3 And G2532 sent forth G649 his G846 servants G1401 to call G2564 them that were bidden G2564 to G1519 the wedding: G1062 and G2532 they would G2309 not G3756 come. G2064
4 Again, G3825 he sent forth G649 other G243 servants, G1401 saying, G3004 Tell G2036 them which are bidden, G2564 Behold, G2400 I have prepared G2090 my G3450 dinner: G712 my G3450 oxen G5022 and G2532 my fatlings G4619 are killed, G2380 and G2532 all things G3956 are ready: G2092 come G1205 unto G1519 the marriage. G1062
5 But G1161 they made light of G272 it, and went their ways, G565 one G3303 to G1519 his G2398 farm, G68 another G1161 to G1519 his G846 merchandise: G1711
6 And G1161 the remnant G3062 took G2902 his G846 servants, G1401 and entreated them spitefully, G5195 and G2532 slew G615 them.
7 But G1161 when the king G935 heard G191 thereof, he was wroth: G3710 and G2532 he sent forth G3992 his G846 armies, G4753 and destroyed G622 those G1565 murderers, G5406 and G2532 burned up G1714 their G846 city. G4172
8 Then G5119 saith he G3004 to his G846 servants, G1401 G3303 The wedding G1062 is G2076 ready, G2092 but G1161 they which were bidden G2564 were G2258 not G3756 worthy. G514
9 Go ye G4198 therefore G3767 into G1909 the highways, G1327 G3598 and G2532 as many as G3745 G302 ye shall find, G2147 bid G2564 to G1519 the marriage. G1062
10 So G2532 those G1565 servants G1401 went out G1831 into G1519 the highways, G3598 and gathered together G4863 all G3956 as many as G3745 they found, G2147 both G5037 bad G4190 and G2532 good: G18 and G2532 the wedding G1062 was furnished G4130 with guests. G345
11 And G1161 when G1525 the king G935 came in G1525 to see G2300 the guests, G345 he saw G1492 there G1563 a man G444 which had G1746 not G3756 on G1746 a wedding G1062 garment: G1742
12 And G2532 he saith G3004 unto him, G846 Friend, G2083 how G4459 camest thou G1525 in hither G5602 not G3361 having G2192 a wedding G1062 garment? G1742 And G1161 he was speechless. G5392
13 Then G5119 said G2036 the king G935 to the servants, G1249 Bind G1210 him G846 hand G5495 and G2532 foot, G4228 and take G142 him G846 away, G142 and G2532 cast G1544 him into G1519 outer G1857 darkness; G4655 there G1563 shall be G2071 weeping G2805 and G2532 gnashing G1030 of teeth. G3599
14 For G1063 many G4183 are G1526 called, G2822 but G1161 few G3641 are chosen. G1588
15 Then G5119 went G4198 the Pharisees, G5330 and took G2983 counsel G4824 how G3704 they might entangle G3802 him G846 in G1722 his talk. G3056
16 And G2532 they sent out G649 unto him G846 their G846 disciples G3101 with G3326 the Herodians, G2265 saying, G3004 Master, G1320 we know G1492 that G3754 thou art G1488 true, G227 and G2532 teachest G1321 the way G3598 of God G2316 in G1722 truth, G225 G2532 neither G3756 carest G3199 thou G4671 for G4012 any G3762 man: for G1063 thou regardest G991 not G1519 G3756 the person G4383 of men. G444
17 Tell G2036 us G2254 therefore, G3767 What G5101 thinkest G1380 thou? G4671 Is it lawful G1832 to give G1325 tribute G2778 unto Caesar, G2541 or G2228 not? G3756
18 But G1161 Jesus G2424 perceived G1097 their G846 wickedness, G4189 and said, G2036 Why G5101 tempt ye G3985 me, G3165 ye hypocrites? G5273
19 Shew G1925 me G3427 the tribute G2778 money. G3546 And G1161 they brought G4374 unto him G846 a penny. G1220
20 And G2532 he saith G3004 unto them, G846 Whose G5101 is this G3778 image G1504 and G2532 superscription? G1923
21 They say G3004 unto him, G846 Caesar's. G2541 Then G5119 saith he G3004 unto them, G846 Render G591 therefore G3767 unto Caesar G2541 the things which are G3588 Caesar's; G2541 and G2532 unto God G2316 the things that are G3588 God's. G2316
22 When G2532 they had heard G191 these words, they marvelled, G2296 and G2532 left G863 him, G846 and went their way. G565
23 The same G1722 G1565 day G2250 came G4334 to him G846 the Sadducees, G4523 which G3588 say G3004 that there is G1511 no G3361 resurrection, G386 and G2532 asked G1905 him, G846
24 Saying, G3004 Master, G1320 Moses G3475 said, G2036 If G1437 a man G5100 die, G599 having G2192 no G3361 children, G5043 his G846 brother G80 shall marry G1918 his G846 wife, G1135 and G2532 raise up G450 seed G4690 unto his G846 brother. G80
25 Now G1161 there were G2258 with G3844 us G2254 seven G2033 brethren: G80 and G2532 the first, G4413 when he had married a wife, G1060 deceased, G5053 and, G2532 having G2192 no G3361 issue, G4690 left G863 his G846 wife G1135 unto his G846 brother: G80
26 Likewise G3668 the second G1208 also, G2532 and G2532 the third, G5154 unto G2193 the seventh. G2033
27 And G1161 last G5305 of all G3956 the woman G1135 died G599 also. G2532
28 Therefore G3767 in G1722 the resurrection G386 whose G5101 wife G1135 shall she be G2071 of the seven? G2033 for G1063 they all G3956 had G2192 her. G846
29 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and G1161 said G2036 unto them, G846 Ye do err, G4105 not G3361 knowing G1492 the scriptures, G1124 nor G3366 the power G1411 of God. G2316
30 For G1063 in G1722 the resurrection G386 they neither G3777 marry, G1060 nor G3777 are given in marriage, G1547 but G235 are G1526 as G5613 the angels G32 of God G2316 in G1722 heaven. G3772
