The Wedding Feast (γάμος) as an Image of the Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew

This article explores the symbolism of the term “wedding feast” (γάμος) as an image of the kingdom of heaven in the Gospel of Matthew. In the introductory part, the author emphasizes that the theme of the kingdom of heaven is one of the central topics in the First Gospel. One of the terms used to explain its nature is γάμος, which appears in the parables of the invitation to the royal wedding feast (Matt 22:1–14) and of the ten virgins (Matt 25:1–13). In the next section the terminology related to feasting in the Synoptic Gospels is investigated. Subsequently, the author examines the two parables, focusing on the meaning attributed to the “wedding feast” within them. In the conclusion, the eschatological significance of the term γάμος is underlined in the broader context of the whole of the Gospel of Matthew.