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Matthew 22

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

And last of all the woman died also.

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.

He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

What does Matthew 22:4 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 22:4 is a part of the Parable of the Wedding Feast, where Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven and God's invitation to people.

In this particular verse, the king (who represents God) sends out additional servants to those invited to his son's wedding feast to inform them that everything is ready for them to come and partake in the celebration.

The king's servants report that the preparations are complete, including the slaughtering of oxen and fattened livestock, which are signs of a grand feast.

This verse has both a literal and a profound spiritual significance.

Literally, it reflects the customs of the time when such a feast would include a lavish meal.

Spiritually, it signifies God's abundant provision and readiness to receive those He has invited into His kingdom.

The invitation is urgent and conveys the importance of the event, God's gracious offering of salvation through Jesus Christ.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Matthew 22:4 is during the time of Jesus' ministry, specifically as He was teaching in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The parable reflects the Jewish customs of marriage and banquets, which were significant social events.

Additionally, this parable speaks to the relationship between God and Israel, where Israel is often depicted as the bride and God as the bridegroom or the host of the feast.

The historical setting was wrought with expectation of the coming Messiah and the Kingdom of God, and Jesus used parables like this to explain the nature of the Kingdom and people's responses to it.

Theological Insights

Theologically, the verse illustrates God's persistent invitation to humanity to partake in His Kingdom. A few notable perspectives include:

Conservative theology would emphasize God's grace and mankind's response or lack thereof to His invitation. 2.

Liberation theology might view the parable as a statement against those who oppressively ignore God's call due to being consumed by their wealth or power. 3.

Covenant theology would see this as a reflection of the New Covenant in Christ, surpassing the Old Covenant that was established with Israel.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse encourages the faithful to respond to God's invitation, acknowledging the preparation and sacrifice made, which is representative of Jesus' crucifixion.

It highlights the importance of prioritizing spiritual matters over worldly concerns and being responsive to divine opportunities when they present themselves.

Additionally, it serves as a reminder to extend hospitality and to be ready for communion with God at all times.

Cross-References

Luke 14:17: "And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready."
Revelation 19:9: "And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."

Isaiah 25:6: "And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek language of this verse include:

"Dinner" (ἄριστον, ariston): This can mean an early meal or banquet, indicating a significant meal in this context.
"Oxen" (ταῦροι, tauroi) and "fatlings" (σιτευτὰ, siteuta): These terms refer to animals prepared for the banquet, suggesting a very generous and expensive feast.
"Killed" (ἔθυσα, ethusa): This term implies not only the killing of the animals but also the idea of sacrifice, which could symbolize Christ's sacrificial death.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In cultural and religious comparisons, ancient feasts and banquets were common in many cultures as a sign of wealth, celebration, and divine favor.

In Greek mythology, the gods often feasted on Olympus.

In the Jewish tradition, banquets were associated with covenantal celebrations, such as the Passover.

This parable aligns with these cultural narratives while emphasizing the inclusivity and graciousness of the divine host.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, discussions might center on the agricultural practices of the time, the significance of meat consumption in ancient diets, or the historical breeding of livestock for feasting.

Studies on the communal aspect of feasting also contribute to understanding the social dynamics reinforced through shared meals, which underpin many of the parable's assumptions.

Commentaries

Biblical commentaries offer various interpretations of Matthew 22:4. For example:

The Pulpit Commentary emphasizes the repeated nature of God's invitation and the meticulous preparations that God made for the redemption of humanity.
Matthew Henry's Commentary discusses how the gospel feast is ready for its guests, drawing parallels between the physical preparations for a feast and the spiritual provision made by God through Christ.
The Expositor's Greek Testament highlights the symbolic gesture of killing the fattened animals, pointing to the lavishness of the divine provision and the feast as an image of the eschatological banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 22

Matthew 22

What does Matthew 22:4 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 22:4 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?