📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's parable in Matthew 22:1-14. A king prepares a wedding feast for his son and sends servants to call the invited guests. They refuse, abuse the servants, and kill some. The king destroys those murderers and burns up their city. Then he sends servants into the highways to bring in everyone they find, both bad and good, until the wedding is filled. A guest without a wedding garment is bound and cast into outer darkness. For many are called, but few are chosen.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
WEDDING BANQ, n.
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A scriptural parable of Christ; the wedding banquet for the king's son.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 22:2 — "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son."
Matthew 22:9 — "Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage."
Matthew 22:12 — "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless."
Matthew 22:14 — "For many are called, but few are chosen."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity assumes attendance equals acceptance; the wedding garment matters.
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The wedding-banquet parable contains a feature that modern preaching often skips: the man cast out for not having a wedding garment. The narrative seems severe — he was brought in from the highways with everyone else; how could he have a garment? But ancient kings provided wedding garments to their guests; refusing to wear it was an open insult to the host. The man came to the wedding but rejected the king's provided clothing.
Modern Christianity sometimes assumes attendance at the gathering equals acceptance by the King. The parable refuses the assumption. The wedding garment — the imputed righteousness of Christ — is provided by the King and must be worn. The man who comes to the wedding in his own clothes will be cast out. Wear the garment. The Bridegroom Himself supplies it.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G1062 — gamos — wedding
G1742 — enduma — garment
Usage
"Modern Christianity assumes attendance equals acceptance; the wedding garment matters."
"The garment is provided by the King; the guest must wear it."
"Wear the garment. The Bridegroom Himself supplies it."