something along these lines…

Do you think the way to get this wedding garment is through the Catholic Church?? or do you think it matters about being Catholic??

 

[distracted]

A narrative device, perhaps ? It could be a Christian addition to what Jesus originally said.​

The parable as a whole - you’ve summarised part of it - looks like a fusion of at least two parables or parts of parables; which may have happened in the course of the transmission of the traditions known to the Evangelist.

What???

 

[distracted]

The wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ. Only those clothed in Christ’s righteousness are actually presentable to God. What is your wedding garment?

Romans 13:14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Romans 10

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

& righteousness involves good works…

 

[distracted]

How much good works is needed? Please look at the end of this parable. “For many are called, but few are chosen”.

i don’t understand the connection between good works & few being chosen. Those who are chosen KNOW they must do good works… The Bible says so… The Church says so… Common sense says so…

 

[distracted]

Hi!

It is a question not of the elect as a whole but of the Jews, the first to be invited. The parable of verses 1-10 neither asserts nor denies that some (a few) of the Jewish people have accepted the invitation and are chosen ." The notes then refer one to Matthew 24: 22+ "Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees etc.

Maybe the 1st group refers to the Jews but not necessarily the ohter ones… I believe the other people who reject are Jews and eveyrone else… who don’t want to live by the restraints of Christianity (true Chritianity)… For one thing, since “God is no respector of persons”, i don’t see what difference it makes whether they were Jews or whomever… The important thing in this passage is that they reject Christ… and his “narrow way”

 

[distracted]

I was taught that the wedding garment is sanctifying grace, the life of God in the soul. God is the king. He invites all of us. When we accept him and are baptized we are clothed with sanctifying grace. This is available to all but we must accept it.

The teacher who explained this to my grade school class said that the host would provide the wedding garments. The fact that the guest wasn’t wearing one meant that he had refused to put it on.

hmm… that is very interesting…

maybe he thought he was once saved, always saved and so, didn’t need it…

 

[Reformed]

& righteousness involves good works…

But how much good works, and what kind of good works is necessary to enter the kingdom of God?

 

[Reformed]

i don’t understand the connection between good works & few being chosen. Those who are chosen KNOW they must do good works… The Bible says so… The Church says so… Common sense says so…

I would say those who are chosen are enabled to walk in the works God prepared the chosen to do. Please see Ephesians 2:8-10. But what is the motivation and purpose for those kinds of good works God determined for the chosen to walk in? Are those kinds of good works the key to receiving the right garment?

 

[banjo]

“The marriage, says St. Gregory the Great ( In Evangelia homiliae, 36) is the wedding of Christ and his Church, and the garment is the virtue of charity: a person who goes into the feast without a wedding garment is someone who believes in the Church but does not have charity.” The Navarre Bible
From the same source……”The wedding garment signifies the dispositions a person needs for entering the Kingdom of heaven. Even though he may belong to the Church, if he does not have these dispositions he will be condemned on the day when God judges all mankind. These dispositions essentially mean responding to grace.”

 

[distracted]

“The marriage, says St. Gregory the Great ( In Evangelia homiliae, 36) is the wedding of Christ and his Church, and the garment is the virtue of charity: a person who goes into the feast without a wedding garment is someone who believes in the Church but does not have charity.” The Navarre Bible
From the same source……”The wedding garment signifies the dispositions a person needs for entering the Kingdom of heaven. Even though he may belong to the Church, if he does not have these dispositions he will be condemned on the day when God judges all mankind. These dispositions essentially mean responding to grace.”

wow… so it would seem that st. Gregory believed you had to be a member of the Church to be saved? What era did he live in?

(yes, i know the Church teaches that those outside the Church who believe in Christ but aren’t Catholic due to invincible ignorance are still part of the Church…

Had to say that so wouldn’t get pounced on by someone out there… )

 

[distracted]

But how much good works, and what kind of good works is necessary to enter the kingdom of God?

it seems to me that if you have read the New Testament, you would know (?).

(No, i am not trying to be a wiseacre… just saying wht comes to mind…)

Catholics hear the entire Bible in 3 yrs if they attend Mass daily/Sun for that long… (New Americn Standard version) so i thinik most Catholics should know what works are required…
(although i suppose its possible to attend daily Mass and let the readings go in one ear & out the other… however, that*** rarely*** seems to be the case with daily Mass attendees… (they are usually pretty into Jesus )