Matthew 22:9 - Exposition

The highways; τα Ì ς διεξο ì δους τῶν ὁδῶν : exitus viarum ; the partings, or outlets of the ways. The places where roads meet, beyond the city bounds in the country, which would naturally be a centre of concourse. The city where the marriage feast was now held is not named, because it is no longer Jerusalem, but somewhere, anywhere, in the Gentile world; for the call of the Gentiles is here set forth. As many as ye shall find. The invitation is no longer confined to the Jews; the whole human race is called to the marriage of the Lamb, to participate in the fruits of the Incarnation. This general evangelization was begun in apostolic times (see Acts 8:5 , Acts 8:38 ; Acts 10:28 , Acts 10:48 ; Acts 13:46 ), and has been carried on ever since. The apostles'special ministrations to the Jews seemed to have ended at the martyrdom of St. James the Less, A.D. 62 (Josephus, 'Ant.,' 20.9, l).