But they neglected and went their ways, one to his farm and another to his merchandise.
οι δε αμελησαντες απηλθον ο μεν εις τον ιδιον αγρον ο δε εις την εμποριαν αυτου
11 Church Fathers comment on this verse
They did not attend the wedding banquet due to indifference, rather than being preoccupied with their work. Yet some used their marital commitments as an excuse, while others cited their oxen. Is this truly about being occupied? Certainly not. Spiritual obligations should take precedence over all other pursuits, even those that might seem essential. However, it appears to me that these individuals only offered such justifications to mask their negligence.
A significant distinction exists between individuals who reject the truth of the gospel. In fact, those who chose not to attend due to their preoccupation with other concerns bear less responsibility than those who transformed compassion into ruthlessness, inflicting suffering on the king's servants, humiliating them, and ultimately taking their lives.
Ignored the call and pursued their own interests, viewing these pursuits as paramount.
It can be observed that some individuals ignored this call, choosing instead to tend to their fields while others pursued their trade. To go "into their fields" signifies an excessive attachment to worldly labor, while engaging "to buy" indicates a profound yearning for the gains of earthly pursuits. Those preoccupied with secular work and those engrossed in worldly matters do not take the time to contemplate the profound mystery of the Lord's Incarnation and to align their lives accordingly. They decline the invitation to partake in the marriage of the King, opting instead for the distractions of the field or the marketplace.
The Gospel recounts that the King, who is the Father, dispatched additional servants with the message, "Summon those who are invited: my feast is prepared, my young men and my plump woman are ready, and everything is set. Come to the wedding banquet." Yet, some chose not to heed this call; they went off to their farms, while others went to pursue their own interests. Moreover, some even mistreated His servants and killed them (Matthew 22:4-6). Who are the second set of servants that the Lord refers to? They are His holy apostles. What does this feast represent? It signifies the heavenly kingdom that God has prepared from the very beginning for those who choose to come to it willingly. Who are the young and the plump that He invites?
It is the Son of the Virgin, God Himself, who embodies the glorious body established since creation for this purpose—to be sacrificed and consumed. Additionally, He is described as the young man because of His invincible strength. The term "young men" is used in the plural to reflect that His sacred flesh is divided into many fragments, each of which is completely Christ. He possesses such strength that He triumphs over all adversaries for those who partake in His communion and empowers them to conquer the world and to become children of God. He is also referred to as the single lamb, the Lamb of God, the perfect Lamb, as He was intended to be. With His cross, which resembles horns, He struck a fatal blow against our adversary, the devil, when He was crucified and killed by the Jews. As previously mentioned, the Lord refers to His holy Apostles as the other servants, whom He sent out to proclaim His message. He instructed them to avoid the ways of the Gentiles and not enter the town of Samaria, but instead to reach out to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, meaning the Jews. However, they did not accept the Apostles; many were mocked and beaten, and some faced death entirely, among whom was the first martyr, Stephen.
In the Gospels, particularly in Matthew 22:1-14, the union of the glorious and radiant Son of the King is depicted by the Bridegroom Himself, who embodies unparalleled goodness and is without sin. Through His own being and actions, He has perfectly fulfilled the essence of the Sacrament of Marriage.
Those who have declined are those who have entirely lacked faith. See Matthew 22:11.
Certain individuals among the Jews rejected the apostolic mission due to their disregard for spiritual matters and their indifference. Many exhibited cruelty and violence. The Lord Jesus, along with His disciples, the Apostles, proclaimed a disdain for wealth, a rejection of worldly pride, a renunciation of fleshly desires, and an openness to face challenges, suffering, and even death. Consequently, those who were attached to worldly pleasures, refusing to heed the call and failing to believe in Christ, bound themselves either to their communities, clinging to self-love and fleshly pursuits, or to materialism, fixating on gain and corruption.
However, upon the second invitation, the guests responded with the same indifference and even disregard. They chose instead to engage with their own pursuits, one attending to his followers and another to his trade. It appears that their selfish ambitions took precedence over the honor of participating in the wedding banquet of the king’s son. The more patient He was with them, the more their hearts hardened. Their refusal to attend the celebration was not due to laziness or busyness, but a neglect of spiritual matters for worldly affairs, even those deemed essential. As Blessed Theophylact observes, “One has gone to his field,” indicating a descent into a life of carnal pleasures, and “the other to his purchases,” suggesting a fixation on material desires (St John Chrysostom).
When the king dispatched his servants to summon them, they refused to respond. The king then sent another message, informing them that all preparations were complete and their only obligation was to attend the banquet: come! Yet, they still did not accept the invitation; some chose to attend to their fields, others to their business affairs, and some even mistreated and killed the servants sent on behalf of the king. God had made His kingdom ready for those who were deemed deserving to enter, calling first His chosen people, the Jews, to partake in the wedding feast of His Son. He reached out to them through the prophets, but they ignored the call, failing to follow the path that led to the feast.
He also sent John the Baptist with the message: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matthew 3:2), yet they still did not heed the call. The invitation came in the name of His Son, who urged them: ‘Come unto Me, all of you!’ But they perceived Him merely as a servant of the king and resolved to eliminate Him through murder.
They disregarded the invitation from the king, revealing their disdain for the one who had summoned them. Focused solely on their own pursuits and responsibilities, such as their land and occupations, they became oblivious to the king's call. This illustrates how an attachment to material possessions can hinder the pursuit of greater spiritual fulfillment. The Jewish leaders, in particular, allowed their worldly concerns to prevent them from entering the kingdom of Christ. However, their actions went beyond mere rejection; what is most foolish and dreadful is that they treated those who accepted the invitation with great disrespect, rebuking and ultimately killing them. They stoned Stephen, put James to death, and mistreated the apostles.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 16 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS