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In exploring why Jesus told the parable to whom he did when he did, we know that Jesus is telling it to the Pharisees, as their opposition to him reaches its climax. Looking at Matthew 21:46 just before this parable and verse fifteen just after, we can see some of that conflict. The conflict had been intense and public. Repeatedly, Jesus had made these "wise leaders" look like fools as they tried to make him look bad. Now, he speaks to them in righteous wrath when all hope of his acceptance by the Jewish leadership is gone.

Within this frame of reference, we understand that God is the king who selected the Israelites as the first-choice guests to the wedding feast. The first invitation was sent through the prophets. Now the day of the wedding is drawing close. Jesus and disciples come saying the kingdom is at hand. They are the second set of messengers. Jews, particularly the leaders, ignore it and even get downright nasty so the call is extended to others. The call shifts from the religious to the sinners. It went from the righteous elite to the commoners - fishermen, prostitutes, publicans, and all sinners. They are freely given robes of righteousness but some still try to come to Jesus with their own robes. One example of someone coming with his own clothes is the rich young ruler who came wrapped in Commandment obedience and went away sorrowfully in Matthew 19:16-22 . In this parable, Jesus made it plain that God would destroy the little kingdom of the religious leaders.

From a prophetic vantage point, we can see that Jesus was not just speaking of the Jewish leaders but about all of God's chosen people. Jews as a whole rejected Jesus so the call goes out to the Gentiles. Some Jews just keep at doing their regular religious business. The Jews killed or ignored the prophets up to John the Baptist who delivered the first invitation. It is given a second time by Jesus and the disciples. It is re-given to the Jews even after Jesus' death by his disciples, many of whom were martyred, for several years after Pentecost before the invitation is given to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:46 – Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

The Jews were then scattered as Titus' army destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. The wedding garment then becomes a symbol of God's saving grace – the righteousness of Jesus. In Revelation 19:11-14 , we see the armies are all dressed in fine white linen – the wedding garments Jesus prepared for his bride the church. That is why we must "put on the Lord Jesus" (Romans 13:14) or "put on the new man" (Colossians 3:10)

But, some of us Gentiles who believe Jesus came and died for us and accept the invitation still try to come in our own clothes. Cults who believe Jesus' invitation but do not think the robes Jesus gives are good enough for God's hall so they have the nicest clothes they can buy. However, Isaiah 64:6 calls our finest robes of self-righteousness nothing more than filthy rags. People like this fit the description Paul gave of the Israelites in Roman 10

Romans 10:2-4
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

If this is a story that spans time from the Old Testament days until his triumphant return then the story has not ended. We must be in that story somewhere. You and I can each find a personal meaning for ourselves. We are each characters in this parable.

The Called
I am the called and so are you. You and I are invited to a feast in Jesus. He calls himself both bread and water and he commands us to eat of him. We are all invited to taste a personal relationship with him. In verses nine and ten, we know no matter who we are or what we have done, the invitation is given to us all – the good and the bad.

We must each respond to that invitation in one of four ways. We can respond with apathy or indifference as those in verse five did. We can respond in anger, hostility, and rebellion as those in verse six did. Or, we can make an agreeable but self-righteous response as the man in eleven and twelve did saying, "I want to come on my own terms. I won't totally commit to God's process". Those who respond in this way may be willing to join a church but not surrender their life. They could also just be willing to give up some parts of life but not the whole of it. Notice here the servants let this one person in but God kicked him out. Sometimes we'll have people like this in our midst but we do not kick them out God will come judgment day. Lastly, we can respond with acceptance and willingness like those in verse ten did. They completely committed to Christ. Full surrender means coming on his terms.

The Messengers
I should be a messenger. We all should be messengers. The invitation is extended to all of us – the good and the bad. God wants his banquet hall full. No one servant can give the invitation to the entire world but if each person tells those in their little world then the world will know that they have been invited. We must invite them to come and fill the halls of heaven.

The Chosen
The parable ends with a simple statement in verse 14. "Many are called but few are chosen." I am among the chosen. I know I am. We must all ask that question of ourselves. Am I chosen? Do you want to be chosen? To be chosen you must do three things. First, you must respond to the invitation. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, "I stand at the door, and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him." Second, you have to wear the right clothes. Do not wear your dirty work clothes; come in the fine apparel of Grace, Love, and Mercy handcrafted by Jesus. Colossians 3 tells us what these clothes will look like.

Colossians 3:10-14 (NKJV)
¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (Our clothes do not show our race, national origin, political party - only Jesus.)
¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (If we wear our clothes everyone can see them. They will see mercy, kindnes, and humility.) ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (The greatest garment we wear is love. We must love everyone always. When we don't we cast aside the wedding garments Christ bought with his blood.)

Lastly, you must enjoy the wedding. This should be easy, just be happy and satisfied. Enjoy being in the King's presence and enjoy his gifts.