Matthew 22:10 AV
So those servants¹ went out into the highways²,
and gathered together³ all as many as⁴ they found⁵,
both⁶ bad⁷ and good:
and the wedding⁸ was furnished⁹ with guests¹⁰.
¹) A slave; Metaphorically: one who gives himself up to another’s will, those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men.
²) Properly: a way, a road; Metaphorically: a course of conduct; a way (i.e. manner) of thinking, feeling, deciding.
³) Bring together, assemble.
⁴) Whoever.
⁵) To come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
⁶) Not only … but also.
⁷) Bad, of a bad nature or condition; In a physical sense: diseased or blind; In an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad.
⁸) Or marriage festival, a wedding banquet, a wedding feast.
⁹) Filled.
¹⁰) To lie at a table, eat together, dine.
Other translations
And those servants went out on the crossroads and got together as many as they found, both bad and good, so [the room in which] the wedding feast [was held] was filled with guests. [AMP] And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. [ESV] The servants went out on the streets and rounded up everyone they laid eyes on, good and bad, regardless. And so the banquet was on--every place filled. [MSB] So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. [KJV] So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. [NIV] So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. [NLT] So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. [NKJV]
Some further information
So these servants went out into the highways
Turned from the Jews, and went among the Gentiles, preaching the Gospel to them; particularly the Apostle Paul, with Barnabas, and others.
Both bad and good
The bad are invited, not to remain bad, but in order that they might become good. No one can truly come without a determination to quit sinning.
That is, without making any distinction between open sinners and the morally correct. The Gospel call fetched in Jews, Samaritans, and outlying heathen alike.
Thus far the parable answers to that of “the Great Supper” ( Luke 14:16 &c.). But the distinguishing feature of our parable is what follows in the next verse.
The Persic version reads it, “known or unknown”.
The Gospel ministry is the means of gathering souls to Christ, and to attend His ordinances, and into His churches; and of these that are gathered by it into churches, and to an attendance on outward ordinances, some are good and some bad, as the fishes gathered in the net of the Gospel are said to be, in ( Matthew 13:47, 48 ) which may either express the character of the Gentiles before conversion,
▪︎ some of them being outwardly good in their civil and moral character; closely adhering to the law and light of nature, doing the things of it, and others notoriously wicked; or rather, how they proved when gathered in,
▪︎ some being real believers, godly persons, whose conversations were as became the Gospel of Christ;
▪︎ others hypocrites, empty professors, having a form of godliness, and nothing of the power of it; destitute of grace in their hearts, and of holiness in their lives; and the whole sets forth the diligence of the servants, in executing their master’s orders, with so much readiness and exactness:
Good
The Greek word: ἀγαθός (agathos) ag–ath–os’ points to:
▪︎ Of good constitution or nature (Luke 8:8,15; Matthew 7:18; James 3:17)
▪︎ Useful, salutary, a gift which is truly a gift (James 1:17; Matthew 7:11; Romans 7:12,13; Luke 10:42; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:28)
▪︎ Good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy (1 Peter 3:10,13; Psalms 34:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; Titus 2:13)
• A good conscience Acts 23:1; 1 Timothy 1:5,19; 1 Peter 3:16,21)
▪︎ Excellent, distinguished (John 1:46)
▪︎ upright, honourable (Matthew 12:34, 19:16; Luke 6:45; Acts 11:24; 1 Peter 3:11; Matthew 5:45, 22:10; Luke 23:50, 8:15)
• Fulfulling the duty or service demanded (Matthew 25:21,23)
• Upright, free from guile, particularily the desire to corrupt the people (John 7:12)
• Pre–eminently of God, as consumately and essentially good Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19)
• Denotes the soul considered as the repository of pure thoughts which are brought forth in speech (Matthew 12:35; Luke 6:45)
• The fidelity of servant due to his master (Titus 2:10)
• In a narrow sense, benevolent, kind, generous (Matthew 20:15; 1 Peter 2:18; 1 Thessalonians 3:6; Romans 5:7)
And the wedding was furnished with guests;
That is, the wedding chamber, or the place where the wedding was kept, and the marriage dinner was prepared, and eat;
▪︎ The Syriac renders it, “the house of the feast”, or where the feast was kept;
▪︎ The Persic version reads it, “the house of the nuptial feast”: which designs the house and church of God, into which large numbers of the Gentiles were brought, by the ministry of the apostles; so that it was filled with persons that made a profession of the Christ and his Gospel.
Now let us reflect on this
What if the king invited you to dinner, what would you do?
Of course, you would dread it. I? At the king’s table?
But you wouldn’t dream of canceling, would you ?!
Today you are invited to the feast of the King of kings.
Who? I?! Yes! You and you!
Everyone is called.
▪︎ You who may have to say: So often I have taken no notice of the Lord and His word.
▪︎ You who may have to confess: I have so many other things on my mind.
It is said to everyone: Come! Yes, but is that possible?
▪︎ I am not ready for this at all.
▪︎ I am not dressed for it, so to speak.
▪︎ I am such a great sinner.
▪︎ I have no faith.
▪︎ I am not converted.
Yet that servant says: Come!
That is not a figment of that servant.
That is an order from the king himself.
We are not supposed to express our ‘Yes-buts’.
We are meant to be deeply amazed at this invitation.
If you yourself have no reason to accept this invitation, let this be the reason: It is to the glory of God that His house is filled. He says: Come !!
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
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