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.

4 tn Grk “Behold.”

5 tn Grk “come in to him.”

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

7 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).”

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

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

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

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

12 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.

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

14 tn Or “dinner.”

15 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).

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