Matthew 22

The wedding feast

1Jesus spoke to them again in parables: 2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who held a wedding feast for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4He sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell the invited guests: Look, I have prepared my meal. My oxen and fattened animals have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ 5But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his slaves, abused them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he told his slaves, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but the invited guests were not worthy. 9Go out where the roads lead and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast.’ 10Those slaves went out into the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding feast was filled with guests.

11When the king came in to look at the guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. 13Then the king told the attendants, ‘Bind his feet and hands and throw him into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.”