CORINTH

-Sermon Notes-

October 11, 2026

 

 “Are We Looking Spiffy?”

(Psalm 106:1-5, Matthew 22:1-14)

     Getting dressed-up these days looks a lot different than it used to, from the robes of biblical times, to the corsets and top hats of the 1800’s, to the leisure suits of the 70s, to the Hollywood tuxedoes of today. 

     We likely think of Jesus as more of a casual dresser, right?  When we think of Jesus interacting with people, we likely don’t think of him placing much of an emphasis on what they wore.  And so it is surprising that the end of today’s parable from Jesus a man gets thrown out of a party (kingdom of heaven) because he wasn’t wearing the right shirt. What is going on here?

     As was often the case, Jesus was teaching people about the kingdom of heaven by sharing a parable.  Parables include elements which are representative.  For example, in this parable the king represents God, the wedding banquet represents the kingdom of heaven, the servants represent the prophets through the ages who have been selected by God to extend an invitation to God’s “party,” those who ignored the invitation represent those in religious authority.  Other elements include all the “others” who were invited (both good and bad) who represent the “sinners” and Gentiles, while the man at the end of the parable who wasn’t wearing the proper outfit represents those who accept the invitation, but are not fully committed.  (Side note: it was customary at that time for the host of a wedding banquet to provide each guest with wedding attire as they arrived. To not wear the outfit would serve to insult the host, indicating that the guest was not fully committed to the experience.)

     The author of psalm 106 is not known, but historians believe it was written during the Israelite’s Babylonian captivity.  In the midst of their difficult experience, the psalmist emphasized the importance of a full commitment to God (note vs. 3.) The psalmist recognized the importance of being “all-in” when it comes to relationship with God and the Kingdom.  Seems to me the psalmist is suggesting that when we are only partly committed to God, we have greatly diminished the avenue through which God’s presence flows to and in us, and weakens us as God’s agents in this world.

     When it comes to being “all-in,” here’s an analogy.  Imagine a winter walk through the Maine woods; at the conclusion of your walk you are shivering from the cold since you have been walking in the shade.  As your walk concludes you come into an open field. Instead of walking into the field and turning fully toward the warmth of the sun, you stay behind a tree and just stick your foot out into the sun.  Yes, it may take more work to walk into the open field, but it is in the field where we commit and engage ourselves, fully embraced by the warmth of the sun.

      Jesus’ words today remind us of the importance of being “all-in” when it comes to God’s kingdom; may it be so for us.