Matthew 22:12 NIV: He asked, 'How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?' The man was speechless.

Matthew 22:12

Bible > NIV > Matthew 22 > Verse 12

◄ Matthew 22:12 ►

New International Version (© 2011)
He asked, 'How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?' The man was speechless.

King James Bible
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

American Standard Version
and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.

Young's Literal Translation
and he saith to him, Comrade, how didst thou come in hither, not having clothing of the marriage-feast? and he was speechless.

Matthew 22:12 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

He saith unto him, Friend - Rather, companion: so εταιρε should be translated. As this man represents the state of a person in the visible Church, who neglects to come unto the master of the feast for a marriage garment, for the salvation which Christ has procured, he cannot be with any propriety called a friend, but may well be termed a companion, as being a member of the visible Church, and present at all those ordinances where Christ's presence and blessing are found, by all those who sincerely wait upon him for salvation.

How camest thou in hither - Why profess to be called by my name while living without a preparation for my kingdom?

He was speechless - Εφιμωθη, he was muzzled, or gagged. He had nothing to say in vindication of his neglect. There was a garment provided, but he neither put it on, nor applied for it. His conduct, therefore, was in the highest degree insulting and indecorous. As this man is the emblem, by general consent, of those who shall perish in the last day, may we not ask, without offense, Where does the doctrine of absolute reprobation or preterition appear in his case? If Christ had never died for him, or if he had applied for the garment, and was refused, might he not well have alleged this in behalf of his soul? - and would not the just God have listened to it? But there is not the smallest excuse for him: Christ died, the sacrifice was offered, for him; the ministers of the Gospel invited him; the Holy Spirit strove with him; he might have been saved, but he was not: and the fault lies so absolutely at his own door that the just God is vindicated in his conduct, while he sends him to hell, not for the lack of what he could not get, but for the lack of what he might have had, but either neglected or refused it.

Then said the king to the servants - To the ministering angels, executors of the Divine will.

Cast him into outer darkness - The Jewish marriages were performed in the night season, and the hall where the feast was made was superbly illuminated; the outer darkness means, therefore, the darkness on the outside of this festal hall; rendered still more gloomy to the person who was suddenly thrust out into it from such a profusion of light. See all this largely treated of on Matthew 8:12 (note).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Friend.

Matthew 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do you no wrong: did not you agree with me for a penny?

Matthew 26:50 And Jesus said to him, Friend, why are you come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

how.

Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees...

Acts 5:2-11 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet...

Acts 8:20-23 But Peter said to him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money...

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness...

And he was.

1 Samuel 2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

Job 5:16 So the poor has hope, and iniquity stops her mouth.