Matthew 22

1 And Jesus, talking to them again in stories, said:

2 The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a feast when his son was married,

3 And sent out his servants to get in the guests to the feast: and they would not come.

4 Again he sent out other servants, with orders to say to the guests, See, I have made ready my feast: my oxen and my fat beasts have been put to death, and all things are ready: come to the feast.

5 But they gave no attention, and went about their business, one to his farm, another to his trade:

6 And the rest put violent hands on his servants, and did evil to them, and put them to death.

7 But the king was angry; and he sent his armies, and those who had put his servants to death he gave to destruction, burning down their town with fire.

8 Then he said to his servants, The feast is ready but the guests were not good enough.

9 Go then to the cross-roads, and get all those whom you see to come to the bride-feast.

10 And those servants went out into the streets, and got together all those whom they came across, bad and good: and the feast was full of guests.

11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a guest's robe;

12 And he says to him, Friend, how came you in here not having a guest's robe? And he had nothing to say.

13 Then the king said to the servants, Put cords round his hands and feet and put him out into the dark; there will be weeping and cries of sorrow.

14 For out of all to whom the good news has come, only a small number will get salvation.

15 Then the Pharisees went and had a meeting to see how they might make use of his words to take him.

16 And they sent to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Master, we see that you are true, and that you are teaching the true way of God, and have no fear of anyone, because you have no respect for a man's position.

17 Give us, then, your opinion of this: Is it right to give tax to Caesar, or not?

18 But Jesus saw their trick and said, Oh false ones, why are you attempting to put me in the wrong?

19 Let me see the tax money. And they gave him a penny.

20 And he said to them, Whose is this image and name on it?

21 They say to him, Caesar's. Then he said to them, Give to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.

22 And hearing it, they were full of wonder, and went away from him.

23 On the same day there came to him the Sadducees, who say that there is no coming back from the dead: and they put a question to him, saying,

24 Master, Moses said, If a man, at the time of his death, has no children, let his brother take his wife, and get a family for his brother;

25 Now there were among us seven brothers; and the first was married and at his death, having no seed, gave his wife to his brother;

26 In the same way the second and the third, up to the seventh.

27 And last of all the woman came to her end.

28 When they come back from the dead, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? because they all had her.

29 But Jesus said to them in answer, You are in error, not having knowledge of the Writings, or of the power of God.

30 For when they come back from the dead there are no husbands and wives, but they are as the angels in heaven.

31 But about the dead coming back to life, have you no knowledge of what was said to you by God in the Writings:

32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead but of the living.

33 And the people hearing it were surprised at his teaching.

34 But the Pharisees, hearing how the mouths of the Sadducees had been stopped, came together;

35 And one of them, a teacher of the law, put a question to him, testing him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the chief rule in the law?

37 And he said to him, Have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

38 This is the first and greatest rule.

39 And a second like it is this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.

40 On these two rules all the law and the prophets are based.

41 Now while the Pharisees were together, Jesus put a question to them, saying,

42 What is your opinion of the Christ? whose son is he? They say to him, The Son of David.

43 He says to them, How then does David in the Spirit give him the name of Lord, saying,

44 The Lord said to my Lord, Be seated at my right hand, till I put under your feet all those who are against you?

45 If David then gives him the name of Lord, how is he his son?

46 And no one was able to give him an answer, and so great was their fear of him, that from that day no one put any more questions to him.

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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.