Matthew 22:2
New International Version
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet 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.

English Standard Version
“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.

Berean Literal Bible
"The kingdom of the heavens has become like a man, a king, who made a wedding feast for his son.

King James Bible
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which 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 American Standard Bible
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who held a wedding feast for his son.

NASB 1995
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.

NASB 1977
“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.

Amplified Bible
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.

Christian Standard Bible
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

American Standard Version
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,

Contemporary English Version
The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a king gave a wedding banquet for his son.

English Revised Version
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, which made a marriage feast for his son,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who planned a wedding 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.

International Standard Version
"The kingdom from heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

Majority Standard Bible
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

NET Bible
"The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

New Heart English Bible
"The kingdom of heaven is like a certain 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,

Weymouth New Testament
"The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son,

World English Bible
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding feast for his son,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“The kingdom of the heavens was likened to a man, a king, who made wedding feasts for his son,

Berean Literal Bible
"The kingdom of the heavens has become like a man, a king, who made a wedding feast for his son.

Young's Literal Translation
'The reign of the heavens was likened to a man, a king, who made marriage-feasts for his son,

Smith's Literal Translation
The kingdom of the heavens was likened to a man, a king, who made a nuptial feast for his son.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king, who made a marriage for his son.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was king, who celebrated a wedding for his son.

New American Bible
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.

New Revised Standard Version
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a marriage-feast for his son.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man who was a King who made a wedding feast for his son.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
The kingdom of heaven is like a king that made a marriage feast for his son;

Godbey New Testament
The kingdom of the heavens is like a king-man, who made a marriage for his son.

Haweis New Testament
The kingdom of heaven is like to a certain king, who made a marriage-feast for his son:

Mace New Testament
the kingdom of the Messiah is such, as when a certain king made a wedding-feast for his son.

Weymouth New Testament
"The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son,

Worrell New Testament
"The Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a man—a king—who made a marriage feast for his son.

Worsley New Testament
saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding-feast for his son;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Banquet
1Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.…

Cross References
Luke 14:16-24
But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. / When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ / But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’ ...

Revelation 19:7-9
Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. / She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints. / Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Isaiah 25:6
On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine.

Matthew 25:1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. / Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. / The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. ...

Psalm 45:10-15
Listen, O daughter! Consider and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father’s house, / and the king will desire your beauty; bow to him, for he is your lord. / The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; men of wealth will seek your favor. ...

John 3:29
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

Hosea 2:19-20
So I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion. / And I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will know the LORD.”

Ephesians 5:25-32
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her / to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, / and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. ...

Isaiah 54:5
For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.

Revelation 21:2
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:9
Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

Jeremiah 31:31-32
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. / It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.

2 Corinthians 11:2
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Song of Solomon 3:11
Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding—the day of his heart’s rejoicing.

Isaiah 62:5
For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.


Treasury of Scripture

The kingdom of heaven is like to a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

kingdom.

Matthew 13:24,31-33,44-47
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: …

Matthew 25:1,14
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom…

which.

Matthew 25:1-13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom…

Psalm 45:10-16
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; …

John 3:29
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

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Matthew 22
1. The parable of the marriage of the king's son.
9. The vocation of the Gentiles.
12. The punishment of him who lacked a wedding garment.
15. Tribute ought to be paid to Caesar.
23. Jesus confutes the Sadducees for the resurrection;
34. answers which is the first and great commandment;
41. and puzzles the Pharisees by a question about the Messiah.














The kingdom of heaven
This phrase is central to Jesus' teachings and appears frequently in the Gospel of Matthew. The Greek word for "kingdom" is "basileia," which implies not just a physical realm but the reign or rule of God. The "kingdom of heaven" is a spiritual domain where God's will is fulfilled. In a conservative Christian perspective, this kingdom is both a present reality and a future hope, reflecting God's sovereign rule over all creation and the ultimate fulfillment of His promises.

is like
The phrase "is like" introduces a parable, a teaching method Jesus often used to convey deep spiritual truths through simple, relatable stories. The Greek word "homoioō" suggests a comparison or analogy. Parables invite listeners to explore the deeper meanings behind the narrative, encouraging them to reflect on their own lives and relationship with God.

