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Matthew 22:4
ESV Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."’
NIV "Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
NASB Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, 'Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened cattle are all butchered and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!'?’
CSB Again, he sent out other servants and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: See, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
NLT So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’
KJV Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
NKJV Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’

What does Matthew 22:4 mean?

Jesus' parable has taken a surprising turn. The central event is special, but not uncommon: a king throws a great wedding feast for his son. Usually, this raises the question of who will be allowed to attend. Shockingly, in this case, those invited refused to come (Matthew 22:3).

So, the king sends out another group of servants with a better description of what those invited can expect to find at the feast. The dinner is ready! The king has slaughtered his own royal oxen and fattened calves to serve to his guests. In other words, the king has gone to great lengths to make sure this will be a meal for the ages, a great party, a fantastic time. This is special.

Despite offering good reasons to attend the great banquet, however, the king has also told this groups of servants to deliver the invitation as a command: "Come to the wedding feast." There is benefit and blessing involved, but ignoring the invitation is to defy the clear will of the king.

And yet, in this parable, the invited guests still will not come.
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