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Lots to chew on this morning
...Jesus talking about authority
- recognition of authority
requires more than a 'nod'
but obedience to that authority  ref Matt 21:23-31
The parables and teaching that follows this continue
to reinforce the cost of 
choosing to ignore authority.
One of those stories is that of the Wedding feast.
King invites all his friends
all His 'friends' have an excuse and don't come
King invites then anyone...
Matt 22:8  "Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.
9  Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’
10  So the servants went out into the streets 
and gathered all the people they could find, 
both good and bad, 
and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11  "But when the king came in to see the guests, 
he noticed a man there 
who was not wearing wedding clothes.
12  ‘Friend,’ he asked, 
‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ 
The man was speechless.
13  "Then the king told the attendants, 
‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, 
into the darkness, 
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
In commentary by BARNES he says;
In ancient times, 
kings and princes invitations to a feast were accompanied by presents of clothes for their friends and favourites...
To refuse to receive them was an expression of highest contempt.
It was expected that such garments would be worn when they came into the presence of the King. 
The garments worn on festival occasions were chiefly long white robes; 
The man 'without wedding garments' 
came in his common ordinary dress, 
as he was taken from the highway; 
and though he had didn't have a suitable garment of his own for the occasion, 
one had been provided for him....
Obviously he refused to accept the gift of the King....
Apparently he thought his clothes were 'good enough'....
Not wearing what was provided 
was considered 
the highest disrespect for the king's generosity. 
Oh Lord,
King most high.
My Master and
Saviour.
let not pride in my accomplishments
...the things I like to 'cover' myself with...
not stop me from
accepting Your gifts
Your covering
Your blessings.
That I would enter in
to Your Kingdom
with Your provision 
for me.
I choose to
lose my pride
and receive
gratefully
Your 'wedding clothes'
You are All I need..
Thank You Lord.
Yes.
PJ