31 But G1161 as touching G4012 the resurrection G386 of the dead, G3498 have ye G314 not G3756 read G314 that which G3588 was spoken G4483 unto you G5213 by G5259 God, G2316 saying, G3004
32 I G1473 am G1510 the God G2316 of Abraham, G11 and G2532 the God G2316 of Isaac, G2464 and G2532 the God G2316 of Jacob? G2384 God G2316 is G2076 not G3756 the God G2316 of the dead, G3498 but G235 of the living. G2198
33 And G2532 when the multitude G3793 heard G191 this, they were astonished G1605 at G1909 his G846 doctrine. G1322
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 22
Commentary on Matthew 22 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 22
This chapter is a continuation of Christ's discourses in the temple, two or three days before he died. His discourses then are largely recorded, as being of special weight and consequence. In this chapter, we have,
Mat 22:1-14
We have here the parable of the guests invited to the wedding-feast. In this it is said (v. 1), Jesus answered, not to what his opposers said (for they were put to silence), but to what they thought, when they were wishing for an opportunity to lay hands on him, ch. 21:46. Note, Christ knows how to answer men's thoughts, for he is a Discerner of them. Or, He answered, that is, he continued his discourse to the same purport; for this parable represents the gospel offer, and the entertainment it meets with, as the former, but under another similitude. The parable of the vineyard represents the sin of the rulers that persecuted the prophets; it shows also the sin of the people, who generally neglected the message, while their great ones were persecuting the messengers.
Now,
And the reason why they made light of the marriage feast was, because they had other things that they minded more, and had more mind to; they went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise. Note, The business and profit of worldly employments prove to many a great hindrance in closing with Christ: none turn their back on the feast, but with some plausible excuse or other, Lu. 14:18. The country people have their farms to look after, about which there is always something or other to do; the town's people must tend their shops, and be constant upon the exchange; they must buy, and sell, and get gain. It is true, that both farmers and merchants must be diligent in their business but not so as to keep them from making religion their main business. Licitis perimus omnes-These lawful things undo us, when they are unlawfully managed, when we are so careful and troubled about many things as to neglect the one thing needful. Observe, Both the city and the country have their temptations, the merchandise in the one, and the farms in the other; so that, 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.
Here is,
Now the guests that were gathered were,
Observe, This hypocrite was never discovered to be without a wedding garment, till the king himself came in to see the guests. Note, It is God's prerogative to know who are sound at heart in their profession, and who are not. We may be deceived in men, either one way or other; but He cannot. The day of judgment will be the great discovering day, when all the guests will be presented to the King: then he will separate between the precious and the vile (ch. 25:32), the secrets of all hearts will then be made manifest, and we shall infallibly discern between the righteous and the wicked, which now it is not easy to do. It concerns all the guests, to prepare for the scrutiny, and to consider how they will pass the piercing eye of the heart-searching God.
Mat 22:15-22
It was not the least grievous of the sufferings of Christ, that he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, and had snares laid for him by those that sought how to take him off with some pretence. In these verses, we have him attacked by the Pharisees and Herodians with a question about paying tribute to Caesar. Observe,
There are two ways by which the enemies of Christ might be revenged on him, and be rid of him; either by law or by force. By law they could not do it, unless they could make him obnoxious to the civil government; for it was not lawful for them to put any man to death (Jn. 18:31); and the Roman powers were not apt to concern themselves about questions of words, and names, and their law, Acts 18:15. By force they could not do it, unless they could make him obnoxious to the people, who were always the hands, whoever were the heads, in such acts of violence, which they call the beating of the rebels; but the people took Christ for a Prophet, and therefore his enemies could not raise the mob against him. Now (as the old serpent was from the beginning more subtle than any beast of the field), the design was, to bring him into such a dilemma, that he must make himself liable to the displeasure either of the Jewish multitude, or of the Roman magistrates; let him take which side of the question he will, he shall run himself into a premunire; and so they will gain their point, and make his own tongue to fall upon him.
