Focused Passage

Matthew 22:1-14

The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord

Matthew moves from parabolic judgment against those who refuse the King’s Son, to warning against presumptuous attendance without proper response, to political testing over Caesar, to theological testing over resurrection, to legal testing over the greatest commandment, and finally to Jesus’ own question revealing that the Messiah is not merely David’s son but David’s Lord.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables:

2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

3 He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.

4 Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

5 But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business.

6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.

7 The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.

8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy.

9 Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’

10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes.

12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.

13 Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

[Once] Καὶ G2532 Conjunction again πάλιν G3825 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular spoke ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition parables παραβολαῖς G3850 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural - λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 2

Original words

The G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλεία G932 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural is like Ὡμοιώθη G3666 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular vvv ἀνθρώπῳ G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular a king βασιλεῖ G935 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular who ὅστις G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular prepared ἐποίησεν G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a wedding banquet γάμους G1062 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural for τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular son υἱῷ G5207 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 3

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction He sent ἀπέστειλεν G649 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural servants δούλους G1401 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural to call καλέσαι G2564 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active those τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural he had invited κεκλημένους G2564 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural banquet γάμους G1062 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural but καὶ G2532 Conjunction they refused ἤθελον G2309 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . οὐκ G3756 Adverb to come ἐλθεῖν G2064 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Verse 4

Original words

Again Πάλιν G3825 Adverb he sent ἀπέστειλεν G649 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular other ἄλλους G243 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural servants δούλους G1401 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [and] said λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Tell Εἴπατε G2036 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural those who τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural have been invited κεκλημένοις G2564 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural that Ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular I have prepared ἡτοίμακα G2090 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular dinner ἄριστόν G712 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural oxen ταῦροί G5022 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural fattened cattle σιτιστὰ G4619 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural have been killed τεθυμένα G2380 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction everything [is] πάντα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural ready ἕτοιμα G2092 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural Come δεῦτε G1205 Verb - Imperative - 2nd Person Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural wedding banquet γάμους G1062 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Verse 5

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - Οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural they paid no attention ἀμελήσαντες G272 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural [and] went away ἀπῆλθον G565 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - μὲν G3303 Conjunction one ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition his ἴδιον G2398 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular field ἀγρόν G68 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction another ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular to ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular business ἐμπορίαν G1711 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 6

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction The οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural rest λοιποὶ G3062 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural seized κρατήσαντες G2902 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural servants δούλους G1401 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural mistreated [them] ὕβρισαν G5195 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction killed [them] ἀπέκτειναν G615 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 7

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular king βασιλεὺς G935 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular was enraged ὠργίσθη G3710 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction he sent πέμψας G3992 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural troops στρατεύματα G4753 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural to destroy ἀπώλεσεν G622 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular those ἐκείνους G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural murderers φονεῖς G5406 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction burn ἐνέπρησεν G1714 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular city πόλιν G4172 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 8

Original words

Then τότε G5119 Adverb he said λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular servants δούλοις G1401 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural - μὲν G3303 Conjunction The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular wedding banquet γάμος G1062 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular ready ἕτοιμός G2092 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction those οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural I invited κεκλημένοι G2564 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural were ἦσαν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural not οὐκ G3756 Adverb worthy ἄξιοι G514 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Verse 9

Original words

Go πορεύεσθε G4198 Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction to ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural crossroads διεξόδους G1327 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural . . . τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Plural . . . ὁδῶν G3598 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction invite καλέσατε G2564 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural banquet γάμους G1062 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural as many as ὅσους G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction you can find εὕρητε G2147 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Verse 10

Original words

So Καὶ G2532 Conjunction - ἐκεῖνοι G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural servants δοῦλοι G1401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural went out ἐξελθόντες G1831 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural streets ὁδοὺς G3598 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural [and] gathered συνήγαγον G4863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural everyone πάντας G3956 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . οὓς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural they could find εὗρον G2147 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural both τε G5037 Conjunction evil πονηρούς G4190 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction good ἀγαθούς G18 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular wedding hall γάμος* G1062 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular was filled ἐπλήσθη G4130 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular with guests ἀνακειμένων G345 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 11

Original words

But when δὲ G1161 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular king βασιλεὺς G935 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular came in Εἰσελθὼν G1525 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to see θεάσασθαι G2300 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural guests ἀνακειμένους G345 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural he spotted εἶδεν G3708 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a man ἄνθρωπον G444 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - ἐκεῖ G1563 Adverb [who was] not οὐκ G3756 Adverb dressed ἐνδεδυμένον G1746 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle - Accusative Masculine Singular in wedding γάμου G1062 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular clothes ἔνδυμα G1742 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 12

Original words

Friend Ἑταῖρε G2083 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction he asked λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular how πῶς G4459 Adverb did you get in εἰσῆλθες G1525 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular here ὧδε G5602 Adverb vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb without ἔχων G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular wedding γάμου G1062 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular clothes ἔνδυμα G1742 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [the man] was speechless ἐφιμώθη G5392 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 13

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular king βασιλεὺς G935 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular told εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural servants διακόνοις G1249 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Tie Δήσαντες G1210 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular hand χεῖρας G5495 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction foot πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [and] throw him ἐκβάλετε G1544 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular outer ἐξώτερον G1857 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative darkness σκότος G4655 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular [where] there ἐκεῖ G1563 Adverb will be ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular weeping κλαυθμὸς G2805 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular gnashing βρυγμὸς G1030 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural teeth ὀδόντων G3599 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 14

Original words

For γάρ G1063 Conjunction many Πολλοὶ G4183 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural are εἰσιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural called κλητοὶ G2822 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural but δὲ G1161 Conjunction few [are] ὀλίγοι G3641 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural chosen ἐκλεκτοί G1588 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.