[Greek] ἀμελέω (ameleō), [Latin] neglegere: to neglect, to be negligent, to be neglectful, to be careless, to pay no attention, to have no regard, to disregard, to not care; Mt.22:5, 1Tim.4:14, Heb.2:3, Heb.8:9, 2Pet. 1:12
Parable of the Royal Wedding Feast: painting by Frans Francken. At the right, a guest, without a wedding garment, is bound.
Greek Hellenism:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to neglect, to have no care for, to lose sight of, to be careless, to overlook, to slight, to let someone suffer, and to be negligent. Hesiod’s Works and Days 400 states “And they do not heed you.” Thuycides’ The Peloponnesian War 3.40 states “Teach your other allies by a striking example that the penalty of rebellion is death. Let them once understand this and you will not have so often to neglect your enemies while you are fighting your own confederates.” Isocrates’ Evagorus 9.78 states “And do not imagine that I am reproaching you for indifference at present, because I often admonish you on the same subject.” Euripides’ Iphigenia in Aulis 1094 states “Where now does the face of modesty or virtue have any strength? Seeing that godlessness holds sway and virtue is neglected by men and thrust behind them.”
Old Testament: This term means to resist, to provoke, to rebel, and to be disobedient. Do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression (Exo.23:21). It is the man of God, who disobeyed the command of the Lord (1Kgs.13:26). For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, which was very bitter (2Kgs.14:26). My eye gazes on their provocation (Job 17:2). And I was not disobedient nor did I turn my back (Isa.50:5). But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart (Jer.5:23).
New Testament: This term, used both in a willful and unintentional sense, means to ignore, to neglect, to be neglectful (not standing by something), and to be reminded. In the Parable of the Wedding Feast, some guests disrespectfully ignored the invitations to the wedding feast. The king invited other guests, yet one did not come with a wedding garment. Paul reminds Timothy not to neglect the gifts he has received which were conferred by the presbyters. One must not ignore the salvation announced through the Lord. The Israelites in the wilderness did not stand by the Lord’s covenant.
Scripture:
“Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.” Mt.22:5
In addition to ignoring the wedding invitation, some guests mistreated and killed the king’s servants. The king invited other guests and one guest did not wear a wedding garment.
“It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they did not stand by My covenant and I ignored them, says the Lord.” Heb.8:9
The Lord offers a new superior covenant. The Israelites did not honor their covenant with God. So God ignored them.
Receiving wedding invitations: This is the story of the Parable of the Wedding Feast, where the king prepares a celebration for his son and for those who will hear the invitation to come. This feast symbolizes what is ahead for those who have received the work of Christ. Those invited are given clothing to wear. This wedding garment refers to repentance, change of heart and mind, and a life of good works.
Who are these guests? The ordinary people would come early. The more distinguished guests would wait for when the king’s first servants announced that all was ready. The king would allow for no waste of time for the more noble guests.
How does the king respond to these first guests? The first guests were unwilling to come, rather than being unable to come. The first servants received refusals from these guests who would not come. The king graciously responds in sending out his servants a second time. The king spared no expense (oxen and fattened cattle) for this feast.
Who are these second servants? These servants represent the apostles and other disciples. These servants were paid no attention to, mistreated or killed.
What do the wedding clothes represent? The wedding clothes are the appropriate garments provided for by the king for the wedding. This pertains to the Old Testament custom of supplying the wedding guests with linen garments. (Jdgs.14:10-13 and Isa.61:10).
What does the lack of proper wedding garments represent? This shows a purposeful rejection of the king’s provisions for the guest. This is a greater insult than refusing to come to the wedding. This is an insult against the king. This is a refusal to wear God’s garment of righteous that He provides.
Etymology: This term contains the Greek prefix (a-) meaning without or not. The Greek verb melei means to think about or to care for. The Latin neglectus is the negative past participle of the Latin verb legere, meaning to choose or select.
Conclusion:
Neglect, neglectful, negligent
It was interesting to discover that this term has several nuanced meanings. Some examples even included the modern expressions of “not losing sight of”, “not unmindful of”, and “do not heed”. This term can range from indifference, willful neglectfulness, forgetfulness, and misunderstanding.
In the Old Testament, this term is used quite extensively. This term plays an important role in defining man’s relationship with God. This also involves the unintentional or willful neglect of traditions (protocols) involving marriage (wedding feasts).
In the New Testament, this term can also range from indifference, willful (or unintentional neglect), and negligence. Some guests intentionally refused to accept the king’s invitation to go to the wedding. God, like the king, spares no expense offering an extravagant banquet to all those who will come. God, like the king, then invites many to the wedding feast. However, one must wear the clothing of righteousness in order to be able to attend. Paul reminds Timothy of the gifts he has received from the presbyters.
Interestingly, in Matthew’s gospel, the Parable of the Wedding Feast leads to the situation where the Pharisees intend to trap Jesus about the obligation of paying taxes to Caesar. While acknowledging Jesus as a teacher, they intend to incriminate Him. They have a malicious intent toward Him.
Current events: The mainstream media also seems to utterly ignore or minimize the serious nature of the burning, riots, and looting of cities in the United States. They make light of how this damages and harms our nation. Instead, they use words such as “fairy tales”, “myths”, “mostly peaceful protests” to convey their own narrative that this is no big deal. The media and the left also neglect to acknowledge the abuses in the Russian collusion, FISA court, impending indictments, and recently released classified documents.
Again, by neglecting these issues, the media clearly show their negligence in journalistic integrity, contempt for people’s concerns, and political talking points. Like that unwanted guest, they have appropriately become objects of ridicule.
God has formally invited you to His wedding feast: a garment of righteousness is required.