Matthew 22:9 kjv
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Matthew 22:9 nkjv
Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'
Matthew 22:9 niv
So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.'
Matthew 22:9 esv
Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'
Matthew 22:9 nlt
Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.'
Matthew 22 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 25:6 | On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast... | Universal Messianic banquet for all. |
| Isa 49:6 | I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach... | Israel's purpose to bring salvation to Gentiles. |
| Isa 56:7 | ...my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. | God's house welcomes all nations. |
| Joel 2:32 | And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. | Salvation for all who seek God. |
| Matt 8:11-12 | I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham... while the sons of the kingdom will be cast out. | Gentiles accepted, unfaithful Israel rejected. |
| Matt 21:43 | Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit. | Kingdom transferred due to rejection. |
| Matt 28:19 | Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... | The Great Commission: global outreach. |
| Luke 13:28-30 | There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. | Emphasizes exclusion of unfaithful and inclusion of others. |
| Luke 14:15-24 | ...Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame. | Parable of the Great Banquet, parallel inviting the marginalized. |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. | Mission mandate for global evangelism. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality..." | God's impartial invitation to all people. |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. | Gospel is for all, Jew and Gentile. |
| Rom 10:12-13 | For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." | Equality of access to salvation through Christ. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity and equality in Christ, transcending former divisions. |
| Eph 2:14-16 | For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. | Breaking down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. |
| Col 3:11 | Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. | Christ erases social/ethnic distinctions. |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | The church (new people of God) called to proclaim Christ. |
| Rev 7:9 | After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb... | Ultimate vision of redeemed people from all nations. |
| Rev 19:7-9 | Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come... Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb! | The Marriage Supper of the Lamb: the fulfillment of the feast. |
| Rev 22:17 | The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. | Open, urgent invitation to all to receive eternal life. |
Matthew 22 verses
Matthew 22 9 Meaning
Matthew 22:9 is a pivotal verse within the Parable of the Wedding Feast, delivered by Jesus to the chief priests and elders. It represents a dramatic shift in the divine invitation to God's Kingdom. After the initial invited guests, symbolic of the Jewish leadership and nation who largely rejected the Messiah, vehemently refused and even harmed the King's messengers, the King declares a new, universal outreach. This verse commands His servants to go out beyond the customary circles, to the public thoroughfares and highways, and extend the invitation indiscriminately to anyone they encounter, regardless of their social standing, perceived righteousness, or background, to partake in the joyful feast of God's Kingdom. It signifies the profound expansion of God's grace and the opening of the Gospel call to all peoples, particularly foreshadowing the inclusion of the Gentiles.
Matthew 22 9 Context
Matthew chapter 22 falls within Jesus' final days of teaching in Jerusalem, specifically after His triumphal entry and subsequent challenges from religious leaders in the temple. This chapter presents a series of parables (the two sons, the wicked tenants, and the wedding feast) and debates, all aimed at confronting the chief priests and elders who had rejected His authority and questioned His identity. The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matt 22:1-14) immediately follows the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, reinforcing the theme of God's rejection of unfaithful leaders and the impending judgment on Jerusalem. Verse 9 is a pivotal point in the Wedding Feast parable, demonstrating God's sovereign response to rejection by His chosen people (symbolized by the destruction of the city in verse 7). It portrays the opening of the divine invitation to a new group of people, signifying the broadening of the Gospel from an initial focus on Israel to a universal call to humanity, marking a profound theological shift and foreshadowing the global mission of the church.
Matthew 22 9 Word analysis
- Go (πορεύεσθε - poreuesthe): This is a strong, urgent command in the imperative mood, plural. It signifies a direct instruction for active participation and implies a mission, not a passive waiting. It echoes the later Great Commission, emphasizing movement and intentional outreach.
- therefore (οὖν - oun): A crucial connective particle, indicating a logical consequence or inference. It links this command directly to the preceding events of the parable—namely, the outright rejection, violence against messengers, and the King's just judgment upon the original invitees. It marks a shift in God's plan due to the prior unfaithfulness.
- to the main roads (ἐπὶ τὰς διεξόδους τῶν ὁδῶν - epi tas diexodous tōn hodōn): Literally, "to the outlets of the roads" or "to the crossroads." This imagery suggests public, well-traveled thoroughfares, but more significantly, places where various roads meet and diverge. This implies an indiscriminate reach: not specific houses or neighborhoods, but anywhere people might be found. It powerfully conveys a move beyond closed, exclusive circles (like a guest list) to open, public accessibility, extending to the broad mass of humanity, including the marginalized and the Gentile world.
