Matthew 22:3

Wednesday, 12 August 2026

and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Matthew 22:3

“And he sent, the ‘servants, his’ to call those having been called to the nuptials. And not they inclined to come.” (CG)

In the previous verse, it was noted that the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son. Jesus next says, “And he sent, the ‘servants, his’.”

Various suggestions are given for who these servants represent:

“...the servants, are John the Baptist and Jesus Himself.” Expositor’s Greek Testament

“...the servants represent the aggregate work of the prophets up to the time of the Baptist.” Ellicott

“The servants here are John the Baptist, the twelve apostles, the seventy, who first preached the gospel to the Jewish people.” Pulpit Commentary

“...representing all preachers of the Gospel.” Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Verse 8 will use the word tote, then, after the burning of the city. Therefore, the wedding finally takes place after the destruction of Jerusalem. As this is the time for the wedding invitation, it could include John the Baptist, even if he was not to be a part of it. However, this even seems unlikely. The parable looks to the post-resurrection time of Israel’s interaction with God’s offer of Jesus.

The main substance being referred to, therefore, concerns those who were believers in Jesus, meaning the disciples and apostles. This is seen in the next words, “to call those having been called to the nuptials.”

There is a play on words, twice repeating the same word, kaleó. The use of the perfect participle in the second instance refers to a group that had been called in the past, with the call still in effect in the present. As such, it refers to Israel, the nation –

“You must hear unto Me, Jacob, and Israel, My ‘being called’, I – He, I – First, indeed I, Afterwards.” Isaiah 48:12 (CG)

Israel was called to be the Lord’s people through the time of the law. They were the “being called.” When the time came for the law to end and the new dispensation of grace to be ushered in, they were the “having been called.” However, at that time, Jesus says of them, “And not they inclined to come.”

The nation, as a whole and particularly as represented by its leaders, was uninterested in what Jesus offered. They wanted the old ways of law, seeing that it allowed them a privilege that no one else was entitled to.

Life application: Once, while reading a devotional from a reformed theology source that accepted the doctrine of preterism, it essentially said that at some point, the author believed that a new approach to various aspects of Scripture would come along and be so incredible to those who read it, they would not be able to accept the teaching, even though it would be correct.

He felt confident that biblical interpretation, as it was at the time, left various points incomplete. Think that one through. A person who believes Bible prophecy is fulfilled in its entirety, except for the second coming of Christ, understands that there was a gap in his understanding of Scripture.

A person who believes the church has replaced Israel knew there was something incomplete in regard to his view of biblical interpretation. The sad part of his analysis was that he was right. His view of biblical interpretation and his understanding of Scripture were deficient. He was also correct that a view would be proposed that would answer his deficiencies, and it would be rejected by many who heard it.

He was wrong, however, that it would come at some point in the future. It had already arrived in the form of dispensationalism. That developed until it was complete. It now answers the innumerable inaccuracies of views by scholars stuck in the reform ideas of preterism, “spiritual Israel,” etc.

Sometimes, we can be so sure something is wrong that we reject it outright, even when we know that what we currently believe may have serious deficiencies. To understand the Bible, dispensationalism is a must. But it was not really introduced by “early proponents” like John Darby. Rather, it stems from the writings of Paul, as inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Check things out. Compare them to the word. And be sure to make sure that what you believe conforms to the word. If it doesn’t, be sure to keep searching. Don’t just sit fat, dumb, and happy in a church that does not adequately resolve the difficulties that are found in Scripture if they have already been resolved elsewhere.

Lord God, lead us to proper instruction in Your word. If there is a deficiency in the teaching we receive, help us to be alerted to this and to seek out an answer that will adequately satisfy the need. May we be properly schooled in Your word as we seek to honor You. Amen.