Matthew 22 7

Matthew 22:7 kjv

But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Matthew 22:7 nkjv

But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Matthew 22:7 niv

The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

Matthew 22:7 esv

The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

Matthew 22:7 nlt

"The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.

Matthew 22 verses

Matthew 22 7 Meaning

Matthew 22:7 describes the king's immediate and furious reaction to the ultimate scorn of his wedding feast invitation and the murder of his messengers. It signifies divine wrath and just retribution for the rejection of God's grace and persecution of His prophets and Son. The verse specifically foretells the judgment against those who refused the Gospel invitation, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Roman armies, which Jesus implicitly identifies as instruments of God's righteous judgment.

Matthew 22 7 Context

Matthew 22:7 is part of the "Parable of the Wedding Feast" (Matt 22:1-14), spoken by Jesus in the Temple courts during His final week before the crucifixion. This parable immediately follows the "Parable of the Wicked Tenants" (Matt 21:33-46) and the "Parable of the Two Sons" (Matt 21:28-32), both of which critique the religious leaders for their unresponsiveness and rejection of God's will. The parables collectively serve as a direct challenge to the chief priests and Pharisees who questioned Jesus' authority (Matt 21:23). Historically and prophetically, Matthew 22:7 powerfully alludes to the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by the Roman armies in AD 70, which was widely seen by early Christians as a divine judgment upon the Jewish nation for rejecting and crucifying Jesus Christ and persecuting His followers. This judgment allowed the message of the Gospel to extend beyond Israel to the Gentiles.

Matthew 22 7 Word analysis

• But when the king:
  • "But" (δὲ, de): A strong adversative conjunction, highlighting the sharp contrast between the rejection of the invitation and murder of servants and the king's decisive response.
  • "the king" (ὁ βασιλεύς, ho basileus): In this parable, the king represents God the Father, the sovereign Lord who extends the gracious invitation to His Son's feast.
• heard thereof, he was wroth:
  • "heard thereof" (ἀκούσας, akousas, participle of ἀκούω, akouō, "to hear/perceive"): Signifies complete awareness and full knowledge of the egregious offenses committed. God's judgment is based on perfect understanding.
  • "he was wroth" (ὠργίσθη, ōrgisthē, aorist passive of ὀργίζω, orgizō): Denotes divine, righteous indignation (ὀργή, orgē). This is God's holy anger against grave sin, not an impulsive human emotion, but a just and settled displeasure.
• and he sent forth his armies:
  • "sent forth" (ἀποστείλας, aposteilas, participle of ἀποστέλλω, apostellō): To dispatch or commission with a specific purpose.
  • "his armies" (τὰ στρατεύματα αὐτοῦ, ta strateumata autou): The phrase signifies God's sovereign deployment of agents to execute judgment. In the historical fulfillment of this prophecy, it refers to the Roman legions used by God to bring about Jerusalem's destruction in AD 70. This demonstrates God's ultimate control, even over secular powers, to fulfill His divine will.
• and destroyed those murderers:
  • "destroyed" (ἀπώλεσεν, apōlesen, aorist of ἀπόλλυμι, apollymi): Implies utter ruin, perishing, or complete devastation.
  • "those murderers" (τοὺς φονεῖς ἐκείνους, tous phoneis ekeinous): Refers to those who brutally treated and killed the king's servants (Matt 22:6). Spiritually, this encompasses the generations who rejected God's messengers—the prophets of old, John the Baptist, and ultimately, God's Son Himself—leading to the murder of the Messiah (Matt 23:34-36). They are "murderers" not only in their physical acts but in their rejection of God's salvific purpose.
• and burned up their city:
  • "burned up" (ἐνέπρησεν, enepresen, aorist of ἐμπίπρημι, empiprēmi): To completely set ablaze or incinerate. This method of destruction is often associated with divine judgment in Scripture.
  • "their city" (τὴν πόλιν αὐτῶν, tēn polin autōn): This clearly and unmistakably points to Jerusalem. The destruction of Jerusalem, specifically the burning of the Temple in AD 70 by the Romans, stands as a profound historical fulfillment of this prophetic aspect of the parable, underscoring the severity of judgment upon those who reject the King's Son.
• Words-group by words-group analysis data:
  • "But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth": Highlights God's divine awareness and His perfectly just, strong emotional response to utter defiance and deep offense against His Son and kingdom. It signifies that rebellion does not go unnoticed or unaddressed.
  • "and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city": This phrase-group depicts the systematic, comprehensive, and severe nature of the king's (God's) retribution. It demonstrates active intervention in human affairs to bring judgment, targeting both the perpetrators and the symbolic center of their rebellion.

Matthew 22 7 Bonus section

• A Parable of Transition: This verse marks a pivotal point in salvation history, symbolizing the shift from the offer of the kingdom primarily to Israel to its subsequent extension to the Gentiles (Matt 22:8-10), following Israel's corporate rejection and judgment.
• Divine Sovereignty in Calamity: The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, though carried out by Roman forces, is portrayed as "his armies," signifying God's ultimate sovereign control over all historical events, even those seemingly orchestrated by human malice or political ambition.
• Contrast of Divine Nature: This harsh judgment should be understood alongside Jesus' lament over Jerusalem (Matt 23:37-39; Lk 19:41-44), demonstrating God's simultaneous attributes of deep compassion for His people and unwavering justice for their profound unrepentance and rejection of His Son.
• The King's Honor: The extreme severity of the punishment reflects the extreme insult to the King's honor. Rejecting the invitation to His Son's wedding feast and murdering His messengers was the ultimate act of defiance against divine authority and love.

Matthew 22 7 Commentary

Matthew 22:7 presents a chilling depiction of God's just retribution against those who stubbornly refuse His gracious invitation and brutally harm His messengers. The "king's" immediate and decisive action in sending "his armies" to "destroy those murderers" and "burn up their city" prophetically points to the devastating destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. This was the ultimate historical consequence for the nation's consistent rejection of God's covenant, climaxing in their refusal to acknowledge and crucify Jesus, the Messiah. The verse is a profound warning that while God is abundant in mercy, His divine patience is not limitless, and persistent defiance of His grace leads to inevitable, severe judgment. It also illustrates God's sovereign use of worldly powers as instruments to enact His righteous decrees.