And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

MATTHEW 22:3KJV
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Matthew 22:3 (KJV)

What does Matthew 22:3 mean?

Matthew 22:3 describes how the king in Jesus’ parable sent his servants to invite those who had already been asked to come to the wedding feast, but those invited refused to come. The verse shows the king’s effort to reach out and the guests’ unwillingness to respond.

In this part of the story, Jesus is speaking to a crowd in Jerusalem, using a parable about a royal wedding banquet to illustrate a spiritual truth. The king represents God, the servants are his messengers, and the invited guests are those who had previously received an invitation. The refusal of the guests sets up the rest of the parable, highlighting their rejection despite being honored with an invitation.

The Greek behind Matthew 22:3

  • "δοῦλος" (doulos, G1401) means "servant" or "slave." In this context, it refers to those sent by the king, symbolizing messengers or prophets sent by God.
  • "ἐκάλεσεν" (ekalesen, G2564) means "to call" or "invite." The repetition of this word (for both "call" and "bidden") emphasizes that the invitation was clear and intentional.
  • "οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν" (ouk ēthelon elthein, G3756 G2309 G2064) means "they were not willing to come." The Greek here stresses a deliberate refusal, not just a passive neglect.

Why Matthew 22:3 matters

  • Matthew 22:3 clarifies that the invited guests had already received notice of the event, making their refusal a conscious and significant choice.
  • The verse sets the stage for the rest of the parable, where the king’s response to rejection becomes a key turning point.
  • Understanding the deliberate nature of the guests’ refusal helps explain the seriousness of their rejection in the context of Jesus’ teaching to the religious leaders and the crowd.

Where else these words appear

“wedding” Greek G1062 · used in 16 verses

  • Matthew 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
  • Matthew 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
  • John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

“servants” Greek G1401 · used in 119 verses

  • Matthew 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
  • Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

“forth” Greek G649 · used in 130 verses

  • Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
  • Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
  • John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

“call” Greek G2564 · used in 138 verses

  • Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
  • Luke 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
  • Romans 9:26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.