Matthew 22:9
IntermediateMatthew 22:9 · World English Bible (WEB)
“Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.’”
Tip: highlight any word or phrase above to go deeper on exactly that.
Overview
God’s gracious invitation going out broadly after the first invited guests refuse the king’s call.
In Jesus’ parable, the king does not cancel the wedding feast when the original guests prove unworthy. Instead, he sends his servants outward to gather “as many as” they can find, showing the overflowing generosity of God’s kingdom invitation.
What Makes This Verse Confusing?
This points to the public places where roads opened out and travelers, laborers, strangers, and socially overlooked people could be found. The servants are no longer sent only to the originally invited circle; they are sent outward to gather people from the open roads.
The verse does not explain what kind of location is meant by “intersections,” nor does it state why the king sends servants there after the first guests refuse.
This changes the verse from a vague instruction about location into a powerful picture of the widening invitation of God: the feast will be filled, not by the self-assured invited guests, but by those gathered through the king’s gracious command.
Theological Insights
God’s saving invitation is graciously extended beyond those who first appeared to have the place of privilege.
The church must never treat the gospel as belonging only to the respectable, familiar, or religiously comfortable. The King sends His servants outward.
Symbols & Metaphors
marriage feast
The joyful celebration of the kingdom of heaven, centered on the honor of the king’s son.
Scripture often uses feast and wedding imagery to describe covenant joy, salvation, and final fellowship with God.
The king’s purpose is not merely to fill a room but to honor his son. The invitation to the feast is therefore an invitation into the joy of the Son’s celebration.
Original Language
thoroughfare — δι-έ-οδος , -ου, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for תּוֹצָאָה, as Num.34:4 ff, and frequently in Jos;] in π. of the conclusion of a trial (MM, Exp. , xi); a way out through, an outlet ; pl., δ. τῶν ὁδῶν, RV, the partings of the highways: Mat.22:9. † (AS)
The word behind “intersections” has the sense of an outlet or thoroughfare, helping show that the servants are sent to the open, public routes where people are passing through. The invitation moves beyond the expected guests into the wider world.
just as/how much — ὅσος , -η, -ον, correlat. of τοσοῦτος, how much, how many, how great, how far, how long, as much as , etc. (= Lat. quantus); __(a) of number and quantity : m. pl., Mat.14:36 , Mrk.3:10 , Rom.2:12 , al.; n. pl., Mat.17:12 , Mrk.10:21 , Luk.11:8 , al.; πάτνες (πάντα) ὅ., Mat.13:46 , Luk.4:40 , al.; before οὗτοι (ταῦτα), Rom.8:14 , Php.4:8 ; with indic., Mrk.6:56 , Rev.3:19 ; with subjc. Mrk.3:28 , a…
The phrase translated “as many as” stresses breadth: no fixed number or social category is named. The servants are to gather all they find under the king’s command.
Lexicon & word tagging: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0)
Related Passages
Luke 14:21-24
parallelLuke records a similar parable where the rejected invitation leads to the gathering of the poor, crippled, blind, lame, and then those from the highways and hedges.
Mark 16:15-16
fulfillmentThe risen Christ commands His servants to preach the gospel to all creation.
Proverbs 1:20-23
BackgroundRevelation 22:17
fulfillmentRevelation ends with the Spirit and the Bride saying, “Come,” and inviting the thirsty to take the water of life freely.
Proverbs 8:1-5
BackgroundEzekiel 21:21
BackgroundIsaiah 55:6-7
BackgroundProverbs 9:4-6
BackgroundCross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · openbible.info (CC-BY)
Analysis generated on October 3, 2026 · version 2.0
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