All Commentaries on Matthew 22:14 Go To Matthew 22
Hilary of Poitiers
AD 368
Rightly has the Father already made this wedding, because this eternal union and espousal of the new body is already perfect in Christ.
Or; The servants who were first sent to call them that were bidden, are the Apostles; they who, being before bidden, are now invited to come in, are the people of Israel, who had before been bidden through the Law to the glories of eternity. To the Apostles therefore it belonged to remind those whom the Prophets had invited. Those sent with the second injunction are the Apostolic men their successors.
Or otherwise; The oxen are the glorious army of Martyrs, offered, like choice victims, for the confession of God; the fatlings are spiritual men, as birdsfed for flight upon heavenly food, that they may fill others with the abundance of the food they have eaten.
For men are taken up with worldly ambition as with a farm; and many through covetousness are engrossed with trafficking.
By the street also is to be understood the time of this world, and they are therefore bid to go to the crossings of the streets, because the past is remitted to all.
Or; The wedding garment is the grace of the Holy Spirit, and the purity of that heavenly temper, which taken up on the confession of a good enquiry is to be preserved pure and unspotted for the company of the Kingdom of heaven.
For to invite all without exception is a courtesy of public benevolence; but out of the invited or called, the election will be of worth, by distinction of merit.
