And he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment? But he was silent.
και λεγει αυτω εταιρε πως εισηλθες ωδε μη εχων ενδυμα γαμου ο δε εφιμωθη
10 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 11 commentaries
To approach in impure garments signifies living an impure life and losing divine grace. This is evidenced by the phrase, "But he kept silent." Notice how, despite the evident situation, the Lord refrains from administering punishment initially, waiting until the sinner has condemned his own actions. Lacking any defense, the sinner brings judgment upon himself, thereby subjecting himself to severe consequences.
And behold, the King entered to observe those who were seated (Matt. 22:11). Notice, dear friends, that the role of the servants was solely to extend invitations and gather both the righteous and the unrighteous. It does not mention that the servants scrutinized the guests or discovered one among them who lacked the appropriate wedding attire, nor that they questioned him. This is not what is recorded. The master of the house came in, recognized him, separated him from the others, and expelled him. This act was significant and could not be ignored. Now, let’s consider another aspect: how does this one individual symbolize the multitude?
The king entered to see those reclining, spotted a man without his wedding garment, and asked him, “Friend, how did you enter here without your wedding garment?” Yet, he remained silent. The One who posed the question was the One before whom he could not deceive.
My friend, how did you enter here? He addresses him as a friend, akin to someone summoned to the feast, yet he reprimands him for his lack of decorum, having soiled the sanctity of the celebration with his unclean attire. The man remained silent, for at that moment, there was no opportunity for contrition, nor any way to refute what had transpired, as all the angels and creation itself would stand as witnesses against wrongdoers.
He referred to him as a friend, identifying him as a Christian, albeit one who did not live up to that title. Yet, in His mercy, He extended His call to all. Why is this call so stringent? Because an individual invited to a wedding banquet, particularly a royal one, ought to arrive in proper attire, responding to the gracious invitation with appropriate decorum. While one might find excuses for not being suitably dressed at earthly weddings, such justifications hold no weight at this divine celebration, where the means to adorn oneself are close at hand for those willing to seek them earnestly. Consequently, the person who arrives improperly attired is rightly deemed lazy and careless.
Similarly, those who failed to show up entirely and those who presented themselves in unclean garments have equally offended the host. Garments that are dirty signify a lack of virtues such as compassion, kindness, and brotherly love. They reveal an absence of defenses against condemnation. This message illustrates that even in cases of manifest sin, the Lord withholds punishment until the sinner first judges themselves, for being unable to respond or remaining silent signifies self-condemnation.
Observe, the King arrives at the wedding feast and assesses the condition of our hearts, addressing the one who He discovers lacking the garment of love with immediate consternation, ‘Friend, how did you enter here without the wedding garment?’ It is indeed striking, dear brethren, that He refers to him as friend yet ultimately dismisses him, indicating a clear distinction: ‘friend’ in terms of faith, and ‘not friend’ based on actions. ‘But he remains silent,’ for it is a matter too profound to speak of without weeping; in this divine court of final judgment, there will be no opportunity for excuses, as he who cries from outside is a witness of his own conscience, silently accusing his soul.
However, it is essential to understand that anyone possessing this garment of virtue, albeit not in its fullness, should not lose hope of pardon at the entrance of the Holy King. For He, instilling hope through the Psalmist, proclaims: ‘In Thy book are written all the days appointed for me, when none of them was yet’ (Ps. 138:16). With this brief consolation offered to the fallen and weak, let us now direct our words to one who is utterly devoid of such hope.
Can you discern what the Lord instructs? Those who are invited to the wedding feast are those redeemed from wickedness and transformed into goodness and righteousness; yet those harboring any malice or wrongdoing, even if they attend the feast, are rejected and shamed by the angels, referred to here as servants. The guests who remain at the wedding banquet are the saints. However, some interpret that those lacking the wedding garment specifically refer to individuals who have stained their bodies through fornication, adultery, or murder, but this understanding is misguided. Anyone tarnished by sinful desires or inclinations lacks the wedding garment. To underscore this, consider the words of St.
Paul: do not deceive yourselves; neither fornicators nor adulterers, nor wrongdoers, nor the immoral, nor those who engage in same-sex relations, nor greedy individuals (who are also deemed idolaters), nor swindlers, nor manipulators, nor predators (I must also add for myself, nor those who harbor hatred or envy against any brother), shall inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10) and will have no share in the wedding feast of our Lord Jesus Christ. Observe how every vice and sin tarnishes the garment of our souls, thereby disqualifying us from the heavenly kingdom.
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As previously mentioned, Christ will also take on the role of the crown, adorning the heads of all the saints. He remains unchanged yet will reveal Himself in diverse ways to each individual, giving to everyone according to their worth. Consequently, Christ is to be the garment for all, a garment that each individual has strived to don during their earthly life; it is impossible for anyone to partake in that sacred marriage without being attired in that glorious raiment. Should someone manage to enter secretly (which, while unlikely, is not entirely beyond possibility), mingling with the righteous, they would be promptly cast out. The Lord Christ, aiming to demonstrate that it is unfeasible for anyone dressed in drab attire to remain at the wedding feast, conveyed this through a parable: asking, “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” and then adding, “Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness” (Matthew 22:12-13). It seems the Lord expressed this not because the man in shabby clothing could actually enter the wedding while hiding from God, who sees all, but because the time had not yet arrived to reveal such a sacred truth. He chose to communicate it metaphorically rather than stating outright that anyone not adorned in the garment of My Divinity cannot enter the wedding. However, the Apostle Paul has made this clear, saying, “As many as bear the image of the earthly, let us also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Cor. 15:49).
