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Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

Weymouth New Testament

Matthew 22:12

"`My friend,' he said, `how is it that you came in here without a wedding robe?'

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.
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.
Mace New Testament (1729)
friend, how came you in hither, without a wedding garment? and he was speechless.
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 Again Jesus spoke to them in figurative language. 2 "The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son, 3 and sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding, but they were unwilling to come. 4 "Again he sent other servants with a message to those who were invited. "`My breakfast is now ready," he said, `my bullocks and fat cattle are killed, and every preparation is made: come to the wedding.' 5 "They however gave no heed, but went, one to his home in the country, another to his business; 6 and the rest seized the king's servants, maltreated them, and murdered them. 7 So the king's anger was stirred, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burnt their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, "`The wedding banquet is ready, but those who were invited were unworthy of it. 9 Go out therefore to the crossroads, and everybody you meet invite to the wedding.' 10 "So they went out into the roads and gathered together all they could find, both bad and good, and the banqueting hall was filled 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
Just so let your light shine before all men, in order that they may see your holy lives and may give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.
Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any one desires to follow me, let him renounce self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.
Matthew 19:29
And whoever has forsaken houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands, for my sake, shall receive many times as much and shall have as his inheritance the Life of the Ages.
John 3:16
For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages.
Acts 9:31
The Church, however, throughout the whole of Judaea, Galilee and Samaria, had peace and was spiritually built up; and grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and receiving encouragement from the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:8
But God gives proof of His love to us in Christ's dying for us while we were still sinners.
Romans 8:32
He who did not withhold even His own Son, but gave Him up for all of us, will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has you in its power but such as is common to human nature; and God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. But, when the temptation comes, He will also provide the way of escape; so that you may be able to bear it.
2 Corinthians 8:12
For, assuming the earnest willingness, the gift is acceptable according to whatever a man has, and not according to what he has not.
Hebrews 11:19
For he reckoned that God is even able to raise a man up from among the dead, and, figuratively speaking, it was from among the dead that he received Isaac again.

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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