Matthew 22:5 Meaning and Explanation
“But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The invited guests shrug off the king's summons and return to their farms and businesses.
What Does Matthew 22:5 Mean?
The second summons meets not argument but indifference. The guests "made light of it" -- the feast simply does not matter to them -- and they walk away to the ordinary business of fields and trade.
Most people do not reject God with a clenched fist; they drift from Him with a full calendar. A farm and a business are good things, but here they crowd out the king's joy. Jesus warns elsewhere of the cares of this world choking the word (Matthew 13:22). The opposite of faith in this parable is not hatred; it is preoccupation.
Matthew 22:5 in the Original Language
ameleo (ἀμελέω), 'made light of' -- to neglect, to treat as something that does not matter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 22:5
What does Matthew 22:5 mean?
The invited guests shrug off the king's summons and return to their farms and businesses.