The union of the radiant and magnificent Son of the King is described in the Gospels, as found in Matthew 22:1-14, told by the Bridegroom Himself, who embodies more goodness than all humanity, being completely pure and without fault. In His very essence and through His own actions, He has fulfilled all aspects relating to the Sacrament of Marriage.
The Lord addressed Judas with the term "friend," indicating a companion, asking, "Friend, have you come for this?" He similarly admonished the remorseful individual who felt resentful over equal treatment, stating, "Friend, I will not offend you" (Matthew 20:13). However, on the day of reckoning, could the term "friend" be reserved solely for the faithful, who, through their belief and Holy Baptism, possess the grace of adoption, even if they have tarnished it through their transgressions? Could this appellation of "friend" reflect the humility of Jesus Christ, who remains gentle despite delivering rebuke and correction as a just Judge?
"Friend, why have you entered without the wedding garment?" How could one dare approach the glory of the saints, standing among the angels, devoid of the ornaments of virtue, and carrying a soul repentant yet stained by sin? The most wretched sinner, unable to respond to such a piercing question, remains silent and speechless, like one restrained by a bridle: "But he is silent." As the Kingly Prophet stated, "You shall grip their jaws with a rod and a bridle" (Psalm 31:9). Following this rebuke, the righteous King will issue a terrifying judgment.
He inquired of him, ‘Friend, how did you arrive here without wedding attire?’ The guest had no response to justify his presence at the feast without proper dress. He could not claim he had been unexpectedly summoned straight from a life of sin, nor argue that he lacked the opportunity to change into suitable clothing. It was evident that, despite the royal servants offering him fine garments, he chose to disregard their kindness, intentionally arriving at the king's celebration in disarray. What defense could he present? In his silence, he revealed the corruption of his heart. He remained mute, and in doing so, he pronounced judgment upon himself. To enter wearing unworthy attire signifies the loss of grace due to an impure life.
Therefore, it is stated, ‘But he kept silent.’ Observe how, although the case is evident, the Lord refrains from punishing initially; rather, it is when the sinner has already condemned himself that consequences follow. Lacking any justification, he has brought judgment upon himself and subjected himself to severe penalties. Why does the Lord reference a ‘wedding feast’ rather than marriage feasts? The Venerable Simeon the New Theologian explains, ‘This union occurs for every faithful disciple of the light.’ Each believing soul is not only invited to partake in the Kingdom of God but is also called to be the bride of Christ. The Lord provides us with every means to live in faith. Within the Sacraments of His Church, we find both purification and renewal of spirit, leaving us without excuse if we do not don the garment of righteousness, which the Heavenly King is always prepared to bestow upon us, provided we earnestly strive to fulfill His divine will and call upon Him: ‘I behold Thy altar, O my Savior, adorned, and I have no garment; permit me to enter in my filth: illuminate the garment of my soul, O Light-giver, and save me!’ The unworthy guest remained silent. The tongue of the sinner will be mute when he stands before the Judgment of God. He will not dare to defend himself when his eyes are opened to the full extent of the evil that corrupts his soul. Troubled by God and chastised by his conscience, he will await in fearful silence the pronouncement of divine verdict.
The arrival of the king signifies the divine judgment regarding the righteous and the unrighteous among those invited to the kingdom of Christ. This judgment occurs at times during our earthly existence, following death, and culminates in the final judgment. The unrighteous are depicted as a man lacking the appropriate wedding attire. In ancient traditions, particularly in the East, it was customary for kings and nobles to bestow outer garments upon their friends; to refuse such an offering would be to display scorn towards the giver (see Genesis 45:22, 1 Samuel 10:22, Esther 4:8, Esther 8:15). Recipients of these garments were expected to wear them to royal banquets.
Likewise, all guests were required to be attired in festive clothing; arriving in inappropriate attire would insult the host, and those who did so were deemed unfit to join in the king's celebration. In a similar manner, when individuals are called into Christ's kingdom, the Lord provides each one at baptism with a radiant robe of spiritual holiness. Should one disregard this garment and present themselves at the church’s sacred banquet wearing garments sullied by sin and leading a sinful existence, that individual is deserving of condemnation. While the invitation and purification are acts of grace, the responsibility lies with the recipients to ensure that they maintain the cleanliness of their garments at all times. This calling is given not based on merit, but through grace; thus, one must respond to grace with obedience, and having received this honor, must not commit such wickedness. Consequently, severe consequences await those who are negligent. Those who stray into a sinful lifestyle offend God just as those who neglect to come to Him. To enter with unclean garments signifies living a life devoid of purity and risking the loss of grace. Hence, it is stated, "But he kept silent..." Lacking any defense, he condemned himself and brought upon himself severe punishment.
"Cast into outer darkness": see Matthew 8:12. When you encounter the concept of darkness, do not assume that it merely signifies being relegated to a shadowy location; rather, it also encompasses 'weeping and gnashing of teeth,' which illustrates extreme torment (Chrysostom).
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 14 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS