So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. It is the part of ministers, says Bengel, to report to the Lord in their prayers the compliance or refusal of their hearers; and certainly, of those first bidden, it could only be said, "Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1.)
Then the master of the house, being angry - at the slight put upon him. At the same time there is grace in this anger, showing how sincere he was in issuing his invitation (Ezekiel 33:11).
Said to his servant, Go out quickly (all, now being ready, and waiting), into the streets and lanes of the city. Historically, this must mean those within the limits of the city of God (Psalms 87:3), but the despised and outcast classes of it-the "publicans and sinners," as Trench rightly conceives it; but generally it comprehends all similar classes, usually overlooked in the first provision for supplying the means of grace to a community-half pagan in the midst of revealed light, and in every sense miserable.
And bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.