A Study of Matthew Chapter 22

 by Stan Feldsine (www.tojesusbeallglory.com)

Matt 22:1-14 - The Parable of the Wedding Feast

This parable is given to symbolize the Messianic Kingdom. Those called, the religious leadership of Israel will not participate, while the crowds that believed will participate.

This parable should be understood from the context of John the Baptist's ministry. He made the invitation early in his ministry by calling Israel to repent and be baptized, stating that the Kingdom was at hand.

Mat 22:1-14 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: (2) "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

The "kingdom of heaven" is the Messianic Kingdom that John and Jesus proclaimed.

The "king" is the Father.

The "son" is Jesus.

(3) He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

The sent "servants" were John the Baptist and Jesus, still calling out to Israel to repent and be baptized.

The "invited" were the people of Israel.

The "refusal to come" represents the fact that in spite of John and Jesus announcing the arrival of the Kingdom, the people as a nation refused to believe it. Some believed, but for the most part the people and especially the Jewish leadership found excuses not to believe in the arrival of the King and Kingdom.

Mat 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea (2) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Mat 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

(4) "Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' (5) "But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business.

The sent "servants" this time were the 12 disciples who followed up after John.

Again, the "prepared dinner" represents the Messianic Kingdom. The invitation is still being offered.

The "invited who paid no attention" shows that the 12 disciples met the same response as John.

(6) The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.

The "invited who mistreated the servants" were the religious and political leadership. This speaks of not just rejection, but persecution of Jesus and the 12 for bringing the good news of the kingdom to Israel. Jesus of course was crucified, and most of the 12 suffered horrible deaths for their beliefs.

(7) The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

The "Army" was the Roman army that sacked Jerusalem in 70AD.

Luk 19:41-44 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it (42) and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. (43) The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. (44) They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

Luk 21:5-9 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, (6) "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down." (7) "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?" (8) He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. (9) When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."

(8) "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. (9) So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' (10) So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

The "invited who did not deserve to come" are those who were invited prior to 70AD.

The "Invited from the street corners" were those that believed after 70AD, both Jew and Gentile.

Again, the "wedding feast" represents the Messianic Kingdom.

This verse looks forward to the latter days, when everyone is invited, Gentiles included, not just the Jews in Israel. But even now, people will hear but still not believe. This would include those who were sinners such as the tax collectors and prostitutes as mentioned in the previous parable.

Mat 21:31 "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

The timeframe for this invitation is following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD until the end of the Tribulation period. These are those represented by the parable of the sower.

Mat 13:18-23 "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: (19) When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. (20) The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. (21) But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. (22) The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. (23) But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

(11) "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.

The "man not wearing wedding clothes" was an unsaved not clothed in righteous through belief. Entrance into the kingdom is based on righteousness. Proper wedding clothing are the white linens representing the righteous deeds of the saints.

Rev 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

This man represents the unbeliever who rejects the King's requirement of righteousness through salvation, or is looking for another way in, such as self righteousness, or being a good person. Only those who accept Christ are allowed in.

The "bad persons" who are allowed in would be represented by the Tares in the parable of the wheat and tares, where instead of uprooting the tares, they were allowed to grow along with the wheat.

Mat 13:24-30 Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. (25) But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. (26) When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. (27) "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' (28) "'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' (29) "'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. (30) Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"

(12) He asked, 'How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?' The man was speechless. (13) "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (14) "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

The "darkness" is the Lake of Fire. As the parable of the weeds states, those in unbelief have only the destiny of Sheol for the 1000 years, then the Lake of Fire. The "sons of the kingdom" in Mat 8:12 refers to those of the generation that rejected the King and His Kingdom, unbelievers.

Mat 8:11-12 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. (12) But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

It is a sad reality that more will end up in the Lake of Fire then in the Messianic Kingdom.

Mat 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. (14) But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matt 22:15-17 - The Pharisees and Herodians Attack Jesus (Test 2)

Mat 22:15-17 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. (16) They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. (17) Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?"

Test 1 was detailed in Mat 21:23.

Herodians is a new group of people to this study. Herodians were Jews who favored the rule of Herod. Pharisees on the other hand detested Roman rule. So while the Pharisees and Herodians adversaries, they joined forces against their common enemy of Jesus.

Pharisees attacked Jesus because of His Messiahship because He did not fit their expectations of what Messiah should be, while Herodians attacked Jesus because as Messiah he would be competing with Caesar. Together they would seek to trap Jesus in order to arrest Him.

They asked Jesus if it was right for the Jewish people to pay the tax to Caesar. A positive response on the part of Jesus would anger the people, and a negative answer would result in a charge of sedition. Either answer would be favorable to the Pharisees and Herodians.

Matt 22:18-22 - The Answer

Mat 22:18-22 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? (19) Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, (20) and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?" (21) "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (22) When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Jesus deflected from and avoided their trap. He pointed out to the crowd that this was nothing more than a devious trap.

Jesus was able to defuse the question by pointing on that the money used to pay the Roman tax bore Caesar's image and inscription, and as such belonged to him. Additionally, the Jews found the denarius offensive because of the image and inscription, and some scholars state that they did not use it.

