Matthieu 22

1 Jésus, prenant la parole, leur parla de nouveau en paraboles, et il dit:

2 Le royaume des cieux est semblable à un roi qui fit des noces pour son fils.

3 Il envoya ses serviteurs appeler ceux qui étaient invités aux noces; mais ils ne voulurent pas venir.

4 Il envoya encore d'autres serviteurs, en disant: Dites aux conviés: Voici, j'ai préparé mon festin; mes boeufs et mes bêtes grasses sont tués, tout est prêt, venez aux noces.

5 Mais, sans s'inquiéter de l'invitation, ils s'en allèrent, celui-ci à son champ, celui-là à son trafic;

6 et les autres se saisirent des serviteurs, les outragèrent et les tuèrent.

7 Le roi fut irrité; il envoya ses troupes, fit périr ces meurtriers, et brûla leur ville.

8 Alors il dit à ses serviteurs: Les noces sont prêtes; mais les conviés n'en étaient pas dignes.

9 Allez donc dans les carrefours, et appelez aux noces tous ceux que vous trouverez.

10 Ces serviteurs allèrent dans les chemins, rassemblèrent tous ceux qu'ils trouvèrent, méchants et bons, et la salle des noces fut pleine de convives.

11 Le roi entra pour voir ceux qui étaient à table, et il aperçut là un homme qui n'avait pas revêtu un habit de noces.

12 Il lui dit: Mon ami, comment es-tu entré ici sans avoir un habit de noces? Cet homme eut la bouche fermée.

13 Alors le roi dit aux serviteurs: Liez-lui les pieds et les mains, et jetez-le dans les ténèbres du dehors, où il y aura des pleurs et des grincements de dents.

14 Car il y a beaucoup d'appelés, mais peu d'élus.

15 Alors les pharisiens allèrent se consulter sur les moyens de surprendre Jésus par ses propres paroles.

16 Ils envoyèrent auprès de lui leurs disciples avec les hérodiens, qui dirent: Maître, nous savons que tu es vrai, et que tu enseignes la voie de Dieu selon la vérité, sans t'inquiéter de personne, car tu ne regardes pas à l'apparence des hommes.

17 Dis-nous donc ce qu'il t'en semble: est-il permis, ou non, de payer le tribut à César?

18 Jésus, connaissant leur méchanceté, répondit: Pourquoi me tentez-vous, hypocrites?

19 Montrez-moi la monnaie avec laquelle on paie le tribut. Et ils lui présentèrent un denier.

20 Il leur demanda: De qui sont cette effigie et cette inscription?

21 De César, lui répondirent-ils. Alors il leur dit: Rendez donc à César ce qui est à César, et à Dieu ce qui est à Dieu.

22 Etonnés de ce qu'ils entendaient, ils le quittèrent, et s'en allèrent.

23 Le même jour, les sadducéens, qui disent qu'il n'y a point de résurrection, vinrent auprès de Jésus, et lui firent cette question:

24 Maître, Moïse a dit: Si quelqu'un meurt sans enfants, son frère épousera sa veuve, et suscitera une postérité à son frère.

25 Or, il y avait parmi nous sept frères. Le premier se maria, et mourut; et, comme il n'avait pas d'enfants, il laissa sa femme à son frère.

26 Il en fut de même du second, puis du troisième, jusqu'au septième.

27 Après eux tous, la femme mourut aussi.

28 A la résurrection, duquel des sept sera-t-elle donc la femme? Car tous l'ont eue.

29 Jésus leur répondit: Vous êtes dans l'erreur, parce que vous ne comprenez ni les Ecritures, ni la puissance de Dieu.

30 Car, à la résurrection, les hommes ne prendront point de femmes, ni les femmes de maris, mais ils seront comme les anges de Dieu dans le ciel.

31 Pour ce qui est de la résurrection des morts, n'avez-vous pas lu ce que Dieu vous a dit:

32 Je suis le Dieu d'Abraham, le Dieu d'Isaac, et le Dieu de Jacob? Dieu n'est pas Dieu des morts, mais des vivants.

33 La foule, qui écoutait, fut frappée de l'enseignement de Jésus.

34 Les pharisiens, ayant appris qu'il avait réduit au silence les sadducéens, se rassemblèrent,

35 et l'un d'eux, docteur de la loi, lui fit cette question, pour l'éprouver:

36 Maître, quel est le plus grand commandement de la loi?

37 Jésus lui répondit: Tu aimeras le Seigneur, ton Dieu, de tout ton coeur, de toute ton âme, et de toute ta pensée.

38 C'est le premier et le plus grand commandement.

39 Et voici le second, qui lui est semblable: Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même.

40 De ces deux commandements dépendent toute la loi et les prophètes.

41 Comme les pharisiens étaient assemblés, Jésus les interrogea,

42 en disant: Que pensez-vous du Christ? De qui est-il fils? Ils lui répondirent: De David.

43 Et Jésus leur dit: Comment donc David, animé par l'Esprit, l'appelle-t-il Seigneur, lorsqu'il dit:

44 Le Seigneur a dit à mon Seigneur: Assieds-toi à ma droite, Jusqu'à ce que je fasse de tes ennemis ton marchepied?

45 Si donc David l'appelle Seigneur, comment est-il son fils?

46 Nul ne put lui répondre un mot. Et, depuis ce jour, personne n'osa plus lui proposer des questions.

Matthieu 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.