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.
• 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.
• 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

1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, 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 3:2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
• Matthew 10:6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
• Psalms 68:11The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
• Proverbs 9:1Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars.
• Isaiah 55:1“Come, all you who are thirsty, 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 though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.
• Jeremiah 35:15Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me.
• Mark 6:7Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
• Luke 9:1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
• Luke 14:15When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
• Revelation 22:17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
• 1 Samuel 9:13As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.”
• Zephaniah 1:7Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.
• Matthew 23:37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
• Psalms 81:10I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
• Proverbs 1:24But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,

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