Matthew 22:10 kjv
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.
Matthew 22:10 nkjv
So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
Matthew 22:10 niv
So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
Matthew 22:10 esv
And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
Matthew 22:10 nlt
So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
Matthew 22 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 55:1-3 | "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money... hear so that your soul may live." | Universal invitation to salvation. |
| Zech 8:20-23 | "Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem..." | Gentiles coming to seek God. |
| Mal 1:11 | "From the rising of the sun to its setting My name shall be great among the Gentiles..." | God's global recognition. |
| Matt 8:11-12 | "Many will come from east and west... while the sons of the kingdom will be cast out." | Gentile inclusion, Israel's rejection. |
| Matt 13:47-49 | "The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea... and gathered some of every kind, which... the good they put into vessels, but threw the bad away." | Gathering of mixed multitude before separation. |
| Matt 13:24-30 | "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat... Let both grow together until the harvest." | Mixed nature of kingdom members until judgment. |
| Matt 21:43 | "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it." | Kingdom transferred due to rejection. |
| Mk 16:15 | "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." | Broad mandate for evangelism. |
| Lk 14:21-23 | (Parallel parable) "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city... Then go out into the highways and hedges..." | Emphasis on gathering widely, no exceptions. |
| Acts 1:8 | "You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." | Progressive global reach of witness. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.'" | God's non-partiality in accepting all. |
| Acts 13:46-47 | "Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, 'It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first... since you reject it... behold, we turn to the Gentiles.'" | Turning to Gentiles after Jewish rejection. |
| Rom 1:16 | "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." | Gospel's universal applicability. |
| Rom 11:11-12 | "Have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles... For if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!" | Jewish rejection leading to Gentile inclusion. |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity and equality in Christ, diverse inclusion. |
| Eph 2:11-13 | "Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh... now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." | Gentiles brought near to God. |
| Rev 5:9 | "You are worthy to take the scroll... for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation." | Redeemed people from all nations. |
| Rev 7:9-10 | "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb..." | Multitude of believers from every background. |
| Rev 22:17 | "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." | Ongoing open invitation to eternal life. |
| Jonah 4:11 | "Should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot discern between their right hand and their left...?" | God's concern for even "wicked" nations. |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." | Israel's purpose to be a light to Gentiles. |
| Ps 22:27 | "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You." | Global worship and turning to God. |
| Acts 2:39 | "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." | Promise extended broadly. |
Matthew 22 verses
Matthew 22 10 Meaning
Matthew 22:10 describes the King's servants fulfilling a command to invite anyone they find to the wedding feast, following the initial rejection by those originally invited. It highlights the vast, inclusive scope of God's call to the heavenly banquet, extending the invitation indiscriminately to people from all walks of life, both those considered "bad" and "good" from a worldly perspective, resulting in the wedding hall being filled. This signifies the widespread evangelistic effort that brings people into the sphere of God's kingdom.
Matthew 22 10 Context
Matthew 22:10 is part of Jesus' parable of the wedding feast (Matt 22:1-14). This parable immediately follows the parable of the wicked vinedressers (Matt 21:33-46) and precedes Jesus' encounters with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes regarding taxes, resurrection, and the greatest commandment. In these chapters (Matt 21-22), Jesus directly challenges the Jewish religious leaders' authority and warns them of their impending judgment due to their rejection of Him. The parable in Matthew 22 illustrates God's persistent invitation to His kingdom, the severe consequences of rejecting it, and the subsequent expansion of the invitation to all. Verse 10 specifically describes the King's second response to the first invited guests' hostile refusal and murder of His servants. Historically, this parable reflects God's sending of prophets, then His Son, to Israel. Upon Israel's general rejection, particularly by its leadership, the invitation to the Kingdom of God was extended to the Gentiles, represented by "all whom they found" on the highways, regardless of their societal standing or perceived moral worth.
Matthew 22 10 Word analysis
- So: Indicates a logical progression or consequence, following the King's directive in response to the first group's refusal and violence (Matt 22:7-8).
- those servants: (Greek: douloi) Refers to the King's bondsmen or slaves, highlighting their complete obedience to the King's command. In context, these likely represent evangelists and apostles commissioned to proclaim the Gospel.
