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Monday, August 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Matthew 22:12

friend, how came you in hither, without a wedding garment? and he was speechless.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Covetousness;   Feasts;   Hypocrisy;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Judgment;   Kingdom of Heaven;   Marriage;   Righteousness;   Self-Righteousness;   Wicked (People);   The Topic Concordance - Kingdom of God;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Marriage;   Parables;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Friend;   Parable;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Parables;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Church, the;   Friend, Friendship;   Lord's Supper, the;   Mission;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Elect;   Hannah;   Marriage;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Election;   Guest;   Hour;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - English Versions;   Kingdom of God;   Marriage;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Boldness;   Circumstantiality in the Parables;   Courtesy;   Doctrines;   Dress (2);   Dropsy;   Invitation;   Judas Iscariot (2);   Judgment;   Lazarus;   Luke, Gospel According to;   Marriage;   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Peace (2);   Sacraments;   Service;   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;   Garments;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Calling;   Friend;   Gifts;  

Encyclopedias:

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

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So he said to him, ‘Friend,
King James Version (1611)
And hee sayth vnto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not hauing a wedding garment? And hee was speechlesse.
King James Version
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
English Standard Version
And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
New American Standard Bible
and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless.
New Century Version
The king said, ‘Friend, how were you allowed to come in here? You are not dressed for a wedding.' But the man said nothing.
Amplified Bible
and he said, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wearing the wedding clothes [that were provided for you]?' And the man was speechless and without excuse.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless.
Legacy Standard Bible
and he *said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless.
Berean Standard Bible
'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But the man was speechless.
Contemporary English Version
The king asked, "Friend, why didn't you wear proper clothes for the wedding?" But the guest had no excuse.
Complete Jewish Bible
‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.
Darby Translation
And he says to him, [My] friend, how camest thou in here not having on a wedding garment? But he was speechless.
Easy-to-Read Version
The king said, ‘Friend, how were you allowed to come in here? You are not wearing the right clothes.' But the man said nothing.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he sayd vnto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, and hast not on a wedding garment? And he was speachlesse.
George Lamsa Translation
And he said to him, My friend, how did you enter here, when you do not have wedding garments? And he was speechless.
Good News Translation
‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' the king asked him. But the man said nothing.
Lexham English Bible
And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here, not having wedding clothes?' But he could say nothing.
Literal Translation
And he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here, not having a wedding garment? But he was speechless.
American Standard Version
and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.
Bible in Basic English
And he says to him, Friend, how came you in here not having a guest's robe? And he had nothing to say.
Hebrew Names Version
and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not having wedding clothing?' He was speechless.
International Standard Version
He said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But the manhe
">[fn] was speechless.
Etheridge Translation
And he said to him, My friend, how didst thou enter here, when thou hast not the vestments of the feast ? But he was silent.
Murdock Translation
And he said to him: My friend, how camest thou here without the festal robes? But he was silent.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He sayde vnto hym: frende, howe camest thou in hyther, not hauyng a weddyng garment? And he was euen speachlesse.
English Revised Version
and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.
World English Bible
and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not having wedding-clothing?' He was speechless.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And saith to him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.
Weymouth's New Testament
"`My friend,' he said, `how is it that you came in here without a wedding robe?'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to hym, Freend, hou entridist thou hidir with out bride clothis? And he was doumbe.
Update Bible Version
and he says to him, Friend, how did you come in here not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he saith to him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.
New English Translation
And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But he had nothing to say.
New King James Version
So he said to him, "Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
New Living Translation
‘Friend,' he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' But the man had no reply.
New Life Bible
He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding supper clothes?' The man could not speak!
New Revised Standard
and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And saith unto him - Friend! how camest thou in here, not having a wedding-garment? And, he, was put to silence.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment? But he was silent.
Revised Standard Version
and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and sayde vnto him: frende how fortuned it that thou camest in hither and hast not on a weddyng garment? And he was eve spechlesse.
Young's Literal Translation
and he saith to him, Comrade, how didst thou come in hither, not having clothing of the marriage-feast? and he was speechless.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and sayde vnto him: Frende, how camest thou in hither, & hast not on a weddyinge garment? And he was euen spechlesse.
Simplified Cowboy Version
'Hey friend,' he said, 'how did you get through the gate without a hat on? That was the only requirement to attend.' The man stood there speechless.

Contextual Overview

1 And Jesus continued to speak to them in parables, and said, 2 the kingdom of the Messiah is such, as when a certain king made a wedding-feast for his son. 3 he sent out his servants to call those that were invited to the wedding: but they would not come. 4 then he sent out other servants, saying, tell those who are invited, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and every thing is ready: come to the entertainment. 5 but instead of showing any regard, they went their ways, one to his farm, another to his traffick. 6 others seiz'd his servants, outrageously abused them, and slew them. 7 when the king was informed of this, he was greatly incensed, and having order'd his forces to march, he put those murderers to death, and laid their city in ashes. 8 then he said to his servants, the feast is ready, but they who were invited were very unworthy. 9 go therefore into the high streets, and as many as ye find, invite to the marriage: 10 accordingly they went about the streets, and assembled all they met indifferently, both good and bad: so that the hall was furnished with guests.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Friend: Matthew 20:13, Matthew 26:50

