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Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

Matthew 22:11

"Now when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who wasn't dressed for a wedding; so he asked him,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Covetousness;   Dress;   Feasts;   Garment;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Judgment;   Kingdom of Heaven;   Marriage;   Righteousness;   Robe;   Wicked (People);   Thompson Chain Reference - Adorning;   Church;   Clothing;   Righteousness;   Robe of Righteousness;   Unclothed;   The Topic Concordance - Kingdom of God;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Parables;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Feasts;   Garments;   Parable;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Dress;   Marriage;   Parables;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Church, the;   Lord's Supper, the;   Mission;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Banquet;   Gift;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Dress;   Gifts;   Jeshua;   Marriage;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Election;   Guest;   Hour;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Kingdom of God;   Marriage;   Meals;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Circumstantiality in the Parables;   Day of Judgment;   Doctrines;   Dress (2);   Dropsy;   Invitation;   Judgment;   Lazarus;   Luke, Gospel According to;   Man (2);   Marriage;   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Poet;   Sacraments;   Service;   Wealth (2);   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Garment;   Marriage;   Wedding garment;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Marriage;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Banquets;   Marriage;   Meals;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Arment;   Needlework;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Bride;   Calling;   Gifts;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Dress;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Regeneration;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Banquets;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Marriage;   Parable;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding.
King James Version (1611)
And when the King came in to see the guests, hee sawe there a man, which had not on a wedding garment,
King James Version
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
English Standard Version
"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
New American Standard Bible
"But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes,
New Century Version
"When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man who was not dressed for a wedding.
Amplified Bible
"But when the king came in to see the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed [appropriately] in wedding clothes,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes,
Legacy Standard Bible
"But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes,
Berean Standard Bible
But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes.
Contemporary English Version
When the king went in to meet the guests, he found that one of them wasn't wearing the right kind of clothes for the wedding.
Darby Translation
And the king, having gone in to see the guests, beheld there a man not clothed with a wedding garment.
Easy-to-Read Version
"When the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in the right clothes for a wedding.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the King came in, to see the ghestes, and sawe there a man which had not on a wedding garment.
George Lamsa Translation
When the king entered to see the guests, he saw there a man who was not wearing wedding garments.
Good News Translation
"The king went in to look at the guests and saw a man who was not wearing wedding clothes.
Lexham English Bible
But when the king came in to see the dinner guests, he saw a man there not dressed in wedding clothes.
Literal Translation
And the king coming in to look over those reclining, he saw a man there not having been dressed in a wedding garment.
American Standard Version
But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment:
Bible in Basic English
But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a guest's robe;
Hebrew Names Version
But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn't have on wedding clothing,
International Standard Version
"When the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.2 Corinthians 5:3; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10,12; Revelation 3:4; 16:15; 19:8;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And the king entered to see the guests [fn] and he saw there a man who was not dressed in the garments of a festival.
Murdock Translation
And the king went in to see the guests: and he saw there a man who was not clad in the festal garments.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then the kyng came in, to see the ghestes: and whe he spyed there a man, which had not on a weddyng garmet,
English Revised Version
But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding-garment:
World English Bible
But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn't have on wedding-clothing,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But the king coming in to see the guests, saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment,
Weymouth's New Testament
"Now the king came in to see the guests; and among them he discovered one who was not wearing a wedding-robe.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the kyng entride, to se men sittynge at the mete; and he siye there a man not clothid with bride cloth.
Update Bible Version
But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who did not have on a wedding-garment:
Webster's Bible Translation
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who had not a wedding-garment:
New English Translation
But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.
New King James Version
"But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
New Living Translation
"But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.
New Life Bible
The king came in to see those who had come. He saw one man who did not have on wedding supper clothes.
New Revised Standard
"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But the king, entering to view the guests, saw there a man, who had not put on a wedding-garment, -
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king went in to see the guests: and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment.
Revised Standard Version
"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then the kynge came in to viset the gestes and spyed there a ma which had not on a weddinge garment
Young's Literal Translation
`And the king having come in to view those reclining, saw there a man not clothed with clothing of the marriage-feast,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then the kynge wete in, to se the gestes, and spyed there a man that had not on a weddynge garment,
Mace New Testament (1729)
but upon the king's coming in to see the guests, he observ'd one there without a wedding garment: and he said to him,
THE MESSAGE
"When the king entered and looked over the scene, he spotted a man who wasn't properly dressed. He said to him, ‘Friend, how dare you come in here looking like that!' The man was speechless. Then the king told his servants, ‘Get him out of here—fast. Tie him up and ship him to hell. And make sure he doesn't get back in.'
Simplified Cowboy Version
"But when the big rancher came out of the house, he saw a guy standin' over to one side and he wasn't wearin' a hat.

