Matthew 22:11 kjv
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Matthew 22:11 nkjv
"But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
Matthew 22:11 niv
"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.
Matthew 22:11 esv
"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
Matthew 22:11 nlt
"But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.
Matthew 22 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 19:8 | "Let us rejoice... for the marriage of the Lamb has come... her fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints." | Righteousness as wedding attire. |
| Isa 61:10 | "He has clothed me with garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness." | God's provision of spiritual covering. |
| Zech 3:3-5 | Joshua's filthy garments removed, and clean garments put on him. | Sin removed, new spiritual attire given. |
| Phil 3:9 | "...not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ." | Righteousness by faith, not human effort. |
| Rom 13:14 | "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ..." | Putting on Christ's character and righteousness. |
| Gal 3:27 | "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." | Clothed in Christ through baptism/faith. |
| Eph 4:22-24 | "...to put off your old self... and to put on the new self." | Spiritual transformation, new identity. |
| Col 3:9-10 | "...having put off the old self with its practices and having put on the new self." | Renewing identity in Christ. |
| Matt 22:12-13 | "Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot... into the outer darkness.'" | Consequence of lacking the garment. |
| Matt 25:41 | "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me... into the eternal fire.'" | Judgment and exclusion. |
| Luke 13:27 | "...He will say, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'" | Denial of recognition for the unprepared. |
| 1 Cor 6:9-10 | "...do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?" | Unrighteousness excludes from kingdom. |
| John 3:3 | "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." | Prerequisite for kingdom entry. |
| Matt 7:21 | "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven." | Lip service is not enough. |
| Rom 10:9-10 | "...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord... you will be saved." | The means of spiritual acceptance. |
| Luke 14:18-20 | Guests making excuses to avoid the original banquet. | Rejection of the invitation/preparation. |
| Matt 3:7-8 | John the Baptist warning against outward appearance without inner fruit. | Call for genuine repentance. |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come..." | Evidence of new creation/garment. |
| Titus 3:5 | "...He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." | Righteousness as God's grace, not works. |
| Rev 7:9, 13-14 | "clothed in white robes..." coming out of the great tribulation. | Victory and purification in Christ. |
| Jude 1:23 | "hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." | Distinguishing from moral corruption. |
| Psa 45:13-14 | "The royal daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold." | Inner beauty matched by glorious attire (bride). |
Matthew 22 verses
Matthew 22 11 Meaning
Matthew 22:11 speaks of a guest at the king's wedding banquet who was found without the appropriate attire, signifying a deeper spiritual lack. This wedding garment symbolizes the righteousness and spiritual readiness required to be a part of God's kingdom. It points to the necessary inner transformation and divine covering—provided by God through Christ—rather than mere external participation or self-righteousness, highlighting that attendance alone is insufficient without genuine spiritual qualification.
Matthew 22 11 Context
Matthew 22:11 is part of Jesus' parable of the Wedding Feast (Matt 22:1-14), spoken in the temple precincts during the final week before His crucifixion. This parable is the third in a series (following the Two Sons and the Tenants) addressing the religious leaders of Israel who rejected God's invitations and killed His messengers. The king represents God, the son is Jesus, and the wedding banquet symbolizes the kingdom of heaven. Initially, those invited (Israel) reject the call, leading to their destruction (7). Subsequently, others from "the main roads" (Gentiles and common people) are invited, filling the hall (9-10). Verse 11 introduces a new dimension to the parable, focusing not on those who reject the invitation, but on one who accepts it outwardly but lacks the necessary inner spiritual state, highlighting that mere presence is insufficient for acceptance into God's kingdom. It serves as a stark warning against presumption and hypocritical religiosity among those who appear to be followers.
Matthew 22 11 Word analysis
- But (δέ - de): A strong adversative conjunction, marking a distinct shift or contrast from the previous action. It signals the king's scrutiny of the guests after the hall has been filled, highlighting that presence alone is not sufficient.
