Matteo 22

1 E GESÙ, messosi a parlare, da capo ragionò loro in parabole, dicendo:
2 Il regno de’ cieli è simile ad un re, il qual fece le nozze al suo figliuolo.
3 E mandò i suoi servitori a chiamar gl’invitati alle nozze, ma essi non vollero venire.
4 Di nuovo mandò altri servitori, dicendo: Dite agl’invitati: Ecco, io ho apparecchiato il mio desinare, i miei giovenchi, e i miei animali ingrassati sono ammazzati, ed ogni cosa è apparecchiata; venite alle nozze.
5 Ma essi non curandosene, se ne andarono, chi alla sua possessione, chi alla sua mercatanzia.
6 E gli altri, presi i suoi servitori, li oltraggiarono ed uccisero.
7 E quel re, udito ciò, si adirò, e mandò i suoi eserciti, e distrusse que’ micidiali, ed arse la lor città.
8 Allora egli disse a’ suoi servitori: Ben son le nozze apparecchiate, ma i convitati non n’erano degni.
9 Andate adunque in su i capi delle strade, e chiamate alle nozze chiunque troverete.
10 E quei servitori, usciti in su le strade, raunarono tutti coloro che trovarono, cattivi e buoni, e il luogo delle nozze fu ripieno di persone ch’erano a tavola.
11 Or il re, entrato per vedere quei che erano a tavola, vide quivi un uomo che non era vestito di vestimento da nozze.
12 E gli disse: Amico, come sei entrato qua, senza aver vestimento da nozze? E colui ebbe la bocca chiusa.
13 Allora il re disse a’ servitori: Legategli le mani e i piedi, e toglietelo, e gettatelo nelle tenebre di fuori. Ivi sarà il pianto, e lo stridor dei denti.
14 Perciocchè molti son chiamati, ma pochi eletti.
15 ALLORA i Farisei andarono, e tenner consiglio come lo sorprenderebbero in fallo nelle sue parole.
16 E gli mandarono i lor discepoli, con gli Erodiani, a dirgli: Maestro, noi sappiamo che tu sei verace, e che insegni la via di Dio in verità, e che non ti curi d’alcuno; perciocchè tu non riguardi alla qualità delle persone degli uomini.
17 Dicci adunque: Che ti par egli? È egli lecito di dare il censo a Cesare, o no?
18 E Gesù, riconosciuta la lor malizia, disse: Perchè mi tentate, o ipocriti?
19 Mostratemi la moneta del censo. Ed essi gli porsero un denaro.
20 Ed egli disse loro: Di chi è questa figura, e questa soprascritta?
21 Essi gli dissero: Di Cesare. Allora egli disse loro: Rendete dunque a Cesare le cose che appartengono a Cesare, e a Dio le cose che appartengono a Dio.
22 Ed essi, udito ciò, si maravigliarono, e, lasciatolo, se ne andarono.
23 IN quell’istesso giorno vennero a lui i Sadducei, i quali dicono che non vi è risurrezione, e lo domandarono, dicendo:
24 Maestro, Mosè ha detto: Se alcuno muore senza figliuoli, sposi il suo fratello per ragione d’affinità la moglie di esso, e susciti progenie al suo fratello.
25 Or appo noi vi erano sette fratelli; e il primo, avendo sposata moglie, morì; e, non avendo progenie, lasciò la sua moglie al suo fratello.
26 Simigliantemente ancora il secondo, e il terzo, fino a tutti e sette.
27 Ora, dopo tutti, morì anche la donna.
28 Nella risurrezione adunque, di cui d’infra i sette sarà ella moglie? poichè tutti l’hanno avuta.
29 Ma Gesù, rispondendo, disse loro: Voi errate, non intendendo le Scritture, nè la potenza di Dio.
30 Perciocchè nella risurrezione non si prendono, nè si dànno mogli; anzi gli uomini son nel cielo come angeli di Dio.
31 E quant’è alla risurrezione de’ morti, non avete voi letto ciò che vi fu detto da Dio, quando disse:
32 Io son l’Iddio d’Abrahamo, e l’Iddio d’Isacco, e l’Iddio di Giacobbe? Iddio non è l’Iddio de’ morti, ma de’ viventi.
33 E le turbe, udite queste cose, stupivano della sua dottrina.
34 ED i Farisei, udito ch’egli avea chiusa la bocca a’ Sadducei, si raunarono insieme.
35 E un dottor della legge lo domandò, tentandolo, e dicendo:
36 Maestro, quale è il maggior comandamento della legge?
37 E Gesù gli disse: Ama il Signore Iddio tuo con tutto il tuo cuore, e con tutta l’anima tua, e con tutta la mente tua.
38 Quest’è il primo, e il gran comandamento.
39 E il secondo, simile ad esso, è: Ama il tuo prossimo come te stesso.
40 Da questi due comandamenti dipendono tutta la legge, ed i profeti.
41 ED essendo i Farisei raunati, Gesù domandò loro, dicendo:
42 Che vi par egli del Cristo? di chi è egli figliuolo? Essi gli dicono: Di Davide.
43 Egli disse loro: Come adunque Davide lo chiama egli in ispirito Signore, dicendo:
44 Il Signore ha detto al mio Signore: Siedi alla mia destra, finchè io abbia posti i tuoi nemici per iscannello de’ tuoi piedi?
45 Se dunque Davide lo chiama Signore, come è egli suo figliuolo?
46 E niuno poteva rispondergli nulla; niuno eziandio ardì più, da quel dì innanzi, fargli alcuna domanda.