- and invite (καλέσατε - kalesate): Another direct, plural imperative. The core action of the verse. It means "to call, to summon, to invite." The invitation is personal and direct, demanding a response. This highlights God's initiative in extending His grace.
- to the wedding feast (εἰς τοὺς γάμους - eis tous gamous): The destination and ultimate joy. In Jewish culture, wedding feasts were occasions of immense joy, celebration, and abundance, lasting for days. Biblically, "the feast" or "marriage supper" metaphorically represents the Messianic age, the Kingdom of Heaven, eternal communion with God, and the culmination of God's redemptive plan through Christ. It is a symbol of God's gracious provision and joy for those who accept His invitation.
- as many as you find (ὅσους ἐὰν εὕρητε - hosous ean heurēte): This phrase underscores the boundless and indiscriminate nature of the new invitation. "As many as" denotes universality, while "if you find" suggests no pre-qualifications or vetting process based on perceived merit, social status, or righteousness. It means every single person encountered is to receive the invitation, regardless of their past or present state, emphasizing grace over merit.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Go therefore to the main roads": This phrase dramatically illustrates the shift from a selective invitation to a universal outreach. The "therefore" points to divine initiative after human rejection, while "main roads" signify reaching widely beyond chosen people to the open world, including all peoples and societal strata. It represents the church's missional call to global evangelism.
- "and invite... as many as you find": This duo emphasizes the essence of the command. The invitation itself is central, highlighting God's grace and initiative. The phrase "as many as you find" powerfully conveys an unrestricted and indiscriminate scope. It is not about pre-qualified or "deserving" individuals, but about making the Gospel known to everyone encountered, embodying God's impartial love and mercy.
- "to the wedding feast": This identifies the ultimate goal and joy. It represents participation in God's eternal Kingdom and fellowship, the culmination of His redemptive purposes, and abundant blessings provided by the King. The focus is on a shared joyful celebration, not a somber obligation, highlighting the delightful nature of life with God.
Matthew 22 9 Bonus section
The parable, including this verse, underscores the cost of the Kingdom: initially, the King sent his son, and then his servants, incurring rejection and violence. Despite this, the King's desire for the wedding feast to be full (v.8) reflects God's steadfast love and determination to have a people to share His joy with. The radical nature of inviting "as many as you find" to a feast of a King was unprecedented in that cultural context, highlighting divine grace that far surpasses human custom or merit-based systems. This divine response fundamentally reshapes the understanding of God's chosen people, transferring the privilege from birthright to responsive faith, thus laying a theological foundation for Christian missiology. The King's command not only expands the invitation geographically and socially, but it also reflects the profound humility of God, who desires fellowship with all humanity, even after grievous insult and rejection.
Matthew 22 9 Commentary
Matthew 22:9 serves as a profound illustration of God's redemptive plan unfolding. Following the parable's depiction of God's initial call to Israel and their tragic rejection of the Messiah—a rejection met with divine judgment—this verse reveals God's unyielding grace and the expanded scope of His Kingdom. The command to "Go therefore to the main roads" signifies the shift from a covenant primarily focused on one nation to a universal invitation, embodying the radical inclusivity of the Gospel. "Main roads" represents reaching all people: the outcasts, the Gentiles, those marginalized by society or deemed unworthy by religious elites.
The phrase "invite... as many as you find" emphasizes that this invitation is without discrimination based on prior status, moral standing, or lineage. It's a testament to God's boundless love, extending grace to those least expected, inviting them to the joyful "wedding feast"—a rich metaphor for the fellowship, blessing, and ultimate culmination of the Kingdom of God. This verse prophetically underpins the Great Commission (Matt 28:19), urging believers across all ages to actively proclaim the good news to every individual, anywhere and everywhere. It reminds us that salvation is a gracious invitation from God, available to all who would accept it, freely given regardless of who they are, simply because God is gracious. For example, it calls for evangelistic outreach not just to those who seem "churched" or "religious" but to every person, including the seemingly unlikely, the struggling, and the overlooked members of society, extending Christ’s love to them unconditionally.