Matthew
22:1-22
Lesson 44
22:1-22
Lesson 44
Matthew 22:1-22
The wedding 1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen. 15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. |
Margin notes:
"Which made a marriage for his son." (22:2) - "Who made a wedding feast for his son." "Call them that were bidden." (22:3) - This means "call those who were invited" to the wedding. In Jesus' day, two invitations were sent to the wedding guests. The first invited the guests well in advance of the wedding. The second was sent on the wedding day to let the guests know that everything was ready for their arrival. "My fatlings are killed." (22:4) - "My fattened cattle are prepared." "The remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully and slew them." (22:6) - "The rest took the servants, treated them terribly, and killed them." "He was wroth." (22:7) - "He was angry." "And burned up their city." (22:7) - Many Bible scholars believe that the King's destruction of the city was a prophecy of Jerusalem's ruination in AD 70. "Go ye therefore into the highways." (22:9) - God wrote the Old Testament (Old Covenant) for Jews. However, the message of salvation through Jesus Christ (the New Covenant) is meant for everyone, Jew and Gentile. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to "teach all nations" the way of salvation (Matthew 28:19-20). See also Acts 28:28 and "Today's Question" below. "Bid to the marriage." (22:9) - "Invite to the wedding." "The wedding was furnished with guests." (22:10) - "The wedding was filled with guests." "A wedding garment." (22:11) - See Isaiah 61:10; Zechariah 3:3-5; Revelation 3:4-5; and 19:7-8. "For many are called, but few are chosen." (22:14) - Jesus is reemphasizing His words from Matthew 20:16. "Herodians." (22:16) - The Herodians were a Jewish political party that supported King Herod Antipas and the Roman occupiers. They had no problem paying Rome's taxes and obeying their laws. The Herodians vehemently opposed the Pharisees on almost every issue. But the two groups joined forces in this passage and Mark 3:6 and 12:13 in a failed attempt to trap Jesus, their common adversary. They asked the Messiah if it was right for Jews to pay taxes to Rome. If Jesus replied "yes," His Jewish followers would turn against Him for supporting their Roman oppressors. If Jesus answered "no," the Romans would have grounds to arrest Him for inciting rebellion. "Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men." (22:16) - "You are honest and teach God's truth without favoritism or regard to what others think." The Pharisees and Herodians are buttering up Jesus with flattery. "Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar?" (22:17) - "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?" This is a verbal trap. If Jesus answers, "Yes, pay the taxes," the crowds will turn against Him because they hate the Roman occupiers. If Jesus says, "Don't pay Caesar's tax," the Romans will arrest Him for sedition. "Why tempt ye me?" (22:18) - "Why do you test me?" "Whose is this image and superscription." (22:20) - "Who's image and inscription are on the coin?" "They marvelled." (22:22) - "They were amazed." |