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Matteo 22 Commentary

Chapter 22

The parable of the marriage feast. (1-14) The Pharisees question Jesus as to the tribute. (15-22) The question of the Sadducees as to the resurrection. (23-33) The substance of the commandments. (34-40) Jesus questions the Pharisees. (41-46)

Verses 1-14 The provision made for perishing souls in the gospel, is represented by a royal feast made by a king, with eastern liberality, on the marriage of his son. Our merciful God has not only provided food, but a royal feast, for the perishing souls of his rebellious creatures. There is enough and to spare, of every thing that can add to our present comfort and everlasting happiness, in the salvation of his Son Jesus Christ. The guests first invited were the Jews. When the prophets of the Old Testament prevailed not, nor John the Baptist, nor Christ himself, who told them the kingdom of God was at hand, the apostles and ministers of the gospel were sent, after Christ's resurrection, to tell them it was come, and to persuade them to accept the offer. The reason why sinners come not to Christ and salvation by him, is, not because they cannot, but because they will not. Making light of Christ, and of the great salvation wrought out by him, is the damning sin of the world. They were careless. Multitudes perish for ever through mere carelessness, who show no direct aversion, but are careless as to their souls. Also the business and profit of worldly employments hinder many in closing with the Saviour. Both farmers and merchants must be diligent; but whatever we have of the world in our hands, our care must be to keep it out of our hearts, lest it come between us and Christ. The utter ruin coming upon the Jewish church and nation, is here represented. Persecution of Christ's faithful ministers fills up the measure of guilt of any people. The offer of Christ and salvation to the Gentiles was not expected; it was such a surprise as it would be to wayfaring men, to be invited to a royal wedding-feast. The design of the gospel is to gather souls to Christ; all the children of God scattered abroad, Joh. 10:16 Joh. 11:52 . The case of hypocrites is represented by the guest that had not on a wedding-garment. It concerns all to prepare for the scrutiny; and those, and those only, who put on the Lord Jesus, who have a Christian temper of mind, who live by faith in Christ, and to whom he is all in all, have the wedding-garment. The imputed righteousness of Christ, and the sanctification of the Spirit, are both alike necessary. No man has the wedding-garment by nature, or can form it for himself. The day is coming, when hypocrites will be called to account for all their presumptuous intruding into gospel ordinances, and usurpation of gospel privileges. Take him away. Those that walk unworthy of Christianity, forfeit all the happiness they presumptuously claimed. Our Saviour here passes out of the parable into that which it teaches. Hypocrites go by the light of the gospel itself down to utter darkness. Many are called to the wedding-feast, that is, to salvation, but few have the wedding-garment, the righteousness of Christ, the sanctification of the Spirit. Then let us examine ourselves whether we are in the faith, and seek to be approved by the King.

Verses 15-22 The Pharisees sent their disciples with the Herodians, a party among the Jews, who were for full subjection to the Roman emperor. Though opposed to each other, they joined against Christ. What they said of Christ was right; whether they knew it or not, blessed be God we know it. Jesus Christ was a faithful Teacher, and a bold reprover. Christ saw their wickedness. Whatever mask the hypocrite puts on, our Lord Jesus sees through it. Christ did not interpose as a judge in matters of this nature, for his kingdom is not of this world, but he enjoins peaceable subjection to the powers that be. His adversaries were reproved, and his disciples were taught that the Christian religion is no enemy to civil government. Christ is, and will be, the wonder, not only of his friends, but of his enemies. They admire his wisdom, but will not be guided by it; his power, but will not submit to it.

Verses 23-33 The doctrines of Christ displeased the infidel Sadducees, as well as the Pharisees and Herodians. He carried the great truths of the resurrection and a future state, further than they had yet been reveled. There is no arguing from the state of things in this world, as to what will take place hereafter. Let truth be set in a clear light, and it appears in full strength. Having thus silenced them, our Lord proceeded to show the truth of the doctrine of the resurrection from the books of Moses. God declared to Moses that he was the God of the patriarchs, who had died long before; this shows that they were then in a state of being, capable of enjoying his favour, and proves that the doctrine of the resurrection is clearly taught in the Old Testament as well as in the New. But this doctrine was kept for a more full revelation, after the resurrection of Christ, who was the first-fruits of them that slept. All errors arise from not knowing the Scriptures and the power of God. In this world death takes away one after another, and so ends all earthly hopes, joys, sorrows, and connexions. How wretched are those who look for nothing better beyond the grave!

Verses 34-40 An interpreter of the law asked our Lord a question, to try, not so much his knowledge, as his judgment. The love of God is the first and great commandment, and the sum of all the commands of the first table. Our love of God must be sincere, not in word and tongue only. All our love is too little to bestow upon him, therefore all the powers of the soul must be engaged for him, and carried out toward him. To love our neighbour as ourselves, is the second great commandment. There is a self-love which is corrupt, and the root of the greatest sins, and it must be put off and mortified; but there is a self-love which is the rule of the greatest duty: we must have a due concern for the welfare of our own souls and bodies. And we must love our neighbour as truly and sincerely as we love ourselves; in many cases we must deny ourselves for the good of others. By these two commandments let our hearts be formed as by a mould.

Verses 41-46 When Christ baffled his enemies, he asked what thoughts they had of the promised Messiah? How he could be the Son of David and yet his Lord? He quotes ( Psalms 110:1 ) . If the Christ was to be a mere man, who would not exist till many ages after David's death, how could his forefather call him Lord? The Pharisees could not answer it. Nor can any solve the difficulty except he allows the Messiah to be the Son of God, and David's Lord equally with the Father. He took upon him human nature, and so became God manifested in the flesh; in this sense he is the Son of man and the Son of David. It behoves us above all things seriously to inquire, "What think we of Christ?" Is he altogether glorious in our eyes, and precious to our hearts? May Christ be our joy, our confidence, our all. May we daily be made more like to him, and more devoted to his service.

Matteo 22 Commentaries

The Giovanni Diodati Bible is in the public domain.