Matthew 22:5 (WEB)

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 out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.

Matthew 22:4 Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle 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 grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.

Matthew 22:7 When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, 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 out other servants saying..." into verse 6's "and the rest grabbed his servants and...", 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.