Matthew 22:12
Friday, 21 August 2026
So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Matthew 22:12
“And he says to him, ‘Shammer! How – you entered here, not having ‘apparel, nuptial’?’ The ‘also’, he muzzled.” (CG)
In the previous verse, Jesus, still relaying the details of the parable, said that when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man who did not have on a wedding garment. Seeing him, Jesus notes, “And he says to him, ‘Shammer!’”
This is the second of three uses of the word hetairos. HELPS Word Studies defines it, saying, “properly, a companion (normally an imposter), posing to be a comrade but in reality only has his own interests in mind.” They also note he is acting for self-gain.
The man is seen to be unqualified to be at the wedding. Therefore, the king continues, “How – you entered here, not having ‘apparel, nuptial’?”
As noted in the previous commentary, this is an example of the care that will be given to the matter of the feast. It’s not that a person who is not qualified to be there will be mistakenly taken at the rapture. Rather, it is a way of demonstrating limitation. Only those who are properly attired will be able to attend.
God knows, in advance, who is His and who is not. In a good church with good doctrine and a right heart for the Lord, there may be some who are only there for a selfish reason. They will be excluded.
In a bad church with few who care about the Lord, there may be some who still hold to the truth and have faith in the Lord and His word. They will be included while the others are excluded. As it says in 2 Timothy 2:19, “The Lord knows those who are His.” Finishing up the thought, Jesus says, “The ‘also’, he muzzled.”
Considering that Jesus’ parable points to those of the law who have rejected the grace of God in Christ, Paul’s words of Romans 3 fit these words well –
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19, 20
Life application: For those who insist on law observance, it is good to be reminded for whom the law is designed. Is this how you want to be perceived by God? Paul says –
“But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” 1 Timothy 1:8-11
Is that how you want to be considered in God’s eyes? If so, keep up with your law observance! When you are evaluated in accord with the standard you have chosen, you will find yourself removed from God’s presence because of your unfaithful stand.
You have willingly continued to place yourself at enmity with God, because it is by law that we have the knowledge of sin. When sin is committed under the law, judgment must be meted out. However, in Christ, because of trusting in His fulfillment of the law, Paul says we are not under law but grace.
As we are not under law, there is no judgment leading to condemnation. Sin cannot be imputed where law does not exist. This is what it means to be “in Christ.” As Jesus has met God’s standard, and because we have trusted in the imputation of His righteousness to us by faith, we are a part of Him, set aside from any chance of condemnation.
Why would anyone want to set that aside and live under law? And yet, it is as common as mosquitoes in Florida in the summertime. People need to think clearly about the consequences of their prideful actions. By placing oneself under law, he is bound to the consequences of violating that law.
People understand this in other areas of life. In the US, there is an enormous exodus of people from liberal states where laws are passed to punish the people with high taxes, removal of personal freedoms, and the imposition of nutty restrictions. They want to be freed from those things, understanding that the move will take them to a place where those laws don’t exist.
Law is the problem! And yet, in our spiritual lives, so many keep going back to the source of penalties instead of the freedom in Christ. Think things through. Trust in God’s grace. Rest contentedly in the full, final, finished, and forever work of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord God Almighty, help us to think clearly about where we will hang our proverbial hat in matters related to salvation. May we never consider hanging it anywhere but on Jesus’ completed work. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.
