Matthew 22:6 (KJV)

What does Matthew 22:6 mean?

Matthew 22:6 describes how some of the people who were invited to a king’s banquet mistreated the king’s servants and even killed them. This shows a violent rejection of the king’s invitation, going beyond simple refusal to outright hostility.

In this verse, Jesus is telling a parable to a group of religious leaders in Jerusalem. The story is about a king who sends out servants to invite people to a wedding feast for his son. Instead of accepting, some invitees attack the messengers. The verse highlights the seriousness of their response, setting up the king’s reaction in the next part of the story.

The Greek behind Matthew 22:6

• The word "remnant" (οἱ λοιποὶ, loipoi) refers to the rest or the remaining people, not all the invitees, but a specific group who act violently. This shows that not everyone responded the same way.
• "Entreated them spitefully" comes from the Greek word ὑβρίσαντες (hybrisantes), which means to insult, mistreat, or act outrageously toward someone. The sense here is not just rejection, but active abuse and humiliation of the king’s servants.
• "Slew them" (ἀπέκτειναν, apekteinan) means to kill or put to death. The use of this word makes clear the extreme nature of the rejection—these guests did not just ignore the invitation, they responded with lethal violence.

Why Matthew 22:6 matters

• Matthew 22:6 clarifies that the rejection of the king’s invitation was not passive or indifferent, but involved aggressive and deadly opposition.
• The verse emphasizes the escalating hostility in the parable, preparing the listener for the king’s severe response in the following verses.
• Understanding this detail helps make sense of why the king’s later actions in the story are so strong, and it highlights the seriousness with which the invitation was treated by different groups.