Matthew 22:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The king orders the man bound and cast out of the feast into the darkness outside.
What Does Matthew 22:13 Mean?
The sentence is delivered in the language of the banquet itself: outside the lit, joyful hall lies "outer darkness," and the man who would not wear the garment of the feast is removed from the light of the feast.
"Weeping and gnashing of teeth" is the repeated, sober picture Jesus gives of final loss (Matthew 8:12; 25:30) -- grief at joy refused. The weight of the verse is not that the king lacked mercy; the man had been invited, welcomed, and provided for. It is that mercy can be held at arm's length until the feast goes on without us. Jesus warns precisely because He desires no empty seat.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 22:13
What does Matthew 22:13 mean?
The king orders the man bound and cast out of the feast into the darkness outside.