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Matthew 22

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

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

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

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

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

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.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

And last of all the woman died also.

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.

He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

What does Matthew 22:13 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 22:13, a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, is part of Jesus' parable of the wedding feast.

In the parable, a king hosting a wedding banquet for his son sends out servants to gather the invited guests, but they refuse to come.

The king then invites others to fill the banquet hall.

One guest, however, is not dressed in wedding garments.

The king questions him, and the guest is silent.

The verse in question is the king's response to the man's lack of proper attire, indicating severe punishment for his failure to honor the requirements of the occasion.

On a literal level, the verse suggests enforcing a customary expectation for a wedding guest to wear proper attire, resulting in severe consequences for noncompliance.

On a deeper level, it signifies the importance of being prepared for the kingdom of heaven and the severe consequences of failing to live up to God's standards.

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Historical Context

The gospel of Matthew was written against the backdrop of a Jewish Christian community navigating its identity in relation to Judaism and the surrounding Greco-Roman society in the first century.

This parable reflects the historical context of Jewish wedding customs and societal norms while also addressing the broader spiritual message of the consequences of rejecting the invitation to God’s kingdom.

It was a time when early Christians were defining the boundaries of their community and understanding their relationship to the teachings of Jesus.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted in several ways:

A warning against taking God's grace for granted.

The improperly dressed guest represents those who expect to partake in God's kingdom without proper preparation or transformation.

A portrayal of God's judgment upon those who reject His invitation through Jesus Christ, suggesting the dire consequences of unbelief and the importance of faithfulness.
An allegorical representation of Israel's rejection of Jesus as the Messiah and the resulting opening of the kingdom to Gentiles and others beyond the initial audience of Jesus' ministry.

Practical Applications

This verse can be used in everyday life to encourage self-reflection and readiness.

It can be seen as a call to:

Assess one’s spiritual life and ensure that one is prepared for encountering God.
Recognize the significance of responding appropriately to God's call.
Understand the importance of living in alignment with Christian values and teachings, as not doing so can lead to adverse outcomes.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:12: "But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 25:30: "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Revelation 21:8: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, ... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone."

Language Study

In the original Greek, several key phrases stand out:

"Bind him hand and foot" (δήσαντες αὐτοῦ πόδας καὶ χεῖρας) suggests a total incapacitation, representing a complete rejection from the kingdom.
"Outer darkness" (τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον): This phrase is used to describe a realm of separation from the light, often interpreted metaphorically as a state of spiritual alienation or hell.
"Weeping and gnashing of teeth" (κλαυθμὸς καὶ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων): Common in Jewish apocalyptic literature, it represents deep regret and despair.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparable themes of divine judgment and eschatological punishment are found in various ancient religions and mythologies.

For example, in ancient Egyptian religion, the concept of the afterlife involved judgment and could result in the destruction of the soul if found unworthy.

This parable of Jesus can parallel these broader cultural ideas of post-mortem consequences for one's actions on earth.

Scientific Perspectives

Science generally does not comment on religious or theological concepts such as the afterlife or spiritual punishment.

However, discussions around the psychological effects of belief in divine judgment or an afterlife can be relevant in understanding the social and individual impacts of such religious beliefs.

Commentaries

Commentators from different theological traditions offer varied insights on this verse:

Classic Protestant commentators like Matthew Henry and John Wesley emphasized the nature of divine judgment and the importance of grace and faith in aligning with God's will.
Catholic commentaries may focus on the corporate nature of the Church and the importance of both faith and works in proper preparation for the kingdom.
Contemporary scholars often approach the verse in its historical and textual context, focusing on the parable's social and moral implications for the early Christian community and its lessons for discipline and community standards.

Matthew 22

Matthew 22

What does Matthew 22:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 22:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?