- when the king (τοῦ βασιλέως - tou basileōs): The same king mentioned earlier in the parable, representing God the Father. His "coming in" signifies a time of inspection and judgment, indicating divine omniscience and accountability.
- came in (εἰσελθόντος - eiselthontos): The action of the king's entrance implies a deliberate and authoritative review of those present. It highlights the moment of truth and discernment.
- to look (θεάσασθαι - theasasthai): Means to look closely, to inspect with interest or for discernment. This is not a casual glance but a thorough examination, indicating God's detailed knowledge of each individual's heart and spiritual state.
- at the guests (τοὺς ἀνακειμένους - tous anakeimenous): Literally "those reclining," referring to the posture of banqueters in that era. It signifies all who accepted the invitation and are now partaking in the feast, drawing attention to their individual identities within the group.
- he saw (εἶδεν - eiden): A simple past tense, indicating direct observation.
- there (ἐκεῖ - ekei): Emphasizes the specific place within the banquet hall where the man was found, making his inappropriate state evident.
- a man (ἄνθρωπον - anthrōpon): Refers to a single individual, stressing that accountability is personal, even within a large assembly.
- who had no (οὐκ ἐνδεδυμένον - ouk endedymenon): Literally "not having clothed himself with," indicating a state of being unclothed in something crucial, an absence. It implies an act of omission or defiance by the man.
- wedding garment (ἔνδυμα γάμου - endyma gamou): The pivotal term. This is a specific type of garment appropriate for a wedding celebration. In this context, it is widely interpreted symbolically.
- ἔνδυμα (endyma): Generally means "clothing," "garment."
- γάμου (gamou): Genitive of gamos, meaning "marriage" or "wedding feast."
- "when the king came in to look at the guests": This phrase signals a critical moment of divine scrutiny and judgment. It emphasizes God's active involvement in discerning the spiritual state of all who profess to belong to His kingdom, implying that true relationship goes beyond mere outward association. It suggests a time of reckoning.
- "a man who had no wedding garment": This phrase captures the central conflict and the individual's spiritual inadequacy. The lack of the "wedding garment" represents a deficiency in righteousness or spiritual preparation, which, significantly, is something provided by the King himself, not earned by the guest. It contrasts those who genuinely embrace the King's terms for participation with those who attempt to enter on their own conditions or without necessary spiritual transformation.
Matthew 22 11 Bonus section
The "wedding garment" is a point of significant theological discussion. While some scholars suggest the host provided specific garments (which would make the guest's refusal or lack a direct affront to the host's generosity), the stronger symbolic interpretation in Christian theology points to the righteousness that believers "put on" through Christ. This includes:
- Imputed Righteousness: Christ's perfect righteousness is credited to believers (Rom 3:21-26).
- Imparted Righteousness/Sanctification: The internal transformation and holy living that results from a genuine relationship with God (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10).
- Obedience of Faith: Active obedience stemming from genuine faith (Jas 2:14-26).
The man without the garment represents those who may be nominally religious, or even "called," but lack a saving faith that manifests in genuine transformation and obedience, demonstrating they have not accepted or put on the divine provision for their entrance. This highlights that access to God's kingdom is by grace and requires a transformed life that evidences that grace. The shock of the other guests at the king's sudden action underscores the hidden danger of external conformity without internal change.
Matthew 22 11 Commentary
Matthew 22:11 highlights a critical truth: simply responding to God's invitation and being physically present in His assembly is insufficient for eternal salvation. The parable illustrates that the king, representing God, meticulously inspects those who enter His kingdom. The "wedding garment" is a powerful metaphor for the spiritual righteousness necessary to enter God's presence and feast. This righteousness is not self-made but is God's provision through faith in Christ—a transformation and holy character enabled by His grace. The man's lack of a garment signifies either a rejection of this divine provision or an attempt to enter on his own terms, by his own merit, or without true repentance and a changed heart. The King's reaction to this omission reveals the absolute necessity of genuine spiritual qualification for kingdom citizenship, emphasizing that the standards are divine and non-negotiable, and that there are eternal consequences for those who lack proper spiritual attire despite being "called."