It’s always very easy I think when we hear a parable like this to immediately equate the King with God but Jesus in his introduction is quite clear that this story is about the Kingdom of God.

A generous King gives a marriage feast for his son. A feast not a funeral.
The Kingdom of Heaven is a place of joy, gladness and celebration.
Maybe there is a message here for those who put on their serious face when church is mentioned, (Along with their serious clothes?)
But we are not talking about Church, we are talking about the Kingdom of God – surely, they are the same thing aren’t they?

The way the parable reads is that invitations have already gone out for the wedding but now (In the eastern tradition) the servants are sent out to tell those who have been invited that the moment has arrived, all is ready and they should be attending.
Apparently though it was not unusual for an invitation for an event to be issued without specifying the exact time until later.

But just imagine – someone turning up on your doorstep to tell you that the event is about to happen and you should be there!!
You cannot ignore that can you!
But this is not just an invitation to a party. This is an invitation to be part of something life changing and earth shatteringly different to anything you have ever known before.
A banquet overflowing. to which ALL are invited (And I mean all!) as the story depicts.

It is very likely that Jesus was aiming his parable at the religious leaders of the day when he talks about those who were invited but did not come. Their standing in the Kingdom was negligible. They have known about the invitation but have turned it down – often with great violent force and active resistance.
We too can resist and oppose God’s invitation and do so again and again.
All God demands from us is a simple ‘yes’. But time and again we find excuses to not fully accept God’s invitation.

The wedding feast goes ahead anyway: the Heavenly banquet does not stop because those who chose not to come stayed away; there is always room for more and in this case, as the whole of Jesus’ ministry and interaction with people demonstrates, everyone is invited – and they come.
It would be a bit much to expect those people who were brought in off the streets to be kitted out in suitable clothing ready for a wedding feast. However, it was often the tradition that the host would also provide beautiful festal robes for all to wear as they arrived.
In this way, the poor need not be ashamed of the clothes they came in, and the rich had no right to be proud of their fine gowns.
So, when a man is spotted who had obviously refused to accept the gift of robes, he might naturally be questioned.

This second part of the parable teaches that there is a sort of ‘dress code’ for you when you live your life in the way which aims to fit with the sort of Love which God gives to you.
It is a ‘dress code’, which is nothing to do with wearing the right clothes to church!
It is nothing to do with singing the right hymns in church or saying the right words.

It is a spiritual dress code which has everything to do with our preparation for coming into God’s presence wherever we prepare to meet Him. We hope of course that will be in worship on a Sunday, but it could also be within our own times of quiet prayer during the week, or as we walk out in the countryside or as we carry out our daily work or leisure.

When we come into God’s presence the focus is no longer on us – it is on God.
And in the presence of God – the creator and ruler of the universe, our spiritual clothing can only be that of thankfulness.
In the presence of God – through the Redeemer and Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ, our Spiritual clothing can only be that of repentance.
In the presence of God – the Holy Spirit who brings new power and strength and inspiration, our Spiritual clothing can only be that of acceptance and humility.