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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Matthew 22:2

The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a king gave a wedding banquet for his son.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Covetousness;   Feasts;   Hospitality;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Kingdom of Heaven;   Marriage;   Wicked (People);   Worldliness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Feasts;   Heaven;   Kingdom;   Marriage;   Similitudes;   Social Functions;   Social Life;   Spiritual;   Wedding Feasts;   The Topic Concordance - Kingdom of God;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Entertainments;   Marriage;   Parables;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Parables;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Church, the;   Lord's Supper, the;   Mission;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Canticles;   ;   Marriage;   Parable;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Call, Calling;   Election;   Hour;   Kingdom of God;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Kingdom of God;   Marriage;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Call, Calling;   Circumstantiality in the Parables;   Claims (of Christ);   Courtesy;   Doctrines;   Dropsy;   Family;   Householder;   Invitation;   Judgment;   Kingdom of God (or Heaven);   Lazarus;   Luke, Gospel According to;   Marriage;   Marriage (Ii.);   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Names and Titles of Christ;   Prophet;   Religious Experience;   Retribution (2);   Sacraments;   Service;   Tares ;   Wealth (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Dinner;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Marriage;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Marriage;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Calling;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Matthew, the Gospel of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Marriage;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“The kingdom of heaven
King James Version (1611)
The Kingdome of heauen is like vnto a certaine King, which made a marriage for his sonne,
King James Version
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
English Standard Version
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
New American Standard Bible
"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who held a wedding feast for his son.
New Century Version
"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son.
Amplified Bible
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
Legacy Standard Bible
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
Berean Standard Bible
"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
Complete Jewish Bible
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son,
Darby Translation
The kingdom of the heavens has become like a king who made a wedding feast for his son,
Easy-to-Read Version
"God's kingdom is like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The kingdome of heauen is like vnto a certaine King which maried his sonne,
George Lamsa Translation
The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a marriage-feast for his son.
Good News Translation
"The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son.
Lexham English Bible
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man—a king—who gave a wedding celebration for his son.
Literal Translation
The kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man, a king, who made a wedding feast for his son.
American Standard Version
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,
Bible in Basic English
The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a feast when his son was married,
Hebrew Names Version
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,
International Standard Version
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.
Etheridge Translation
The kingdom of heaven resembles a royal person who made a feast to his son;
Murdock Translation
The kingdom of heaven is like to a royal person, who made a feast for his son.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a man that was a kyng, which made a mariage for his sonne.
English Revised Version
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, which made a marriage feast for his son,
World English Bible
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
who made a marriage-feast for his son.
Weymouth's New Testament
"The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and seide, The kyngdom of heuenes is maad lijk to a kyng that made weddyngis to his sone.
Update Bible Version
The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man [who was] a king, who made a marriage feast for his son,
Webster's Bible Translation
The kingdom of heaven is like to a certain king, who made a marriage for his son,
New English Translation
"The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.
New King James Version
"The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,
New Living Translation
"The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.
New Life Bible
"The holy nation of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding supper for his son.
New Revised Standard
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The kingdom of the heavens hath become like a man, a king, - who made a marriage-feast for his son;
Douay-Rheims Bible
The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who made a marriage for his son.
Revised Standard Version
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
The kingdome of heve is lyke vnto a certayne kynge which maryed his sonne
Young's Literal Translation
`The reign of the heavens was likened to a man, a king, who made marriage-feasts for his son,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The kingdome of heauen is like vnto a kynge, which maried his sonne.
Mace New Testament (1729)
the kingdom of the Messiah is such, as when a certain king made a wedding-feast for his son.
Simplified Cowboy Version
"The Boss's place is like a big rancher who planned a BBQ for his son's wedding.

Contextual Overview

1 Once again Jesus used stories to teach the people: 2 The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a king gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 The king sent some servants to tell the invited guests to come to the banquet, but the guests refused. 4 He sent other servants to say to the guests, "The banquet is ready! My cattle and prize calves have all been prepared. Everything is ready. Come to the banquet!" 5 But the guests did not pay any attention. Some of them left for their farms, and some went to their places of business. 6 Others grabbed the servants, then beat them up and killed them. 7 This made the king so furious that he sent an army to kill those murderers and burn down their city. 8 Then he said to the servants, "It is time for the wedding banquet, and the invited guests don't deserve to come. 9 Go out to the street corners and tell everyone you meet to come to the banquet." 10 They went out on the streets and brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike. And the banquet room was filled with guests.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

kingdom: Matthew 13:24, Matthew 13:31-33, Matthew 13:44-47, Matthew 25:1, Matthew 25:14

which: Matthew 25:1-13, Psalms 45:10-16, John 3:29, John 3:30, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:24-32, Revelation 19:7-9

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:22 - and made Deuteronomy 17:10 - General Judges 14:10 - made there Esther 2:18 - made a great Isaiah 66:4 - when I called Jeremiah 13:5 - as Daniel 9:26 - the prince Matthew 3:2 - for Matthew 20:1 - the kingdom Luke 5:34 - bridegroom Luke 14:16 - A certain Luke 15:23 - the fatted Revelation 19:9 - Blessed

Cross-References

Genesis 17:19
But God answered: No! You and Sarah will have a son. His name will be Isaac, and I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants.
Genesis 21:12
But God said, "Abraham, don't worry about your slave woman and the boy. Just do what Sarah tells you. Isaac will inherit your family name,
Genesis 22:9
when they reached the place that God had told him about, Abraham built an altar and placed the wood on it. Next, he tied up his son and put him on the wood.
Genesis 22:10
He then took the knife and got ready to kill his son.
Genesis 22:12
"Don't hurt the boy or harm him in any way!" the angel said. "Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son."
Genesis 22:16
You were willing to offer the Lord your only son, and so he makes you this solemn promise,
Judges 11:31
and come home safely, I will sacrifice to you whoever comes out to meet me first."
Judges 11:39
Then she went back to her father. He did what he had promised, and she never got married. That's why
2 Kings 3:27
He then grabbed his oldest son who was to be the next king and sacrificed him as an offering on the city wall. The Israelite troops were so horrified that they left the city and went back home.
2 Chronicles 3:1
Solomon's workers began building the temple in Jerusalem on the second day of the second month, four years after Solomon had become king of Israel. It was built on Mount Moriah where the Lord had appeared to David at the threshing place that had belonged to Araunah from Jebus.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king,.... The Gospel dispensation which had now taken place, the methods of divine grace in it, and the behaviour of men under it, may be fitly illustrated by the following simile, or parable; the design of which is to express the great love of God the Father, who is represented by this

certain king, in espousing any of the children of men to his own son: as, that he a king, who is the King of kings, and Lord of Lords, should concern himself in this manner; and especially, that he should espouse such mean and unworthy creatures to his own, his only, and beloved son, his equal, and his heir: also, the view of it is to set forth the plenteous provisions of grace made under the Gospel dispensation in the word and ordinances; the great neglect and contempt of these by the Jews, who were externally called unto them; the wrath of God upon them for their abuse of them, and ill usage of his servants; the calling of the vilest among them, or of the Gentiles, and how far persons may go in a profession of religion without the wedding garment, and at last be lost:

which made a marriage for his son: which may be understood either of contracting and bringing him into a marriage relation, or of making a marriage feast on that account: in the former sense, the persons concerned are the Father, the bridegroom, and the bride: the parties contracted are the Son of God and sinful creatures. The bridegroom is no other than the only begotten of God the Father, his only Son and heir, the Maker and Governor of the universe, who has all the, perfections of the Deity, and fulness of the Godhead in him; and, as mediator, has all accomplishments and, excellencies; he has all the riches of grace and glory; all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; all loveliness, beauty, and amiableness in his person, and everything to recommend him as the chiefest among ten thousand: on the other hand, the bride is the church, which consists of a set of persons chosen by God, in Christ, before the foundation of the world; who were considered as sinless creatures, and viewed as such when first betrothed to Christ in the everlasting covenant: but for the further demonstration of his love to them, were suffered to fall in Adam, with the rest of mankind, and to be scattered abroad; when they lost the image of God, came short of his glory, passed under a sentence of condemnation, became liable to the curse of the law, and eternal death; were defiled and polluted in their nature, and in their estate became bankrupts and beggars; and yet this hindered not the consummation of the marriage between Christ and them. The person that contracted this relation between them, is the Father of Christ, who chose them for him to be his spouse and bride; brought and presented them to him, as he did Eve to Adam before the fall; and gave them to him, and made them one body and flesh with him, in the everlasting covenant; and draws them, and brings them to him by his powerful grace, in the effectual calling; there was a secret betrothing of all these persons to him in eternity, at his own request, and the full consent of his Father, who had the disposal of them; there is an open espousal of them, as particular persons, at conversion; and there will be a more public and general consummate marriage of them, at the last day, when they are all called by grace, and brought home: moreover, this may be understood of the marriage feast which the Father makes on this extraordinary account. So the Syriac version renders the word by משתיתא, "a feast"; and in this sense is it used by the Septuagint in Genesis 29:22 by which is meant, not the latter day glory, or marriage feast of the Lamb, to which only saints will be invited, and partake of; nor the ultimate glory, when all the elect shall go with Christ into the marriage chamber, and spend an eternity in endless and unspeakable felicity with him; nor the spiritual blessings of grace enjoyed by believers now; but the external ministry of the word and ordinances, which are a feast of fat things, a rich entertainment, the particulars of which are after given; which many are invited to, who never partake thereof, and others do, and yet destitute of the grace of God; for both good and bad were guests at this feast. The allusion is to the custom of the Jews, and of other nations, in making feasts and grand entertainments at such times. The Jews used to make feasts both at espousals, and at marriage: hence we g read of סעודת אירוסין, "a feast of espousals", and of נישואין

סעודת, "a marriage feast": the reference here is to the latter; and which used to be made at the charge of the father: for so runs one of their canons h:

"a father marries his son, ועשה לו משתה, "and makes a feast for him", and the expense is the father's &c.''

g T. Bab. Yebamot, fol. 43. 1, 2. h Maimon. Hilch. Nechalot, c. 9. sect. 13. Vid. Misn. Sheviith, c. 7. sect. 4. & Juchasin, fol. 88. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The kingdom of heaven - See the notes at Matthew 3:2. The idea here is, “God deals with man in his kingdom, or in regard to the dispensation of the gospel, as a certain king did,” etc. This parable refers, undoubtedly, to the rejection of the Jews and to the calling of the Gentiles. The gospel, with all its privileges, was offered to the Jewish people; but through their wickedness and pride they rejected it, and all its blessings were offered to the Gentiles and accepted. This is the general truth. Many circumstances are thrown in to fill out the narrative which cannot be particularly explained.

A marriage for his son - Rather a “marriage-feast,” or a feast on the occasion of the marriage of his son. The king here doubtless represents God providing for the salvation of the world.


 
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