But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Parallel translations
- WEB But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise,
- BSB But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business.
- NKJV But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
- NASB But they paid no attention and went their separate ways, one to his own farm, another to his business,
- NLT But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.
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
The invited guests ignore the invitation, preferring their own business. Indifference to God's grace is itself a grave rejection.
Overview
Rather than openly hostile, these guests simply treat the king's invitation as unimportant compared to farm and trade. Their casual neglect illustrates how worldly preoccupations can lead people to spurn God's Kingdom. The parable warns that mere indifference to the gospel, not only active opposition, leaves one outside the feast.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Heb 2:3How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
- Luke 14:18–20And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
- 1 Jn 2:15–16Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- Matt 13:22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
- 2 Tim 3:4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
- Gen 25:34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
- Ps 106:24–25Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
- Gen 19:14And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
- Luke 17:26–32And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
- Acts 2:13Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
- Prov 1:24–25Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
- Rom 8:6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
- Prov 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
- 1 Tim 6:9–10But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
- Acts 24:25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
- Matt 24:38–39For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
- Rom 2:4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 22:5 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.