Contextual Overview

1 Yeshua again used parables in speaking to them: 2 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son, 3 but when he sent his slaves to summon the invited guests to the wedding, they refused to come. 4 So he sent some more slaves, instructing them to tell the guests, ‘Look, I've prepared my banquet, I've slaughtered my bulls and my fattened cattle, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding!' 5 But they weren't interested and went off, one to his farm, another to his business; 6 and the rest grabbed his slaves, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was furious and sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burned down their city. 8 "Then he said to his slaves, ‘Well, the wedding feast is ready; but the ones who were invited didn't deserve it. 9 So go out to the street-corners and invite to the banquet as many as you find.' 10 The slaves went out into the streets, gathered all the people they could find, the bad along with the good; and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: Matthew 3:12, Matthew 13:30, Matthew 25:31, Matthew 25:32, Zephaniah 1:12, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 4:13, Revelation 2:23

which: 2 Kings 10:22, Psalms 45:13, Psalms 45:14, Isaiah 52:1, Isaiah 61:3-10, Isaiah 64:6, Zechariah 3:3, Zechariah 3:4, Lamentations 5:22, Romans 3:22, Romans 13:14, Galatians 3:27, 2 Corinthians 5:3, Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10, Colossians 3:11, Revelation 3:4, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:18, Revelation 16:15, Revelation 19:8

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 7:64 - These sought Song of Solomon 1:5 - comely Song of Solomon 1:12 - the king Isaiah 24:11 - all joy Jeremiah 11:15 - my Daniel 5:27 - art Matthew 22:10 - both Matthew 25:2 - General Matthew 25:34 - the King Luke 6:25 - mourn Luke 15:22 - the best 1 Corinthians 11:27 - whosoever

Cross-References

Genesis 16:7
The angel of Adonai found her by a spring in the desert, the spring on the road to Shur,
Genesis 21:17
God heard the boy's voice, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What's wrong with you, Hagar? Don't be afraid, because God has heard the voice of the boy in his present situation.
Genesis 22:1
(vii) After these things, God tested Avraham. He said to him, "Avraham!" and he answered, "Here I am."
Genesis 22:9
They came to the place God had told him about; and Avraham built the altar there, set the wood in order, bound Yitz'chak his son and laid him on the altar, on the wood.
Genesis 22:10
Then Avraham put out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.
Genesis 22:12
He said, "Don't lay your hand on the boy! Don't do anything to him! For now I know that you are a man who fears God, because you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."
Genesis 22:16
He said, "I have sworn by myself — says Adonai — that because you have done this, because you haven't withheld your son, your only son,
Exodus 3:4
When Adonai saw that he had gone over to see, God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moshe! Moshe!" He answered, "Here I am."
1 Samuel 3:10
Adonai came and stood, then spoke as at the other times: "Sh'mu'el! Sh'mu'el!" Then Sh'mu'el said, "Speak; your servant is listening."
Acts 9:4
Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Sha'ul! Sha'ul! Why do you keep persecuting me?"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when the king came in to see the guests,.... Professors of religion, members of churches, whom God takes particular notice of; he is an omniscient being, and his eyes are upon all men and their actions, and especially on such as are called by his name: he takes notice how they behave in the exercise of grace, and discharge of duty, and distinguishes hypocrites from real believers; the latter of which he has a special affection for, makes rich and large provisions for them, and protects and defends them; he knows them that are his, and gives them marks of respect; and he spies out such as are not, and will in his own time discover them, to their utter confusion and ruin. There are certain times and seasons, when God may be said to come in to see his guests; as sometimes in a way of gracious visits to his dear children, when he bids them welcome to the entertainment of his house, and invites them to eat and drink abundantly: and sometimes in a way of providence, against formal professors and hypocrites; and at the last judgment, when he will separate the sheep from the goats, and discern between the righteous and the wicked:

