Matthew 22:5 (ASV)

Passage

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise;

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:3 and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come.

Matthew 22:4 Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.

Matthew 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise;

Matthew 22:6 and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.

Matthew 22:7 But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "light", "went", "ways", "farm", "another", and "merchandise". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "light" and "went", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "Again he sent forth other servants saying..." into verse 6's "and the rest laid hold on his...", so "light" and "went" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "light" and "went" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.