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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not 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.

Context of Matthew 22:3

1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who held a wedding feast for his son. And he sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened cattle are all butchered and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!”’ 5But they paid no attention and went their separate ways, one to his own 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

• sentἀποστέλλωapostellō · to sendG649
• his slavesδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
• to callκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• thoseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• to the weddingγάμοςgamos · weddingG1062
• and they were unwillingοὐou · noG3756
• and they were unwillingθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• to comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064

Cross-references for Matthew 22:3

• Matthew 3:2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
• Matthew 10:6but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
• Psalms 68:11The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim good news are a great army:
• Proverbs 9:1Wisdom has built her house, She has carved out her seven pillars;
• Isaiah 55:1“You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.
• Jeremiah 25:4And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear,
• Jeremiah 35:15Also I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them again and again, saying: ‘Turn now every person from his evil way and amend your deeds, and do not follow other gods to worship them. Then you will live in the land which I have given to you and to your forefathers; but you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.
• Mark 6:7And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits;
• Luke 9:1Now He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and the power to heal diseases.
• Luke 14:15Now when one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, 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 cost.
• 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 until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now then, go up, for you will find him about this time.”
• Zephaniah 1:7Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near, Because the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests.
• Matthew 23:37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
• Psalms 81:10I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
• Proverbs 1:24Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

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