The Robes of Righteousness

March 1 - This week we are studying Matthew 22.  "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they would not come............  So those servants went out into the highways and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good.  And the wedding hall was filled with guests.  But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.  So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.  Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

It was the custom in those days for kings to provide garments for the wedding guests.  This way everyone would be dressed in the same expensive clothing.  As a kid, I could never figure out how the royal closets would have just the right number of pants and shirts in all the right sizes.  But this was the Middle East, and everyone wore robes.  Like our bathrobes, you would only need small, medium and large sizes, and everyone could be properly fitted.

God has also provided a spiritual covering for His people.  "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27).  "But put ye on The Lord Christ Jesus, and make not provision for the flesh" (Romans 13:14).  It is impossible for us to supply our own righteousness; God has made provision for us in Christ Jesus.  When we believe on Him, God sees us through new eyes, imputing the righteousness of His son to us.  We are justified by simple faith.  

Colossians 3:10 "And have put on the new man, who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 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.  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyfull in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels" (Isaiah 61:10).  The robe of righteousness in Christ will become the garment of our salvation for all eternity.