‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.
Parallel translations
- WEB and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless.
- KJV And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
- NKJV So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
- NASB and he *said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless.
- NLT ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Confronted about his missing wedding garment, the man is speechless. He has no excuse for approaching the King unprepared.
Overview
The king's question gives the man opportunity to answer, yet he is silent, having no defense. His speechlessness pictures how no one can stand before God claiming a righteousness they do not possess. The verse warns that presumption upon God's grace, without true faith, leaves a person condemned and without excuse.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 20:13But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius?
- 1 Sam 2:9He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.
- Job 5:16So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
- Jer 2:26As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
- Titus 3:11knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.
- Matt 26:50“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him.
- Ps 107:42The upright see and rejoice, and all iniquity shuts its mouth.
- Jer 2:23“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there,
- Acts 5:2–11With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- Acts 8:20–23But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
- Rom 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- Matt 5:20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 22:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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