Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 22:11

"But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment:" — Matthew 22:11 (ASV)

A man which had not on a wedding garment. In ancient times, kings and princes used to give sets of garments as presents to their friends and favorites, and refusing to accept these was an expression of the highest contempt (Genesis 14:22; 2 Kings 10:22; Esther 6:8; Esther 8:16).

It was, of course, expected that such garments would be worn when they came into the presence of the benefactor. The garments worn on festival occasions were chiefly long white robes, and it was the custom for the host of the feast to prepare such robes to be worn by the guests.

This renders the conduct of this man more inexcusable. He came in his common, ordinary dress, just as he was taken from the highway; and though he did not have a garment of his own suitable for the occasion, yet one had been provided for him, if he had applied for it.

His failure to do so was expressive of the highest disrespect for the king. This beautifully represents the conduct of the hypocrite in the church. A garment of salvation might be his, fashioned by the hands of the Savior and dyed in His blood. But the hypocrite chooses the filthy rags of his own righteousness and thus offers the highest contempt for that provided in the gospel.

He is to blame, not for being invited; not for coming, if he chose to come—for he is freely invited; but for offering the highest contempt to the King of Zion, in presenting himself with all his filth and rags, and in refusing to be saved in the way provided in the gospel.