New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 22:9

Render Unto Caesar

Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’ Matthew 22:9 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 22:9, in plain English

The king says, 'Go to the street corners and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.'

Why it's here

No screening, no prerequisites. Anyone and everyone is welcome. That's the heart of God's invitation.

Who's speaking

The king throws the doors wide open to the whole world.

Where it sits in the story

The invitation goes from exclusive to universal. Everyone is welcome at this feast.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

The king commands servants to go to the main roads (diexodous tōn hodōn, 'the crossroads where roads exit the city') and invite everyone they find — an indiscriminate, universal invitation.

Language and setting

The crossroads represent the boundary between the city (Israel) and the wider world (Gentiles); the invitation now goes everywhere.

Voice

The king issues orders for a universal, boundary-breaking invitation.

Significance

The invitation expands from the elite guest list to anyone and everyone at the crossroads — the gospel going to all nations.

In context

Matthew 22:7–11

7The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.

8Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy.

9Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’

10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes.

Read all of Matthew 22 — A wedding banquet, a trick question about taxes, and the greatest commandment — Jesus outmaneuvers every trap set for him.

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