Bible Strands
Matthew 22:2
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks this parable to his audience immediately after announcing a new comparison in Matthew 22:1. The illustration follows his prior teaching and precedes the account of rejected invitations in Matthew 22:3.
The words — The opening term ὡμοιώθη (hōmoiōthē) means “has become like,” framing the kingdom of heaven as a direct comparison. The subject is identified as a βασιλεῖ (basilei), or “king,” who actively prepares a wedding banquet for his son.
The thread — The banquet motif continues in Matthew 22:3, where invited guests refuse the call, and parallels Revelation 19:7, which describes the marriage of the Lamb. The wedding imagery also intersects with Ephesians 5:24, which ties marital union to spiritual submission.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to acknowledge that the kingdom is established by sovereign provision, not human initiative. It demands a practical response to the prepared invitation rather than passive observation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Cross-references
- Matthew 13:24 Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
- Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.
- Ephesians 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
- Psalms 45:10 Listen, O daughter! Consider and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father’s house,
- 2 Corinthians 11:2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
- Matthew 13:31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.
- Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.
- Matthew 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
- Matthew 25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- Luke 14:16 But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests.