Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 22:10

"And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests." — Matthew 22:10 (ASV)

So those went out into the highways. They did as they were told. This was the disciples’ warrant for doing what must at first have seemed very strange to them. They themselves belonged to the favored race which had been first invited, but God’s grace overcame their prejudices, and they went out among the Gentiles, proclaiming the marriage of the Son of God and urging people to come to the wedding feast.

The servants went in different directions into the highways—the word is in the plural, referring to “the partings of the highways.” The Revised Version renders this as the crossroads, where most people might be expected to be gathered together. Wherever the people are, there the preachers of the Gospel should go with their God-given message.

The King’s servants were so earnest and diligent, and their Master’s grace worked so effectively through them, that their efforts were eminently successful. They gathered together all as many as they found. The message that had been despised by the Jews was welcomed by the Gentiles, and from the great heathen highways of the world—Rome, Athens, Ephesus, etc.—many were gathered to the Gospel feast. All ranks, classes, and conditions of people came to the banquet of love. These people were manifestly willing to come, for the King’s servants gathered together all as many as they found.

Characters outwardly very different united in obeying the summons; both bad and good were collected at the table. The best gathering into the visible Church will surely be a mixture in the present imperfect state of humanity. There will be some admitted who ought not to be there. Tares will grow among the wheat. Grain and chaff will lie on the same floor. Dross will be mingled with precious gold. Goats will get in among the sheep. The Gospel net will enclose fish of every kind, both bad and good.

And the wedding was furnished with guests; happy, willing, wondering, enthusiastic guests found themselves lifted from the highways into royal company. The beggar was taken from the dunghill to sit with princes in the presence of the King. Hallelujah! Thus the King was happy, the Prince was honored, the festal hall was filled, and all went merry as a marriage bell. What shouts of joy would go up from these outcasts as they sat at the royal table! Everything was ready for the feast before; nothing was lacking but guests to partake of the King’s bounty. Now that they had come, surely all would go well. We shall see.