Matthew
22:23-46
Lesson 45
22:23-46
Lesson 45
In this lesson:
A continuation of lesson 44.
The Sadducees try one last time to trap Jesus.
Do the Sadducees believe in the afterlife (22:23)?
The resurrection (22:24-33).
The Pharisees try one last time to trap Jesus (22:34-40).
What are the two greatest commandments?
Is Jesus the Son of David (22:41-46)?
Jacob
From the Providence Lithograph Collection
From the Providence Lithograph Collection
Study Tip:
Click on the links and review the Margin Notes in blue.
Click on the links and review the Margin Notes in blue.
Who was -
Isaac -
The name Isaac is derived from Hebrew, meaning "he laughs." Isaac was the son that God had promised Abraham and Sarah. He was miraculously conceived when Abraham was one hundred years old (Genesis 21:5) and Sarah was ninety (Genesis 17:17). Abraham, Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob are three of the most influential figures in the Old Testament.
Isaac was born in the desert, probably in the Valley of Gerar, west of the Negeb Desert. When Isaac was a youngster, God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice the boy. Abraham proved his unwavering devotion to God by preparing to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. However, an "angel of the Lord" stopped him (Genesis 22:1-13; Hebrews 11:17; James 2:21). Abraham's willingness to obey God, regardless of the cost, earned him God's promise to make his descendants, the Israelites, a great people.
Years later, God repeated His promise to Isaac (Genesis 26:24) and eventually to Isaac's son, Jacob. Because Isaac trusted God's promise, he is a Jewish example of faith (Hebrews 11:20). Through Isaac and his son Jacob, God fulfilled His promise and made the Israelites a great and populous nation. Isaac died in Hebron at the age of one hundred and eighty (Genesis 35:28). You can read more about him in Genesis 17:15-28:22.
Jacob -
Jacob, whom God called Israel ((Genesis 35:10), was the twin son of Isaac and Rebekah, making him a grandson of Abraham. He is also the father of Joseph and the patriarch of the Israelites. Jacob is one of the most important figures in the Old Testament. He exemplifies faith and is regarded by Jews as the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, which are named after his sons. Isaac, Abraham, and Jacob are called the righteous patriarchs.
God chose Jacob over his older twin brother, Esau, to fulfill His promise to Abraham (and Isaac) to make Israel a great nation (Genesis 48:1-22). With the help of his mother, Rebekah, Jacob deceived Esau to obtain his father’s blessing, and the birthright typically granted to the elder son (Genesis 25:27-34; Genesis 27:1-45). This birthright included the land of Canaan, which God had promised Abraham (Genesis 28:4). Esau vowed to kill him (Genesis 27:41), forcing Jacob to flee to Haran.
While on the road to Haran, Jacob had a vision of climbing a ladder ("Jacob's ladder") to heaven. When he reached heaven, God reaffirmed His promise to make Israel a great nation (Genesis 28:12-14). Jacob died at the age of one hundred and forty-seven (Genesis 47:28). Even on his deathbed, Jacob never doubted God's promise (Hebrews 11:21-22).
In time, Moses led Jacob's descendants out of slavery in Egypt, and forty years afterward, Joshua guided them into the promised land, fulfilling God's promise. To learn more about Jacob, you can read Genesis 25:1-37:36.
Isaac -
The name Isaac is derived from Hebrew, meaning "he laughs." Isaac was the son that God had promised Abraham and Sarah. He was miraculously conceived when Abraham was one hundred years old (Genesis 21:5) and Sarah was ninety (Genesis 17:17). Abraham, Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob are three of the most influential figures in the Old Testament.
Isaac was born in the desert, probably in the Valley of Gerar, west of the Negeb Desert. When Isaac was a youngster, God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice the boy. Abraham proved his unwavering devotion to God by preparing to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. However, an "angel of the Lord" stopped him (Genesis 22:1-13; Hebrews 11:17; James 2:21). Abraham's willingness to obey God, regardless of the cost, earned him God's promise to make his descendants, the Israelites, a great people.
Years later, God repeated His promise to Isaac (Genesis 26:24) and eventually to Isaac's son, Jacob. Because Isaac trusted God's promise, he is a Jewish example of faith (Hebrews 11:20). Through Isaac and his son Jacob, God fulfilled His promise and made the Israelites a great and populous nation. Isaac died in Hebron at the age of one hundred and eighty (Genesis 35:28). You can read more about him in Genesis 17:15-28:22.
Jacob -
Jacob, whom God called Israel ((Genesis 35:10), was the twin son of Isaac and Rebekah, making him a grandson of Abraham. He is also the father of Joseph and the patriarch of the Israelites. Jacob is one of the most important figures in the Old Testament. He exemplifies faith and is regarded by Jews as the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, which are named after his sons. Isaac, Abraham, and Jacob are called the righteous patriarchs.
God chose Jacob over his older twin brother, Esau, to fulfill His promise to Abraham (and Isaac) to make Israel a great nation (Genesis 48:1-22). With the help of his mother, Rebekah, Jacob deceived Esau to obtain his father’s blessing, and the birthright typically granted to the elder son (Genesis 25:27-34; Genesis 27:1-45). This birthright included the land of Canaan, which God had promised Abraham (Genesis 28:4). Esau vowed to kill him (Genesis 27:41), forcing Jacob to flee to Haran.
While on the road to Haran, Jacob had a vision of climbing a ladder ("Jacob's ladder") to heaven. When he reached heaven, God reaffirmed His promise to make Israel a great nation (Genesis 28:12-14). Jacob died at the age of one hundred and forty-seven (Genesis 47:28). Even on his deathbed, Jacob never doubted God's promise (Hebrews 11:21-22).