a king
In this parable, the "king" represents God the Father. The imagery of a king is significant, as it denotes authority, power, and sovereignty. In the historical context of the Bible, a king was the ultimate ruler, and his word was law. This reflects God's ultimate authority over the universe and His rightful place as the ruler of the "kingdom of heaven."

who prepared
The act of preparation indicates intentionality and care. The Greek word "hetoimazō" means to make ready or to prepare. This suggests that God has meticulously planned and orchestrated the events of salvation history. It underscores the idea that God's invitation to His kingdom is not haphazard but part of a divine plan.

a wedding banquet
A wedding banquet in ancient times was a grand celebration, often lasting several days. It symbolizes joy, unity, and the culmination of a covenant relationship. In the biblical context, a wedding feast is often used to depict the joyous and intimate relationship between God and His people. Theologically, it points to the ultimate union between Christ (the bridegroom) and the Church (His bride).

for his son
The "son" in this parable represents Jesus Christ. The relationship between the king and his son highlights the divine nature of Jesus and His unique role in God's redemptive plan. The wedding banquet prepared for the son signifies the celebration of the new covenant established through Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection. It is an invitation to all believers to partake in the eternal joy and fellowship with God through Jesus.

(2) Which made a marriage for his son.--The germ of the thought which forms the groundwork of the parable is found, in a passing allusion, in Luke 12:36--"When he shall return from the wedding." Here, for the first time, it appears in a fully developed form. The parable of Luke 14:15-24 is not specially connected with the idea of a wedding feast. The thought itself rested, in part at least, on the language of the older prophets, who spoke of God as the Bridegroom, and Israel as His bride (Isaiah 62:5), who thought of the idolatries of Israel as the adultery of the faithless wife (Jeremiah 3:1-4) who had abandoned the love of her espousals (Jeremiah 2:2). Here the prominent idea is that of the guests who are invited to the feast. The interpretation of the parable lies, so far, almost on the surface. The king is none other than God, and the wedding is that between Christ and His Church, the redeemed and purified Israel (Revelation 19:7-9). We have to remember the truth, which the form of the parable excludes, that the guests themselves, so far as they obey the call, and are clothed in the wedding garment, are, in their collective unity, the Church which is the bride. (Comp. Ephesians 5:23-27.) . . . Verse 2. - The kingdom of heaven is like (comp. Matthew 20:1. This parable supplements that of the wicked husbandmen. As that referred to Jewish times, so this refers to gospel times. The householder in the one becomes the king in the other; one demands work and duty, the other bestows gifts and blessings; one is angered at ingratitude for favours received, the other punishes for contempt of offered bounty. A certain king; ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ: a man a king, even God the Father, the expression denoting "the Almighty's wonderful condescension, as assimilating himself to our infirmities in his dispensations towards us" (I. Williams). Made a marriage; γάμους: marriage festivities; the plural perhaps denoting the days consumed in the celebration (see Genesis 29:27; Judges 14:12; Tobit 8:19, 20). Morison compares our English word "nuptials." In the Old Testament, Jehovah is the Husband of his Church; in the New, Christ is represented as married to the spiritual Israel, which takes the place of the older dispensation. For his son. Jesus Christ, whose intimate union with his Church is often represented under the figure of a marriage (see Matthew 9:15; John 3:29; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23, 32; Revelation 19:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“The
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

kingdom
βασιλεία (basileia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

of
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

heaven
οὐρανῶν (ouranōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

is like
Ὡμοιώθη (Hōmoiōthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3666: To make like, liken; I compare. From homoios; to assimilate, i.e. Compare; passively, to become similar.

a king
βασιλεῖ (basilei)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 935: A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign.

who
ὅστις (hostis)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.

prepared
ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

a wedding banquet
γάμους (gamous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1062: A marriage, wedding, wedding-ceremony; plur: a wedding-feast. Of uncertain affinity; nuptials.

for
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

son.
υἱῷ (huiō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.


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