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Monday, July 7th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

Christian Standard Bible ®

Matthew 22:3

He sent his servants to summon those invited to the banquet,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Covetousness;   Feasts;   Hospitality;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Kingdom of Heaven;   Wicked (People);   Worldliness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Call, Divine;   Divine;   Feasts;   God;   Invitations, Divine;   Invitations-Warnings;   Leaders;   Men of God;   Messengers, God's;   Prophets;   Religious;   Social Functions;   Social Life;   Wedding Feasts;   The Topic Concordance - Kingdom of God;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Call of God, the;   Marriage;   Parables;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Call;   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;   Entertain;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Meals;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Banquet;   Call, Calling;   Election;   Hour;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Parables;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Kingdom of God;   Marriage;   Meals;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Call, Called, Calling;   Circumstantiality in the Parables;   Coming to Christ;   Courtesy;   Doctrines;   Dropsy;   Invitation;   Judgment;   Lazarus;   Luke, Gospel According to;   Marriage;   Marriage (I.);   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Sacraments;   Service;   Supper (2);   Wealth (2);   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Marriage;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Marriage;   Wedding;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Meals;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Wedding;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Calling;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Banquet;   Bid;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Marriage;  

Parallel Translations

King James Version (1611)
And sent forth his seruants to call them that were bidden to the wedding, and they would not come.
King James Version
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
English Standard Version
and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
New American Standard Bible
"And he sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come.
New Century Version
The king invited some people to the feast. When the feast was ready, the king sent his servants to tell the people, but they refused to come.
Amplified Bible
"And he sent his servants to call those who had [previously] been invited to the wedding feast, but they refused to come.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come.
Legacy Standard Bible
And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been called to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come.
Berean Standard Bible
He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.
Contemporary English Version
The king sent some servants to tell the invited guests to come to the banquet, but the guests refused.
Complete Jewish Bible
but when he sent his slaves to summon the invited guests to the wedding, they refused to come.
Darby Translation
and sent his bondmen to call the persons invited to the wedding feast, and they would not come.
Easy-to-Read Version
He invited some people to the feast. When it was ready, the king sent his servants to tell the people to come. But they refused to come to the king's feast.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And sent foorth his seruants, to call them that were bidde to the wedding, but they woulde not come.
George Lamsa Translation
And he sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage-feast, but they would not come.
Good News Translation
He sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come to the feast, but they did not want to come.
Lexham English Bible
And he sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the wedding celebration, and they did not want to come.
Literal Translation
And he sent his slaves to call those being invited to the wedding feast, but they did not desire to come.
American Standard Version
and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come.
Bible in Basic English
And sent out his servants to get in the guests to the feast: and they would not come.
Hebrew Names Version
and sent forth his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.
International Standard Version
He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding, but they refused to come.
Etheridge Translation
and he sent his servants to call the invited ones to the feast, but they were not willing to come.
Murdock Translation
And he sent his servants to call those that had been invited, to the feast: and they would not come.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And sent foorth his seruauntes, to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they woulde not come.
English Revised Version
and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come.
World English Bible
and sent forth his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And sent forth his servants to call them that were invited, to the marriage; but they would not come.
Weymouth's New Testament
and sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding, but they were unwilling to come.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he sente hise seruauntis for to clepe men that weren bode to the weddyngis, and thei wolden not come.
Update Bible Version
and sent forth his slaves to call those that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come.
Webster's Bible Translation
And sent his servants to call them that were invited to the wedding: and they would not come.
New English Translation
He sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come.
New King James Version
and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
New Living Translation
When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
New Life Bible
He sent his servants to tell the people, who had been asked, to come to the supper. But the people did not want to come.
New Revised Standard
He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And sent his servants, to call the invited into the marriage-feast, - and they would not come.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he sent his servants to call them that were invited to the marriage: and they would not come.
Revised Standard Version
and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and sent forth his servantes to call them that were byd to the weddinge and they wolde not come.
Young's Literal Translation
and he sent forth his servants to call those having been called to the marriage-feasts, and they were not willing to come.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And sent forth his seruauntes, to call the gestes vnto the mariage, & they wolde not come.
Mace New Testament (1729)
he sent out his servants to call those that were invited to the wedding: but they would not come.
Simplified Cowboy Version
He sent some of his cowboys to the other ranches to invite them to the BBQ, but no one came.

Contextual Overview

1Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2“The kingdom of heaven 3He sent his servants to summon those invited to the banquet,4Again, he sent out other servants and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: See, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5“But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king 8“Then he told his servants, ‘The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ 10So those servants went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

sent: Matthew 3:2, Matthew 10:6, Matthew 10:7, Psalms 68:11, Proverbs 9:1-3, Isaiah 55:1, Isaiah 55:2, Jeremiah 25:4, Jeremiah 35:15, Mark 6:7-11, Luke 9:1-6, Luke 14:15-17, Revelation 22:17

that: 1 Samuel 9:13, Zephaniah 1:7

and they would not: Matthew 23:37, Psalms 81:10-12, Proverbs 1:24-32, Isaiah 30:15, Jeremiah 6:16, Jeremiah 6:17, Hosea 11:2, Hosea 11:7, Luke 13:34, Luke 15:28, Luke 19:27, John 5:40, Acts 13:45, Romans 10:21, Hebrews 12:25