he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment; by which is meant, not good works, or a holy life and conversation, nor any particular grace of the Spirit, as faith, or charity, or humility, or repentance, or any other, nor the whole work of sanctification, nor the Holy Ghost, but the righteousness of Christ: for though good works are the outward conversation garments of believers, and these greatly become them and adorn the doctrine of Christ, yet they are imperfect, and have their spots, and need washing in the blood of Christ, and cannot in themselves recommend them to God; and though the Holy Spirit and his graces, his work of holiness upon the heart, make the saints all glorious within, yet not these, but the garment of Christ's righteousness, is their clothing of wrought gold, and raiment of needlework, in which they are brought into the king's presence: this, like a garment, is without them, and put upon them; and which covers and protects them, and beautifies and adorns them; and which may be called a wedding garment, because it is that, in which the elect of God were betrothed to Christ; in which they are made ready and prepared for him, as a bride adorned for her husband: and in which they will be introduced into his presence, and be by him presented, first to himself, and then to his Father, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. This man had not on this garment, this robe of righteousness; it was not imputed to him; he had no knowledge of it; or if he had any, it was only a speculative one; he had no true faith in it; he had never put on Christ, as the Lord his righteousness; he had got into a church state without it, though there is no entrance into the kingdom of heaven but by it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A man which had not on a wedding garment - In ancient times, kings and princes were accustomed to make presents of changes of raiment to their friends and favourites, to refuse to receive which was an expression of highest contempt, Genesis 45:22; 2 Kings 10:22; Esther 6:8; Esther 8:15. It was, of course, expected that such garments would be worn when they came into the presence of the benefactor. The garments worn on festival occasions were chiefly long white robes, and it was the custom of the person who made the feast to prepare such robes to be worn by the guests. This renders the conduct of this man more inexcusable. He came in his common and ordinary dress, as he was taken from the highway: and though he had not a garment of his own suitable for the occasion, yet one had been provided for him, if he had applied for it. His not doing it was expressive of the highest disrespect for the king. This beautifully represents the conduct of the hypocrite in the church. A garment of salvation might be his, performed by the hands of the Saviour, and dyed in his blood; but the hypocrite chooses the filthy rags of his own righteousness, and thus offers the highest contempt for that provided in the gospel. He is to blame, not for being invited - not for coming, if he would come, for he is freely invited but for offering the highest contempt to the King of Zion in presenting himself with all his filth and rags, and in refusing to be saved in the way provided in the gospel.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 22:11. When the king came — When God shall come to judge the world.

Wedding garment — Among the orientals, long white robes were worn at public festivals; and those who appeared on such occasions with any other garments were esteemed, not only highly culpable, but worthy of punishment. Our Lord seems here to allude to Zephaniah 1:7-8, The Lord hath prepared a SACRIFICE, he hath BIDDEN his guests. And it shall come to pass, in the day of the Lord's sacrifice, that I will PUNISH the princes, and the KING'S CHILDREN, and ALL SUCH as are clothed with STRANGE APPAREL. The person who invited the guests prepared such a garment for each, for the time being; and with which he was furnished on his application to the ruler of the feast. It was this which made the conduct of the person mentioned in the text inexcusable; he might have had a proper marriage garment, if he had applied for it.

To afford accidental guests clothing suitable to a marriage feast, was a custom among the ancient Greeks. Homer relates that Telemachus, and the son of Nestor, arriving at Lacedaemon when Menelaus was making a marriage feast for his son and daughter, were accommodated with garments suited to the occasion, after having been bathed and anointed.


Τους δ' επει ουν δρωμαι λουσαν και χρισαν ελαιῳ,

Αμφι δ' αρα χλαινας ουλας βαλον ηδε χιτωνας,

Ες ρα θρονους εζοντο παρ' Ατρειδην Μενελαον

Odyss. l. iv. ver. 49-51.

They entered each a bath, and by the hands

Of maidens laved, and oiled, and clothed again

With shaggy mantles and resplendent vests,

Sat both enthroned at Menelaus' side. Cowper.


Among the Asiatics, garments called caftans, great numbers of which each nobleman has ordinarily ready in his wardrobe, are given to persons whom he wishes to honour: to refuse to accept or wear such a dress would be deemed the highest insult.

This marriage feast or dinner (the communication of the graces of the Gospel in this life) prepares for the marriage supper of the Lamb, Revelation 19:7-9, the enjoyment of eternal blessedness in the kingdom of glory. Now, as without holiness no man can see the Lord, we may at once perceive what our Lord means by the marriage garment - it is HOLINESS of heart and life: the text last quoted asserts that the fine, white, and clean linen (alluding to the marriage garment above mentioned) was an emblem of the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the SAINTS. Mark this expression: the righteousness, the whole external conduct; regulated according to the will and word of God. Of the SAINTS, the holy persons, whose souls were purified by the blood of the Lamb.


 
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