- went out: (Greek: exēlthon) Denotes active departure, an outward mission. They didn't wait; they proactively sought.
- into the highways: (Greek: diexodous) Literally "outlets" or "crossroads," suggesting public places, main thoroughfares, or points where roads diverge. This signifies reaching a wide and indiscriminate audience, moving beyond narrow social circles or the confines of the city's original invitees. It contrasts with invitations confined to exclusive, elite circles.
- and gathered together: (Greek: synēgagon) Implies bringing people into an assembly, a convocation. It emphasizes the active effort to bring individuals into the fellowship of the wedding feast.
- all whom they found: This phrase highlights the absolute inclusivity of the new invitation. There are no restrictions based on social status, ethnicity, or prior spiritual standing. It signifies the universal scope of the gospel call.
- both bad and good: (Greek: ponērous kai agathous) "Bad" refers to those who are wicked, worthless, or evil; "good" refers to those who are morally upright or beneficial. This emphasizes that the initial call of the Gospel is entirely indiscriminate. It is not based on inherent moral worthiness. All are welcomed, signifying God's grace and patience in reaching humanity where it is, before any sifting or judgment occurs.
- And the wedding hall: (Greek: ho gamos) Refers to the marriage feast itself, the banquet, or the wedding reception. It represents the celebration of God's Kingdom, or fellowship with Him.
- was filled with guests: (Greek: eplēsthē anakemōn) "Was filled" indicates a completed action and the desired outcome. "With guests" (more accurately "those reclining") refers to those who took their places at the banquet. This illustrates the success of the extended, universal invitation; God's kingdom will not lack participants.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- So those servants went out into the highways: This action portrays the shift from a limited, privileged invitation to an unrestricted, widespread outreach. The "servants" are diligent in their mission.
- and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good: This crucial phrase emphasizes the profound scope and nature of the new invitation. It’s a radical embrace of inclusiveness, showcasing that God’s grace is offered universally without prerequisite human merit or social distinction. The gathering precedes any moral sifting, demonstrating God’s patience.
- And the wedding hall was filled with guests: This signifies the ultimate success and fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Despite the initial rejection, God's purpose for the Kingdom will not be thwarted, and His divine gathering will ultimately result in a full participation.
Matthew 22 10 Bonus section
This verse stands in tension with verses 11-14, where the King inspects the guests and finds one without a wedding garment, leading to his expulsion. Verse 10 depicts the gathering or evangelistic phase – the open invitation to all. The subsequent verses describe the discerning or judgmental phase, where genuine acceptance and transformation (symbolized by the wedding garment) are required for true and lasting participation in the Kingdom. Thus, while the call is broad and undiscriminating, genuine entry requires proper preparation and submission to the King's standards, which come from the King's provision. This implies that outward adherence to the invitation is not enough; inward spiritual qualification, provided by the King himself, is also necessary.
Matthew 22 10 Commentary
Matthew 22:10 powerfully illustrates the extensiveness of God's grace in calling humanity to His kingdom feast. Following the initial guests' violent refusal, the King, representing God, redirects His invitation, demonstrating His persistent desire for His banquet to be full. This redirection symbolizes the shift in salvation history from a primarily Jewish focus to the inclusion of Gentiles, when the message of the Kingdom was rejected by much of Israel's leadership. The command to invite "all whom they found, both bad and good," highlights the non-discriminatory nature of the Gospel call. It emphasizes that entrance into the Kingdom is not predicated on pre-existing human merit or social status, but on accepting the King's gracious invitation. This indiscriminate gathering brings people from every walk of life into the fold, emphasizing that God's desire is for all to be present at His table, ultimately filling the heavenly kingdom assembly. This sets the stage for the subsequent divine assessment of who is truly fit for the kingdom (implied in the next verses, where the King inspects the guests).
- Example 1: Missionaries proclaiming the Gospel in various countries, not just targeting specific ethnic groups, but reaching out to everyone they meet regardless of their past.
- Example 2: A church opening its doors wide, welcoming people from all backgrounds – whether struggling with sin or appearing outwardly righteous – to hear the message of Christ.