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 17:10 - General 2 Samuel 14:29 - but he would Proverbs 9:2 - killed Proverbs 9:3 - sent Isaiah 65:12 - because Matthew 10:5 - sent Matthew 14:10 - and beheaded Luke 14:17 - Come Luke 20:37 - when

Cross-References

Genesis 17:23
So Abraham took his son Ishmael and those born in his household or purchased—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that very day, just as God had said to him.
Genesis 21:14
Early in the morning Abraham got up, took bread and a waterskin, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her and the boy away. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beer-sheba.
Genesis 22:3
So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about.
Genesis 22:4
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
Genesis 22:17
I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the city gates of their enemies.
Genesis 22:19
Abraham went back to his young men, and they got up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham settled in Beer-sheba.
Psalms 119:60
I hurried, not hesitatingto keep your commands.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
Matthew 10:37
The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;
Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to me

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And sent forth his servants,.... The ministers of the Gospel, who are the servants of the most high God, of his choosing and ordaining, of his calling and sending, and of his qualifying and employing, and who voluntarily and cheerfully serve him; and may intend John the Baptist, and the twelve apostles of Christ, who were sent

to call them that were bidden to the wedding; הקרואים, "those that were called", as in 1 Samuel 9:13 by whom are meant the Jews, who were the "bidden", or "called ones"; called of God, and therefore styled "Israel my called" Isaiah 48:12 and by the Targum interpreted

מזמני, "my bidden". They were called by the name of God, and called the people of God, and the children of God, and were the children of the kingdom; and were called to many valuable and external privileges; and had previous notice of the Gospel dispensation by the prophecies concerning Christ, and the blessings of his grace under the former dispensation; and by the ordinances and sacrifices of it, which in a very significant manner set him forth to that people; and now were called to embrace him, to receive his doctrines, and submit to his ordinances, by the ministry of John the Baptist, and the disciples of Christ. It seems, it was sometimes customary to give two invitations to a feast, or to send a second time to the persons bidden to the feast i; to which the allusion is here;

and they would not come: which shows the insolence and ingratitude of men, their natural aversion to the Gospel, and the ordinances of it; the depravity of the will of man, with respect to things spiritual and evangelical; the insufficiency of outward means, to work with effect, upon the minds of men; and the necessity there is of efficacious and unfrustrable grace to bring men to believe in Christ, cordially to receive his truths, and be subject to his commands. There is a two fold call by the ministry the word; the one is internal, and that is, when the word comes not in word only, but in power; is the power of God unto salvation, and the savour of life unto life; for by the Gospel are the elect of God called to the obtaining of the glory of Christ; 2 Thessalonians 2:14. This call is of grace; it springs from the free grace and favour of God, and it is effected by the mighty power of his grace; and it is to special blessings of grace; it is a fruit of God's everlasting love, and an evidence of it; and is according to the eternal purpose of God, which is never frustrated: it is a call to the enjoyment of spiritual blessings, as peace, pardon, righteousness, and everlasting happiness; by it men are called to light and liberty, to the grace of Christ, and communion with him; to all the privileges of God's house here, and eternal glory hereafter; to which he that calls them, gives them a right and meetness, and infallibly brings them to it: and therefore it is styled an heavenly calling, and the high calling of God in Christ; for this call is ever effectual, and the ends of it are always answered; it is unchangeable, irreversible, and never repented of. But besides this, there is a bare external call to the sons of men, through the preaching of the word; which is not to make their peace with God, a thing impossible to be done by them, and which is contrary to the Gospel, and reflects dishonour on Christ, the peacemaker; nor to get an interest in him, which, wherever possessed, is given, and not gotten; nor to regenerate themselves; this is the work of the Spirit of God, and in which men are as passive, as the infant in its natural generation, conception, and birth; nor to the exercise of evangelical grace, as faith, love, c. which are not in them, and no man can exercise that which he has not, nor should he be called to it nor to any spiritual vital act, since men are dead in trespasses and sins, and cannot put forth any: but this call in the word, is to the natural duties of religion, as to hear, read, and pray; to attend on the word, to wait at Wisdom's gates, and watch at the posts of her door, and so lie in the way of being effectually called by the grace of God; but this call may be where election does not go before, and where sanctification does not follow, and where there may be no salvation, Matthew 20:16 and is often slighted, neglected, and of no effect, which is the case here.

i via. Joseph. apud Grotium in loc.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And sent forth his servants - These represent the messengers that God has sent to invite people to his kingdom.

To call them that were bidden - That is, to give notice to those who had before been invited that the feast was ready. It appears that there were two invitations - one considerably previous to the time of the feast, that they might have opportunity to prepare for it, and the other to give notice of the precise time when they were expected.

The wedding - The marriage-feast. The same word in the original as in Matthew 22:2.

They would not come - They might have come if they had chosen, but they would not. So all the difficulty that sinners ever labour under in regard to salvation is in the will. It is a fixed determination not to come and be saved. See the notes at John 5:45.


 
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