Jesus declared in answer that what was Caesars should be given to Caesar, and what was God's should be given to God. Neither the Pharisees nor the Herodians could find fault with this answer and walked away.

Matt 22:23-28 - The Sadducees Attack Jesus (Test 3)

Mat 22:23-28 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. (24) "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. (25) Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. (26) The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. (27) Finally, the woman died. (28) Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"

The Sadducees were a sect that did not believe in resurrections, but that the soul dies with the body. As such they do not believe in the immortal duration of the soul. This belief leads to a mindset where good and evil are in the eyes of the beholder, as there are no eternal rewards or punishment.

Sadducees were adversaries of the Pharisees, and liked to ask them tricky questions to make them look ignorant. So they tried one of their questions on Jesus.

The question is in reference to the Levirate Marriage.

Deu 25:5-6 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. (6) The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

So the Sadducees are proposing that seven of the woman's husbands died. If that is the case, then the question is which one of the brothers would actually be married to her, since she married all seven.

The Sadducees are making two erroneous assumptions in this question though. First, they are assuming that the afterlife is going to be the same as the present life on earth, and second, they are assuming that people in the afterlife will be married and monogamous according to the Mosaic Law.

The Sadducees think they have Jesus trapped. If a woman had seven husbands in this life then how can she only have one in the afterlife.

Matt 22:29-32 - The Answer

Mat 22:29-32 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. (30) At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. (31) But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you, (32) 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

Jesus told the Sadducees that they erred because they did not know their scriptures. He points out three things:

1. Jesus brings out the power of God, that people will be like the angels in the future. There will no longer be death nor reproduction (angels do not reproduce). Marriage will be unnecessary. The Sadducees did not know their scriptures well enough to know this.
   
   Luk 20:34-36 Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. (35) But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, (36) and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.
   
   1Co 15:53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
   
   So the answer here is that the widow will be like the angels and not be married to anyone.
   

2. Jesus shows how the resurrection is implied in the Abrahamic Covenant. Abraham believed in the resurrection. This is seen in his willingness and obedience to sacrifice Isaac on the mountain. Abraham would have known that sacrificing Isaac would eliminate the lineage of the promises given to his descendants, yet, he proceeded in obedience knowing that God could raise up the dead.
   
   Heb 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, (18) even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." (19) Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
   

3. Sadducees considered only the first 5 books, the Torah, to be authoritative scriptures, while Pharisees considered the prophets to be authoritative as well. So Jesus quotes from Exodus:
   
   Exo 3:6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
   
   What Jesus says regarding this passage is that He is the God of the living, not the dead. Even though from the Sadducees point of view, they no longer exist, Jesus says He is still their God because they are alive in the afterlife. If they were not alive, then how could be still be their God?

Matt 22:33 - The Response of the Crowd

Mat 22:33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

The reaction of the crowds who were in the temple courtyard listening to this was astonishment. The viewpoint of seeing God as the God of the Living in Exo_3:6 was a new way of seeing it. God was the God of the living, and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were alive in the afterlife.

Even the Pharisees commended Jesus for His argument against the Sadducees. They said this probably because Jesus and the Pharisees both disagreed with the Sadducees about the resurrection.

Luk 20:39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, "Well said, teacher!"

For the Sadducees part, they didn't dare to ask any more questions and just walked away.

Matt 22:34-36 - The Pharisees Attack Jesus (Test 4)

Mat 22:34-40 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. (35) One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: (36) "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

The Pharisees had among them an expert in the law, and seeing that Jesus dispatched with the Sadducees, they could not resist again attempted to trap Jesus in His words.

Matt 22:37-40 - The Answer

Mat 22:37-40 Jesus replied: "'Love 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 commandment. (39) And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (40) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

In answer to the question of which is the greatest law, Jesus gave him two.

Deu 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (5) Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Lev 19:18 "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Jesus is telling the Pharisee that all that the Law of Moses and all of the words of the prophets comes out from these two commands. The first is in relationship to God, and the second is in relationship to our fellow man. If man would keep these two commands correctly, then the would naturally keep all the commands that had to do with relationship to God and man.

The Pharisee asking the question commended Jesus on His answer, and Jesus in turn recognized that the man had also answered wisely.

Mar 12:32-34 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. (33) To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." (34) When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

Matt 22:41-46 - Jesus Challenges the Pharisees

Mat 22:41-46 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, (42) "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied. (43) He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, (44) "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' (45) If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" (46) No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

After being tested these four times, and while the Pharisees were still hanging around, Jesus challenges them with a question of His own. Knowing that they think the Messiah has not yet come, and knowing they deny that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus asks them about whose son the Messiah is.

When the Pharisees answer whose son the Messiah is, they correctly answer "the son of David". But the question is how could Messiah be David's son if David called Him his lord? It was not common for a father to refer to his son as Lord, I.E bow to his son.

Psa 110:1 Of David. A psalm. The LORD says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

David is writing the Psalm, and addressing his descendant as "my lord". Jesus wants to know why the elder would call the younger lord.

The Pharisees had no answer to this, and from that day never asked Him any more questions.