Bible Commentaries

Ch. Matthew 22:1-14. The Parable of the Royal Marriage Feast. Peculiar to St Matthew

The parable recorded by St Luke (Luke 14:16-24), though similar to this in some respects, differs in its context and special teaching and in many details.

As of the other parables of the Passion, the primary intention of this regards the present and the immediate future. The parable falls into two divisions, (1) Matthew 22:1-7; (2) Matthew 22:8-14. In the first (1) the servants are John Baptist and the first disciples of Christ; the feast is the Kingdom of God, or the Christian Church; the invited guests, who refuse to come, are the Jews; the vengeance taken was literally fulfilled at the siege of Jerusalem, a. d. 70. (2) This division relates to the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles. As in the Net (ch. Matthew 13:47) or in the Corn-field (ch. Matthew 13:24), worthy and unworthy are mingled until the King separates.

2. which made a marriage for his son] Rather, a marriage feast for his son.

3. sent forth his servants] This was in accordance with Eastern custom. Cp. Esther 5:8; Esther 6:14.

servants] Or slaves. In Matthew 22:13 a different Greek word is used for “servants.”

7. he was wroth] For a subject to scorn the summons to the royal feast implied disloyalty and rebellion.

sent forth his armies] The soldiers of Titus literally achieved the purposes of God.

10. So those servants went out into the highways] Strictly, into the places where different roads branch off. The “servants” are the earliest Christian missionaries, Paul, Silas, Barnabas and others, who went in their journeys to such meeting-places of the nations at Rome, Antioch and Corinth.

bad and good] Who will always co-exist in the Church on earth.

11. which had not on a wedding garment] The festive robe which the master of the feast himself provided, so that there was no excuse. This man is the representative of a class—the bad (Matthew 22:10), who are not clothed in righteousness.

12. was speechless] See Matthew 22:34.

13. and take him away] Omit, on the best MS. authority.

outer darkness] The dark dungeon outside the brightness of the banqueting-hall.