Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The king’s command to "bind him hand and foot" isn't just about restraining him; it signifies rendering him utterly helpless, unable to flee or resist, highlighting that the exclusion is final and complete. This detail emphasizes that his presence at the feast, despite lacking the proper garment, was a deliberate disregard for the king's honor and the sacredness of the occasion.
Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes at the end of a parable Jesus told about a king's wedding feast. After the invited guests refused to come and even attacked the king's messengers, the king sent out his servants to invite anyone they could find, resulting in the feast hall being filled with both good and bad people. The king then inspects the guests and finds one who is not wearing a proper wedding garment, leading to this verse's dramatic pronouncement.
Imagine being at a magnificent wedding feast, only to be suddenly seized and cast out. What does this dramatic action reveal about God's judgment?
In Jesus' parable of the wedding feast, the king's command to 'Bind him hand and foot' signifies a complete and irreversible removal. This isn't a gentle escorting out; it's a forceful restraint that eliminates any possibility of escape or resistance.
The King's Authority: The king, representing God, has the ultimate authority to judge who belongs at His feast (the Kingdom of Heaven) and who does not. The attendants, often understood as ministering angels, are simply executing His perfect decree.
The Consequence of Disqualification: Being 'cast into outer darkness' is a powerful metaphor for eternal separation from God's presence and joy. It's a place 'without' the light, warmth, and fellowship of the King's presence, highlighting the utter desolation of a soul cut off from its Creator.
The finality of the judgment is underscored by a chilling description of the consequences. What do these sounds tell us about the state of the condemned?
The phrase 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' is a recurring motif in Jesus' teachings, painting a stark picture of the inner torment experienced by those excluded from God's kingdom.
The Sound of Regret: Weeping signifies sorrow and grief over lost opportunity and eternal separation. It's the sound of realizing what has been permanently forfeited.
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The Sound of Rage: Gnashing of teeth speaks of intense anger, frustration, and bitter resentment. It's the sound of a soul consumed by fury at its own choices and the irreversible consequences, unable to reconcile with its fate.
A State of Despair: Together, these expressions depict a state of utter hopelessness and despair, a condition far removed from the joy and peace found in God's presence. It is the ultimate consequence for rejecting the King's gracious invitation.
Understand the original words
skotos to exōteron · Greek Noun Phrase
A state of absolute separation from God's presence, light, and grace; it is the ultimate condition of eternal punishment.
klauthmos kai ho brugmos tōn odontōn · Greek Noun Phrase
A vivid, recurring biblical expression depicting the intense agony, regret, and resentment experienced by those excluded from the Kingdom of God.
This parable, spoken by Jesus to Jewish leaders, uses the imagery of a royal wedding feast and its rejection to illustrate the consequences of refusing God's invitation to His kingdom. The judgment described reflects the severe repercussions for those who disregard God's grace, including the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the exclusion from the heavenly feast.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus travels and teaches throughout Galilee and Judea, performing miracles and preaching about the Kingdom of Heaven.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches Parables in Jerusalem
During his final week in Jerusalem, Jesus teaches several parables to the religious leaders, including the Parable of the Wedding Banquet.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and then resurrected, the pivotal events of Christian faith.
c. 30-60 AD
Early Church Growth and Persecution
The early Christian church, founded on Jesus' resurrection, begins to spread, facing opposition from Jewish authorities and later Roman authorities.
c. 60-65 AD
Gospel of Matthew Written
The Gospel of Matthew is written, likely in Antioch, recording Jesus' teachings and life, including the Parable of the Wedding Banquet.
70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Roman army destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, a fulfillment of Jesus' prophecies and a catastrophic event for the Jewish people.
This passage uses the exact same phrase, 'weeping and gnashing of teeth,' to describe the fate of those excluded from the kingdom, highlighting the consistent imagery of judgment and exclusion in Jesus' teachings.
Matthew 13:42Jesus uses this same imagery of 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' to describe the separation of the wicked from the righteous at the end of the age, reinforcing the severity of divine judgment.
Matthew 25:30This verse, describing the unprofitable servant, also speaks of 'outer darkness' and 'weeping and gnashing of teeth,' connecting the judgment in the parable to the ultimate fate of the unfaithful.
Luke 13:28This parallel passage, also concerning exclusion from the kingdom, explicitly states that people will 'weep and gnash their teeth' when they see others enter, emphasizing the sorrow and regret of those left out.
barnesMatthew 22:13: "Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Cast him into outer darkness - See the notes at Matthew 8:12 . This, without doubt, refers to the future punishment of the hypocrite, Matthew 23:23-33 ; Matthew 24:51 .
henryMatthew 22:1-14: "And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,"
22:1-14 The provision made for perishing souls in the gospel, is represented by a royal feast made by a king, with eastern liberality, on the marriage of his son. Our merciful God has not only provided food, but a royal feast, for the perishing souls of his rebellious creatures. There is enough and to spare, of every thing that can add to our present comfort and everlasting happiness, in the salvation of his…
The king’s command to "bind him hand and foot" isn't just about restraining him; it signifies rendering him utterly helpless, unable to flee or resist, highlighting that the exclusion is final and complete. This detail emphasizes that his presence at the feast, despite lacking the proper garment, was a deliberate disregard for the king's honor and the sacredness of the occasion.
This verse comes at the end of a parable Jesus told about a king's wedding feast. After the invited guests refused to come and even attacked the king's messengers, the king sent out his servants to invite anyone they could find, resulting in the feast hall being filled with both good and bad people. The king then inspects the guests and finds one who is not wearing a proper wedding garment, leading to this verse's dramatic pronouncement.
This verse comes at the end of a parable Jesus told about a king's wedding feast. After the invited guests refused to come and even attacked the king's messengers, the king sent out his servants to invite anyone they could find, resulting in the feast hall being filled with both good and bad people. The king then inspects the guests and finds one who is not wearing a proper wedding garment, leading to this verse's dramatic pronouncement.
"Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’" — The king’s command to "bind him hand and foot" isn't just about restraining him; it signifies rendering him utterly helpless, unable to flee or resist, highlighting that the exclusion is final and co…
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Last reviewed October 2026