Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatted calves are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage.
other.
Luke 10:1-16 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come…
Luke 24:46,47 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: …
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Behold.
Proverbs 9:1,2 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: …
Song of Solomon 5:1 I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
John 6:50-57 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die…
and all.
Matthew 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Nehemiah 9:17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
Psalm 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
‘Tell those who have been invited
The invitation is extended to those who were already on the guest list, symbolizing the Jewish people who were the first to receive God's covenant promises. This reflects the historical context of Israel as God's chosen people, who were given the Law and the Prophets. The invitation also implies a personal and direct call, emphasizing the relational aspect of God's kingdom.
that I have prepared my dinner.
The preparation of a dinner signifies readiness and abundance. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a prepared meal was a sign of hospitality and honor. This phrase can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual blessings and salvation that God has prepared for His people. It echoes the prophetic imagery found in Isaiah 25:6, where a feast is prepared for all peoples.
My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed,
The mention of oxen and fattened cattle indicates a lavish and costly preparation, symbolizing the richness of God's provision. In the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, the killing of animals was a part of worship and atonement. This phrase can be seen as a type of Christ, who is the ultimate sacrifice, providing atonement for sin through His death.
and everything is ready.
This statement underscores the completeness and sufficiency of God's provision. It suggests that nothing is lacking in what God offers, and it is available now. The readiness of the feast parallels the readiness of the kingdom of heaven, as proclaimed by Jesus in His ministry.
Come to the wedding banquet.’
The invitation to a wedding banquet symbolizes joy, celebration, and union. In biblical terms, a wedding feast often represents the Messianic banquet, a future event where believers will be united with Christ. This imagery is consistent with Revelation 19:9, which speaks of the "marriage supper of the Lamb." The call to "come" is an open invitation to partake in the blessings of God's kingdom, emphasizing the inclusivity and grace extended to all who will accept.
“Again, he sent other servants”
• The king’s persistence highlights God’s relentless grace. Like the repeated appeals of prophets in 2 Chronicles 24:19 and Jeremiah 25:4, the Father keeps reaching out even after earlier rejections (Matthew 21:36).
• Jesus stresses that judgment does not fall until every possible opportunity to respond has been offered (2 Peter 3:9).
• The “other servants” foreshadow the apostles and early believers sent after Christ’s resurrection (Acts 1:8), extending the invitation beyond the initial audience.
“Tell those who have been invited”
• The invited guests represent Israel, already privileged with covenants, promises, and the Law (Romans 9:4-5).
• God’s gracious call was never vague; it was clearly announced through Scripture (Isaiah 55:3) and the preaching of John the Baptist, then of Jesus Himself (Matthew 3:2; 4:17).
• This statement underscores accountability: privilege brings responsibility (Amos 3:2; Luke 12:48).
“I have prepared my dinner”
• The king has personally made ready a lavish feast, echoing Wisdom’s prepared banquet in Proverbs 9:1-5 and the promised feast on “this mountain” in Isaiah 25:6.
• The preparation signals completion. Nothing is lacking for fellowship with God; all that remains is a willing response (Hebrews 4:3).
• For believers today, the finished work of Christ is the full provision (John 19:30).
“My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed”
• Abundance is emphasized—prime meat, not leftovers—mirroring the father’s generosity in Luke 15:23.
• The sacrifice imagery points ahead to the ultimate offering of Christ (John 1:29; Hebrews 10:10). The banquet is costly to the host, free to the guest.
• God withholds nothing good (Romans 8:32). His bounty invites confidence and joyful acceptance.
“And everything is ready”
• The moment of decision has arrived; there is no further need to wait (Galatians 4:4).
• In salvation terms, Christ’s resurrection has secured eternal access (Hebrews 9:12).
• Delay now equals refusal. The urgency of Hebrews 3:15—“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts”—rings through this phrase.
“Come to the wedding banquet”
• The invitation beckons into joy, not drudgery. Isaiah 55:1 offers “wine and milk without cost,” and Revelation 19:9 blesses “those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.”
• Acceptance is simple: come. Respond in faith (John 6:35).
• Refusal carries consequence, but the focus here is the open door—“Let the one who is thirsty come” (Revelation 22:17).
Matthew 22:4 portrays the king’s lavish, persistent, and urgent invitation. God has done everything necessary—providing abundance at great personal cost—and now calls the invited to share His joy. The verse pleads: recognize the privilege, see the feast is ready through Christ, and freely come without delay.
(4) My dinner.--The Greek word points to a morning meal, as contrasted with the "supper," or evening meal; but, like all such words, (as, e.g., our own dinner), was applied, as time passed on, to meals at very different hours. In Homer it is used of food taken at sunrise; in later authors, of the repast of noon.My oxen and my fatlings are killed.--The words point, under an imagery which Isaiah had already used (25:6), to the spiritual blessings of peace and joy which Christ came to offer. In the "fatlings" we have nearly the same word as in the "fatted calf" of Luke 15:30.
Verse 4. - Other servants. The apostles and their immediate followers after the death and resurrection of Christ, and the effusion of the Holy Ghost. A fresh call was mercifully given with new graces and new degrees of revelation. My dinner (τὸ ἄριστόν μου). This is the lighter midday meal, which was the commencement of the festivities, and was followed by the supper (δεῖπνον) in the evening. Are killed. The great Sacrifice has been offered, the Victim slain (John 6:51-59), the Holy Spirit has made all things ready. Here are grace, health, abundance, to be had for acceptance. We may compare the invitation of Wisdom in the Old Testament (Proverbs 9:1, etc.) with this of Christ. In Jewish minds the blessings of Messiah's kingdom are constantly connected with the idea of a sumptuous feast, as in Luke 14:15; and our Lord himself uses the same image (Matthew 8:11; Luke 22:30).