Matthew 22:3

Matthew 22:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
• New International Version (NIV)He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
• New King James Version (NKJV)and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
• New Living Translation (NLT)When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

Context of Matthew 22:3

1And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."' 5But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,

Matthew 22:3 word by word

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• sent forthἀποστέλλωapostellō · to sendG649
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• servantsδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
• to callκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the weddingγάμοςgamos · weddingG1062
• they wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• notοὐou · noG3756
• comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064

Cross-references for Matthew 22:3

• Matthew 3:2"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
• Matthew 10:6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
• Psalms 68:11The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host:
• Proverbs 9:1Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.
• Isaiah 55:1"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
• Jeremiah 25:4You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the Lord persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets,
• Jeremiah 35:15I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, 'Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.' But you did not incline your ear or listen to me.
• Mark 6:7And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
• Luke 9:1And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
• Luke 14:15When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
• Revelation 22:17The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
• 1 Samuel 9:13As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately."
• Zephaniah 1:7Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.
• Matthew 23:37"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
• Psalms 81:10I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
• Proverbs 1:24Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

Commentaries on Matthew 22:3

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And sent forth his servants - These represent the messengers that God has sent to invite people to his kingdom. To call them that were bidden - That is, to give notice to those who had before been invited that the feast was ready. It appears that there were two invitations - one considerably previous to the time of the feast, that they might have opportunity to prepare for it, and the other to give notice of the precise time when they were expected. The…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5those he had invited: This refers to the nation of Israel. They ignored God's servants, the prophets (see study note on Matthew 21:33–46).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. and sent forth his servants--representing all preachers of the Gospel. to call them that were bidden--here meaning the Jews, who were "bidden," from the first choice of them onwards through every summons addressed to them by the prophets to hold themselves in readiness for the appearing of their King. to the wedding--or the marriage festivities, when the preparations were all concluded. and they would not come--as the issue of the whole ministry of the…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 22:3

• Covetousness
• Feasts
• Hospitality
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Wicked (People)
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Abundance
• Banquet
• Commandment
• Darkness
• Dinner
• Entangle
• Entertain
• Friend
• Guest
• Image

Commentaries on Matthew 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings