Revelation 19:7-8

19:7 Let us rejoice 1  and exult

and give him glory,

because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come,

and his bride has made herself ready.

19:8 She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen” 2  (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints). 3 

Revelation 3:20

3:20 Listen! 4  I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home 5  and share a meal with him, and he with me.

Matthew 22:2-4

22:2 “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 22:3 He sent his slaves 6  to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. 22:4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready. 7  My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”’

Luke 14:15-16

The Parable of the Great Banquet

14:15 When 8  one of those at the meal with Jesus 9  heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone 10  who will feast 11  in the kingdom of God!” 12  14:16 But Jesus 13  said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet 14  and invited 15  many guests. 16 

1 tn This verb and the next two verbs are hortatory subjunctives (giving exhortations).

2 tn On the term translated “fine linen,” BDAG 185 s.v. βύσσινος states, “made of fine linen, subst. τὸ β. fine linen, linen garment…Rv 18:12…16; 19:8, 14.”

3 sn This phrase is treated as a parenthetical explanation by the author.

3 tn Grk “Behold.”

4 tn Grk “come in to him.”

4 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

5 tn Grk “Behold, I have prepared my dinner.” In some contexts, however, to translate ἄριστον (ariston) as “dinner” somewhat misses the point. L&N 23.22 here suggests, “See now, the feast I have prepared (for you is ready).”

6 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

7 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

8 tn Grk “whoever” (the indefinite relative pronoun). This has been translated as “everyone who” to conform to contemporary English style.

9 tn Or “will dine”; Grk “eat bread.” This refers to those who enjoy the endless fellowship of God’s coming rule.

10 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus. It is a realm in which Jesus rules and to which those who trust him belong. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.

7 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

8 tn Or “dinner.”

9 sn Presumably those invited would have sent a reply with the invitation stating their desire to attend, much like a modern R.S.V.P. Then they waited for the servant to announce the beginning of the celebration (D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 2:1272).

10 tn The word “guests” is not in the Greek text but is implied.