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Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

Matthew 22:2

"The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who 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.
Contemporary English Version
The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a king gave 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 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 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 "The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, "Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready. My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet."' 5 But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death and set their city on fire. 8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy. 9 So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' 10 And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall 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
God said, "No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him.
Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, "Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife. Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted.
Genesis 22:9
When they came to the place God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood on it. Next he tied up his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood.
Genesis 22:10
Then Abraham reached out his hand, took the knife, and prepared to slaughter his son.
Genesis 22:12
"Do not harm the boy!" the angel said. "Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me."
Genesis 22:16
and said, "‘I solemnly swear by my own name,' decrees the Lord , ‘that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,
Judges 11:31
then whoever is the first to come through the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from fighting the Ammonites—he will belong to the Lord and I will offer him up as a burnt sacrifice."
Judges 11:39
After two months she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. She died a virgin. Her tragic death gave rise to a custom in Israel.
2 Kings 3:27
So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him up as a burnt sacrifice on the wall. There was an outburst of divine anger against Israel, so they broke off the attack and returned to their homeland.
2 Chronicles 3:1
Solomon began building the Lord 's temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. This was the place that David prepared at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

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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