Matthew 22:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The king sends servants to summon the invited guests, and they refuse to come.
What Does Matthew 22:3 Mean?
In the custom of the day, guests were invited well in advance and then summoned by servants when the feast was ready. These guests had already accepted the invitation in principle; refusing the summons was a calculated insult to the king.
The servants recall the prophets God sent to His covenant people, calling them to the joy prepared for them. The shock of the verse is in five plain words: "they would not come." God invites; He does not coerce. The feast is real, the table is set, and still a person can simply decline. Every generation, and every heart, answers the same summons.
Matthew 22:3 in the Original Language
kaleo (καλέω), 'call' -- to invite or summon; the same root stands behind 'called' in verse 14.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 22:3
What does Matthew 22:3 mean?
The king sends servants to summon the invited guests, and they refuse to come.