Matthew 22

1 Again Jesus spoke to them in figurative language.

2 "The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son,

3 and sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding, but they were unwilling to come.

4 "Again he sent other servants with a message to those who were invited. "`My breakfast is now ready," he said, `my bullocks and fat cattle are killed, and every preparation is made: come to the wedding.'

5 "They however gave no heed, but went, one to his home in the country, another to his business;

6 and the rest seized the king's servants, maltreated them, and murdered them.

7 So the king's anger was stirred, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burnt their city.

8 Then he said to his servants, "`The wedding banquet is ready, but those who were invited were unworthy of it.

9 Go out therefore to the crossroads, and everybody you meet invite to the wedding.'

10 "So they went out into the roads and gathered together all they could find, both bad and good, and the banqueting hall was filled with guests.

11 "Now the king came in to see the guests; and among them he discovered one who was not wearing a wedding-robe.

12 "`My friend,' he said, `how is it that you came in here without a wedding robe?'

13 "The man stood speechless. Then the king said to the servants, "`Bind him hand and foot and fling him into the darkness outside: there will be the weeping aloud and the gnashing of teeth.'

14 "For there are many called, but few chosen."

15 Then the Pharisees went and consulted together how they might entrap Him in His conversation.

16 So they sent to Him their disciples together with the Herodians; who said, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you faithfully teach God's truth; and that no fear of man misleads you, for you are not biased by men's wealth or rank.

17 Give us your judgement therefore: is it allowable for us to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?"

18 Perceiving their wickedness, Jesus replied, "Why are you hypocrites trying to ensnare me?

19 Show me the tribute coin." And they brought Him a shilling.

20 "Whose likeness and inscription," He asked, "is this?"

21 "Caesar's," they replied. "Pay therefore," He rejoined, "what is Caesar's to Caesar; and what is God's to God."

22 They heard this, and were astonished; then left Him, and went their way.

23 On the same day a party of Sadducees came to Him, contending that there is no resurrection. And they put this case to Him.

24 "Teacher," they said, "Moses enjoined, `If a man die childless, his brother shall marry his widow, and raise up a family for him.'

25 Now we had among us seven brothers. The eldest of them married, but died childless, leaving his wife to his brother.

26 So also did the second and the third, down to the seventh,

27 till the woman also died, after surviving them all.

28 At the Resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? for they all married her."

29 The reply of Jesus was, "You are in error, through ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God.

30 For in the Resurrection, men neither marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are like angels in Heaven.

31 But as to the Resurrection of the dead, have you never read what God says to you,

32 `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of dead, but of living men."

33 All the crowd heard this, and were filled with amazement at His teaching.

34 Now the Pharisees came up when they heard that He had silenced the Sadducees,

35 and one of them, an expounder of the Law, asked Him as a test question,

36 "Teacher, which is the greatest Commandment in the Law?"

37 "`Thou shalt love the Lord thy God,'" He answered, "`with thy whole heart, thy whole soul, thy whole mind.'

38 This is the greatest and foremost Commandment.

39 And the second is similar to it: `Thou shalt love thy fellow man as much as thyself.'

40 The whole of the Law and the Prophets is summed up in these two Commandments."

41 While the Pharisees were still assembled there, Jesus put a question to them.

42 "What think you about the Christ," He said, "whose son is He?" "David's," they replied.

43 "How then," He asked, "does David, taught by the Spirit, call Him Lord, when he says,

44 "`The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand until I have put thy foes beneath thy feet'?

45 "If therefore David calls Him Lord, how can He be his son?"

46 No one could say a word in reply, nor from that day did any one venture again to put a question to Him.

Matthew 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.