Matthew 22 3

Matthew 22:3 kjv

And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Matthew 22:3 nkjv

and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.

Matthew 22:3 niv

He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

Matthew 22:3 esv

and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

Matthew 22:3 nlt

When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

Matthew 22 verses

Matthew 22 3 Meaning

Matthew 22:3 details the first action taken by the King in the Parable of the Wedding Feast, where he dispatches his servants to summon those who had previously been invited to the marriage celebration of his son. However, the invited guests flatly refused to attend the feast. This verse highlights the King's initial gracious outreach and the subsequent, surprising rejection by those specifically anticipated to join.

Matthew 22 3 Context

Matthew chapter 22 continues Jesus' teaching in the Temple complex in Jerusalem, following a series of parables (the Two Sons, the Wicked Tenants) that confront the religious leaders of Israel for their rejection of God's will and His messengers. This particular parable, the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Mt 22:1-14), immediately precedes debates with the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees, further establishing the growing hostility towards Jesus from the Jewish leadership. Culturally, first-century Jewish weddings were multi-day events often planned meticulously, requiring two invitations: an initial notification of the event, and a second, immediate summons when the feast was ready. To refuse the final call after having accepted the initial invitation was not merely inconvenient; it was a grave insult to the host, especially if the host was a king. This parable serves as a direct polemic against the Jewish religious establishment, illustrating their repeated rejection of God's long-standing invitation to the Messianic kingdom, which was now fully presented in the person and ministry of Jesus.

Matthew 22 3 Word analysis

• And sent (καὶ ἀπέστειλεν / kai aposteilen): The conjunction "And" connects this parable to the preceding interactions, signifying a continuation of Jesus' challenge to the religious leaders. "Sent" (ἀπέστειλεν) is from apostello, meaning "to send forth," often implying a commission or authoritative dispatch. This highlights the King's active initiative and earnest desire for the guests to come, implying divine graciousness in extending the invitation.
• his servants (τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ / tous doulous autou): "Servants" (douloi) literally means bond-servants or slaves, denoting absolute allegiance and obedience to the master. In the allegorical sense of the parable, these servants represent God's long line of messengers—the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus Himself, and His disciples—who faithfully delivered God's invitation to Israel over centuries. Their repeated sending underscores God's persistent and unwavering invitation.
• to call (καλέσαι / kalesai): The infinitive "to call" from kaleo means "to invite" or "to summon." This refers to the second invitation in the Jewish wedding custom, the urgent summons when the feast was actually ready. This signifies that the kingdom of heaven was no longer a future promise but was inaugurated in Jesus’ ministry.
• those who were invited (τοὺς κεκλημένους / tous keklemenous): This is a perfect passive participle, indicating those who had been invited at a prior time and were still in that state of being invited. In the parable's deeper meaning, this refers primarily to Israel, who had historically been chosen and called by God to be His people and to receive the blessings of His covenant and kingdom. They were the original recipients of the divine promise and covenant.
• to the wedding feast (εἰς τοὺς γάμους / eis tous gamous): "Wedding feast" (gamoi) signifies a celebration, specifically a marriage banquet. In biblical typology, the marriage feast symbolizes the joyful, abundant blessings of the Messianic age, the Kingdom of Heaven, or the communion with God Himself (e.g., the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Revelation). It represents the culmination of God's redemptive plan and the ultimate spiritual blessing.
• and they were unwilling to come (καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν / kai ouk ethelon elthein): This phrase powerfully expresses the rejection. "Unwilling" (ouk ethelon) comes from ethelo, meaning "to will, to wish, to desire." The use of ouk (a strong negative) with the imperfect tense of ethelo implies a deliberate, persistent, and active refusal or unwillingness, rather than mere inability or oversight. It underscores the active decision to reject the King's gracious invitation, signifying Israel's spiritual disobedience and rejection of God’s Christ.

• "And sent his servants to call": This group of words emphasizes divine initiative and persistent grace. The King is proactive, sending his devoted agents with an urgent, direct call. This reflects God's patient sending of His prophets and ultimately His Son, desiring fellowship with His people.
• "those who were invited to the wedding feast": This highlights the specific recipients of God's covenant promises and blessings. The initial call went out to Israel, implying their privileged position and foreknowledge of the coming Messianic era, which the "wedding feast" represents.
• "and they were unwilling to come": This phrase exposes the core of the problem: a conscious, deliberate refusal. It is not an act of ignorance, but one of defiance or apathy. This active rejection of God's ultimate invitation (the gospel through Christ) is the critical turning point in the parable.

Matthew 22 3 Bonus section

This parable subtly implies that those initially invited had obligations accompanying their invitation, perhaps of honour and relationship with the King. Their refusal demonstrates not merely a lack of interest, but an active disdain for the host, challenging his authority and benevolence. This also connects to Jesus' other teachings about readiness and vigilance for the Kingdom, emphasizing that an invitation is not a guarantee of participation, but requires a responsive heart. The 'wedding feast' itself signifies deep, intimate communion with God, implying that rejecting the invitation is a rejection of this relationship and its abundant joys.

Matthew 22 3 Commentary

Matthew 22:3 introduces the core conflict of the parable: God's gracious, urgent invitation to the blessings of His kingdom is met with a shocking, deliberate refusal by those who were His chosen people. The "King" is God the Father, the "son" is Jesus Christ, and the "wedding feast" represents the joyous realization of the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus' ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection. The "servants" are the long line of God's faithful messengers – prophets in the Old Testament, John the Baptist, Jesus Himself, and His disciples – who persistently extended the invitation. The "first invited guests" signify Israel, particularly its religious leadership, who were privileged to receive God's revelation and expected to welcome the Messiah. Their "unwillingness to come" is a poignant illustration of their repeated historical rejection of God's call, culminating in their rejection of Jesus, the Messiah and the very essence of the "feast." This verse sets the stage for the severe consequences of such a refusal and the subsequent expansion of the invitation to others. It is a profound illustration of human rebellion against divine grace and an indictment of spiritual apathy and resistance.