Mateo 22

1 Parábola de la gran fiesta
Jesús también les contó otras parábolas. Dijo:

2 «El reino del cielo también puede ilustrarse mediante la historia de un rey que preparó una gran fiesta de bodas para su hijo.

3 Cuando el banquete estuvo listo, el rey envió a sus sirvientes para llamar a los invitados. ¡Pero todos se negaron a asistir!

4 »Entonces envió a otros sirvientes a decirles: “La fiesta está preparada. Se han matado los toros y las reses engordadas, y todo está listo. ¡Vengan al banquete!”.

5 Pero las personas a quienes había invitado no hicieron caso y siguieron su camino: uno se fue a su granja y otro a su negocio.

6 Otros agarraron a los mensajeros, los insultaron y los mataron.

7 »El rey se puso furioso, y envió a su ejército para destruir a los asesinos y quemar su ciudad.

8 Y les dijo a los sirvientes: “La fiesta de bodas está lista y las personas a las que invité no son dignas de tal honor.

9 Ahora salgan a las esquinas de las calles e inviten a todos los que vean”.

10 Entonces los sirvientes llevaron a todos los que pudieron encontrar, tanto buenos como malos, y la sala del banquete se llenó de invitados.

11 »Cuando el rey entró para recibir a los invitados, notó que había un hombre que no estaba vestido apropiadamente para una boda.

12 “Amigo —le preguntó—, ¿cómo es que estás aquí sin ropa de bodas?”. Pero el hombre no tuvo respuesta.

13 Entonces el rey dijo a sus asistentes: “Átenlo de pies y manos y arrójenlo a la oscuridad de afuera, donde habrá llanto y rechinar de dientes”.

14 »Pues muchos son los llamados, pero pocos los elegidos».

15 Los impuestos para el César
Entonces los fariseos se juntaron para tramar cómo hacer que Jesús cayera en la trampa de decir algo por lo cual pudiera ser arrestado.

16 Enviaron a algunos de sus discípulos, junto con los partidarios de Herodes, a buscarlo.
—Maestro —dijeron—, sabemos lo honesto que eres. Enseñas con verdad el camino de Dios. Eres imparcial y no tienes favoritismos.

17 Ahora bien, dinos qué piensas de lo siguiente: ¿Es correcto que paguemos impuestos al César o no?

18 Pero Jesús conocía sus malas intenciones.
—dijo—.

19 Cuando le entregaron una moneda romana,

20 les preguntó:

21 —Al César —contestaron.
—dijo—,

22 Su respuesta los dejó asombrados, y se marcharon.

23 Discusión acerca de la resurrección
Ese mismo día, se acercaron a Jesús algunos saduceos, líderes religiosos que dicen que no hay resurrección después de la muerte. Le plantearon la siguiente pregunta:

24 —Maestro, Moisés dijo: “Si un hombre muere sin haber tenido hijos, su hermano debe casarse con la viuda y darle un hijo para que el nombre del hermano continúe”
.

25 Ahora bien, supongamos que había siete hermanos. El mayor se casó y murió sin dejar hijos, entonces su hermano se casó con la viuda.

26 El segundo hermano también murió, y el tercero se casó con ella. Lo mismo sucedió con los siete.

27 Por último, la mujer también murió.

28 Entonces dinos, ¿de quién será esposa en la resurrección? Pues los siete estuvieron casados con ella.

29 Jesús contestó:

30 Pues cuando los muertos resuciten, no se casarán ni se entregarán en matrimonio. En este sentido, serán como los ángeles del cielo.

31 »Ahora bien, en cuanto a si habrá una resurrección de los muertos, ¿nunca han leído acerca de esto en las Escrituras? Mucho después de que Abraham, Isaac y Jacob murieran, Dios dijo:

32 “Yo soy el Dios de Abraham, el Dios de Isaac y el Dios de Jacob”
. Por lo tanto, él es Dios de los que están vivos, no de los muertos.

33 Cuando las multitudes lo escucharon, quedaron atónitas ante su enseñanza.

34 El mandamiento más importante
En cuanto los fariseos oyeron que había silenciado a los saduceos con esa respuesta, se juntaron para interrogarlo nuevamente.

35 Uno de ellos, experto en la ley religiosa, intentó tenderle una trampa con la siguiente pregunta:

36 —Maestro, ¿cuál es el mandamiento más importante en la ley de Moisés?

37 Jesús contestó:

38 Este es el primer mandamiento y el más importante.

39 Hay un segundo mandamiento que es igualmente importante: “Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo”
.

40 Toda la ley y las exigencias de los profetas se basan en estos dos mandamientos.

41 ¿De quién es hijo el Mesías?
Entonces, rodeado por los fariseos, Jesús les hizo una pregunta:

42 Ellos contestaron:
—Es hijo de David.

43 Jesús les respondió:

44 “El Señor
le dijo a mi Señor:
‘Siéntate en el lugar de honor a mi derecha,
hasta que humille a tus enemigos y los ponga por debajo de tus pies’”
.

45 »Si David llamó al Mesías “mi Señor”, ¿cómo es posible que el Mesías sea su hijo?

46 Nadie pudo responderle, y a partir de entonces, ninguno se atrevió a hacerle más preguntas.

Mateo 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.