With them they sent the Herodians, a party among the Jews, who were for a cheerful and entire subjection to the Roman emperor, and to Herod his deputy; and who made it their business to reconcile people to that government, and pressed all to pay their tribute. Some think that they were the collectors of the land tax, as the publicans were of the customs, and that they went with the Pharisees to Christ, with this blind upon their plot, that while the Herodians demanded the tax, and the Pharisees denied it, they were both willing to refer it to Christ, as a proper Judge to decide the quarrel. Herod being obliged, by the charter of the sovereignty, to take care of the tribute, these Herodians, by assisting him in that, helped to endear him to his great friends at Rome. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were zealous for the liberty of the Jews, and did what they could to make them impatient of the Roman yoke. Now, if he should countenance the paying of tribute, the Pharisees would incense the people against him; if he should discountenance or disallow it, the Herodians would incense the government against him. Note, It is common for those that oppose one another, to continue in an opposition to Christ and his kingdom. Samson's foxes looked several ways, but met in one firebrand. See Ps. 83:3, 5, 7, 8. If they are unanimous in opposing, should not we be so in maintaining, the interests of the gospel?
Now,
Now the question was, Whether it was lawful to pay these taxes voluntarily, or, Whether they should not insist upon the ancient liberty of their nation, and rather suffer themselves to be distrained upon? The ground of the doubt was, that they were Abraham's seed, and should not by consent be in bondage to any man, Jn. 8:33. God had given them a law, that they should not set a stranger over them. Did not that imply, that they were not to yield any willing subjection to any prince, state, or potentate, that was not of their own nation and religion? This was an old mistake, arising from that pride and thathaughty spirit which bring destruction and a fall. Jeremiah, in his time, though he spoke in God's name, could not possibly beat them off it, nor persuade them to submit to the king of Babylon; and their obstinacy in that matter was then their ruin (Jer. 27:12, 13): and now again they stumbled at the same stone; and it was the very thing which, in a few years after, brought final destruction upon them by the Romans. They quite mistook the sense both of the precept and of the privilege, and, under colour of God's word, contended with his providence, when they should have kissed the rod, and accepted the punishment of their iniquity.
However, by this question they hoped to entangle Christ, and, which way soever he resolved it, to expose him to the fury either of the jealous Jews, or of the jealous Romans; they were ready to triumph, as Pharaoh did over Israel, that the wilderness had shut him in, and his doctrine would be concluded either injurious to the rights of the church, or hurtful to kings and provinces.
Christ asked them, Whose image is this? They owned it to be Caesar's, and thereby convicted those of falsehood who said, We were never in bondage to any; and confirmed what afterward they said, We have no king but Caesar. It is a rule in the Jewish Talmud, that "he is the king of the country whose coin is current in the country.' Some think that the superscription upon this coin was a memorandum of the conquest of Judea by the Romans, anno post captam Judaeam-the year after that event; and that they admitted that too.
Mat 22:23-33
We have here Christ's dispute with the Sadducees concerning the resurrection; it was the same day on which he was attacked by the Pharisees about paying tribute. Satan was now more busy than ever to ruffle and disturb him; it was an hour of temptation, Rev. 3:10. The truth as it is in Jesus will still meet with contradiction, in some branch or other of it. Observe here,
But, last of all, the woman died also. Note, Survivorship is but a reprieve; they that live long, and bury their relations and neighbours one after another, do not thereby acquire an immortality; no, their day will come to fall. Death's bitter cup goes round, and, sooner or later, we must all pledge in it, Jer. 25:26.
Now the drift of the argument is to prove,
Mat 22:34-40
Here is a discourse which Christ had with a Pharisee-lawyer, about the great commandment of the law. Observe,
Now here we are directed,
Mat 22:41-46
Many questions the Pharisees had asked Christ, by which, though they thought to pose him, they did but expose themselves; but now let him ask them a question; and he will do it when they are gathered together, v. 41. He did not take some one of them apart from the rest (ne Hercules contra duos-Hercules himself may be overmatched), but, to shame them the more, he took them all together, when they were in confederacy and consulting against him, and yet puzzled them. Note, God delights to baffle his enemies when they most strengthen themselves; he gives them all the advantages they can wish for, and yet conquers them. Associate yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces, Isa. 3:9, 10. Now here,
What think ye of Christ? They had put questions to him, one after another, out of the law; but he comes and puts a question to them upon the promise. Many are so full of the law, that they forget Christ, as if their duties would save them without his merit and grace. It concerns each of us seriously to ask ourselves, What think we of Christ? Some think not of him at all, he is not in all, not in any, of their thoughts; some think meanly, and some think hardly, of him; but to them that believe he is precious; and how precious then are the thoughts of him! While the daughters of Jerusalem think no more of Christ than of another beloved; the spouse thinks of him as the Chief of ten thousands.
Christ quotes the whole verse, which shows the Redeemer in his exaltation;
But that which this verse is quoted for is, that David calls the Messiah his Lord; the Lord, Jehovah, said unto my Lord. This intimates to us, that in expounding scripture we must take notice of, and improve, not only that which is the main scope and sense of a verse, but of the words and phrases, by which they Spirit chooses to express that sense, which have often a very useful and instructive significance. Here is a good note from that word, My Lord.