In time, Moses led Jacob's descendants out of slavery in Egypt, and forty years afterward, Joshua guided them into the promised land, fulfilling God's promise. To learn more about Jacob, you can read Genesis 25:1-37:36.
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
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Matthew 22:23-46
Testing Jesus 23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 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 when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. 34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. |
Margin notes:
"There is no resurrection." (22:23 - Unlike the Pharisees, the Sadducees believed that souls died with the person. They denied such things as the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, and the existence of angels, demons, and spirits (Acts 23:8). "Raise up seed unto his brother." (22:24) - This means "have children for his brother." According to the Jewish Law of levirate, if a married man died before having a son, his brother was to marry the widow, have children, and provide for her (Deuteronomy 25:5-9). "Having no issue." (22:25) - "Having no children." "Angels." (22:30) - Are angels real? Click here "Touching the resurrection of the dead." (22:31) - "Concerning the resurrection of the dead." "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" (22:32) - Jesus cites Genesis 26:24 and Exodus 3:6 in His response to the Sadducees. Since God states, "I am" rather than "I was" the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it shows that their souls have been resurrected. See also Acts 7:31-32. "They were astonished at his doctrine." (22:33) - "They were astonished at His teachings." This is not the first time Jesus amazed people (Matthew 7:28; 22:22). "A lawyer." (22:35) - Usually called scribes, they were experts in Jewish law and the Old Testament prophecies. They were predominantly Pharisees and helped interpret the Law and settle religious arguments. "Tempting him." (22:35) - "Testing him." "Which is the great commandment in the law?" (22:36) - The Pharisees had listed over six hundred commandments and often argued amongst themselves which was the most important. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (22:37) - Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5, part of the Shema. See also Deuteronomy 10:12. "This is the first and the great commandment." (22:38) - This is one of the most important messages in the Bible: love God, and everything else follows (22:40). "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (22:39) - Jesus is quoting Leviticus 19:18. His message of love is reinforced in Matthew 19:19 and Galatians 5:14. "They say unto him, The son of David." (22:42) - Jesus was a descendant of King David, as prophesized. See Matthew 1:1-16 for Jesus' genealogy. "How then doth David in spirit call him Lord." (22:43) - "Then why did David, by the power of the Holy Spirit, call Him Lord?" "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?" (22:44) - Jesus is quoting Psalms 110:1, where King David called Jesus "my Lord." By calling Jesus "my Lord," King David acknowledged that He is the Son of God. "Neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions." (22:46) - After this encounter, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes gave up trying to catch Jesus in a verbal trap. |
See Mark 12:18-37 and Luke 20:27-40 for additional accounts of Jesus being tested.
New Living Translation
Matthew 22:23-46
Discussion about Resurrection
23 That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees-religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question:
24 "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother's name.'
25 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow.
26 But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them.
27 Last of all, the woman also died.
28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her."
29 Jesus replied, "Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.
30 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.
31 "But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead-haven't you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said,
32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' So he is the God of the living, not the dead."
33 When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching.
The Most Important Commandment
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.
35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:
36 "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?"
37 Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question:
42 "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?"
They replied, "He is the son of David."
43 Jesus responded, "Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah 'my Lord'? For David said,
44 'The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'
45 Since David called the Messiah 'my Lord,' how can the Messiah be his son?"
46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Discussion about Resurrection
23 That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees-religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question:
24 "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother's name.'
25 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow.
26 But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them.
27 Last of all, the woman also died.
28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her."
29 Jesus replied, "Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.
30 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.
31 "But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead-haven't you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said,
32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' So he is the God of the living, not the dead."
33 When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching.
The Most Important Commandment
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.
35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:
36 "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?"
37 Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question:
42 "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?"
They replied, "He is the son of David."
43 Jesus responded, "Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah 'my Lord'? For David said,
44 'The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'
45 Since David called the Messiah 'my Lord,' how can the Messiah be his son?"
46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Today's question:
1. What kind of logic did Jesus use in verses 22:31-33?
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1. What kind of logic did Jesus use in verses 22:31-33?
Let us know if you change your email address.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. According to the Quest Study Bible (published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids Michigan; pg. 1420), some might think that verse 22:32 meant, "I am the God of the one who was Abraham." 'But most Jews didn't reason that way. To speak of 'Yahweh (I AM), the God of Abraham,' was to imply not only a past but a present relationship. Thus, they reasoned, 'If we believe there is a God, then we can also believe Abraham still is.' Because the Sadducees based their doctrine (that there is no resurrection) on only the five books of Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy), Jesus made his case from Exodus 3:6."
It follows that if God is not the God of the dead but of the living, then Abraham still exists. Therefore, the soul does not die with the body.
Advice from Jesus:
"Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (22:37)
1. According to the Quest Study Bible (published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids Michigan; pg. 1420), some might think that verse 22:32 meant, "I am the God of the one who was Abraham." 'But most Jews didn't reason that way. To speak of 'Yahweh (I AM), the God of Abraham,' was to imply not only a past but a present relationship. Thus, they reasoned, 'If we believe there is a God, then we can also believe Abraham still is.' Because the Sadducees based their doctrine (that there is no resurrection) on only the five books of Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy), Jesus made his case from Exodus 3:6."
It follows that if God is not the God of the dead but of the living, then Abraham still exists. Therefore, the soul does not die with the body.
Advice from Jesus:
"Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (22:37)
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series," published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham, published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Readers Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible," published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version, published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament," published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation," published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible," published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible," published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible," published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2025 evolke
© 2025 evolke