how: Matthew 5:20, Acts 5:2-11, Acts 8:20-23, 1 Corinthians 4:5

And he was: 1 Samuel 2:9, Job 5:16, Psalms 107:42, Jeremiah 2:23, Jeremiah 2:26, Romans 3:19, Titus 3:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:17 - Because Exodus 28:43 - bear not iniquity 1 Kings 18:21 - answered 2 Kings 10:22 - vestments Nehemiah 5:8 - held Job 36:13 - they Psalms 31:17 - them Psalms 45:13 - clothing Psalms 51:15 - O Lord Isaiah 33:14 - the hypocrites Isaiah 47:5 - silent Daniel 5:27 - art Matthew 8:12 - be cast Matthew 13:49 - and sever Matthew 22:10 - both Luke 15:22 - the best Luke 19:22 - Out Luke 20:26 - and they marvelled Romans 3:22 - and upon Revelation 19:8 - to her

Cross-References

Matthew 5:16
even so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father who is in heaven.
Matthew 16:24
Then addressing himself to his disciples, if any man, said he, would follow me, let him renounce himself, take up his cross, and so follow me.
Matthew 19:29
and every one that abandons his family, his brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake, shall receive in that age an hundred times the value, and shall inherit hereafter everlasting life.
John 3:16
for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have eternal life.
Acts 9:31
Then the churches in all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, were unmolested and establish'd, and by their religious conduct, and the assistance of the holy spirit, grew more extensive.
Romans 5:8
but herein hath God displayed his love towards us, in that Christ died for us, even while we were yet sinners.
Romans 8:32
he that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, will he not with him likewise freely give us all things?
1 Corinthians 10:13
you have met with no trials yet, but such as are common to men: and God who is faithful, will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, by enabling you to bear it.
2 Corinthians 8:12
for what a man gives with a ready mind, according to his abilities, is well received; but not when he goes beyond his circumstances.
Hebrews 11:19
concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the grave; from whence, in a figurative sense, be may be said to have been recover'd.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he saith unto him, friend,.... Either in an ironical way, or because he professed to be a friend of God and Christ:

how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? Which way didst thou come in hither? since he did not come in by faith, in the righteousness of Christ; intimating, that he climbed up some other way, and was a thief and robber; or with what face, or how couldest thou have the assurance to come in hither in such a dress, having nothing but the filthy rags of thine own righteousness? How couldest thou expect to meet with acceptance with me, or to be suitable company for my people, not being arrayed with the garments of salvation, and robe of righteousness, as they are?

And he was speechless: or muzzled: his mouth was stopped, he had nothing to say for himself: not but that there will be pleas made use of by hypocrites, and formal professors, another day; who will plead either their preaching and prophesying in Christ's name; or their attendance on outward ordinances; or the works they have done, ordinary or extraordinary; but then these will all be superseded and silenced, their own consciences will condemn them, their mouths will be stopped, and they will have nothing to say in vindication of themselves; their righteousness will not answer for them in a time to come. The Jews have a tradition l, that

"Esau the wicked, will veil himself with his garment, and sit among the righteous in paradise, in the world to come; and the holy blessed God will draw him, and bring him out from thence, which is the sense of those words, Obadiah 1:4. "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord."''

l T. Hieros. Nedarim, fol. 38. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Friend - Rather, “companions.” The word does not imply friendship.

He was speechless - He had no excuse. So it will be with all hypocrites.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 22:12. He saith unto him, Friend — Rather, companion: so εταιρε should be translated. As this man represents the state of a person in the visible Church, who neglects to come unto the master of the feast for a marriage garment, for the salvation which Christ has procured, he cannot be with any propriety called a friend, but may well be termed a companion, as being a member of the visible Church, and present at all those ordinances where Christ's presence and blessing are found, by all those who sincerely wait upon him for salvation.

How camest thou in hither — Why profess to be called by my name while living without a preparation for my kingdom?

He was speechless. — εφιμωθη, he was muzzled, or gagged. He had nothing to say in vindication of his neglect. There was a garment provided, but he neither put it on, nor applied for it. His conduct, therefore, was in the highest degree insulting and indecorous. As this man is the emblem, by general consent, of those who shall perish in the last day, may we not ask, without offence, Where does the doctrine of absolute reprobation or preterition appear in his case? If Christ had never died for him, or if he had applied for the garment, and was refused, might he not well have alleged this in behalf of his soul? - and would not the just God have listened to it? But there is not the smallest excuse for him: Christ died, the sacrifice was offered, for him; the ministers of the Gospel invited him; the Holy Spirit strove with him; he might have been saved, but he was not: and the fault lies so absolutely at his own door that the just God is vindicated in his conduct, while he sends him to hell, not for the lack of what he could not get, but for the lack of what he might have had, but either neglected or refused it.

Then said the king to the servants — To the ministering angels, executors of the Divine will.

Cast him into outer darkness — The Jewish marriages were performed in the night season, and the hall where the feast was made was superbly illuminated; the outer darkness means, therefore, the darkness on the outside of this festal hall; rendered still more gloomy to the person who was suddenly thrust out into it from such a profusion of light. See all this largely treated of on Matthew 8:12.


 
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