Matthew Chapter 22

The Parable of the Banquet

(Luke 14:15-24)

1And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4Again, 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. 5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10So 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.

11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13Then 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. 14For many are called, but few are chosen.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

(Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:19-26)

15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16And 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. 17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21They 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. 22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Sadducees Question the Resurrection

(Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-40)

23The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25Now 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: 26Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27And last of all the woman died also. 28Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32I 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. 33And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

The Greatest Commandment

(Deuteronomy 6:1-19; Mark 12:28-34)

34But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Whose Son is the Christ?

(Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44)

41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

44The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

45If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Parable of the Banquet
(Luke 14:15–24)

1 Jesus answered and spoke again in parables to them, saying,

2 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast!”’ 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise, 6 and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. 9 Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.’ 10 Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.

11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ 14 For many are called, but few chosen.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26)

15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk. 16 They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone. 17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius. 20 He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” 21 They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40)

23 On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed for his brother.’ 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no seed left his wife to his brother. 26 In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”

29 But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to 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 When the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

The Greatest Commandment
(Deuteronomy 6:1–19; Mark 12:28–34)

34 But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Mark 12:35–37; Luke 20:41–44)

41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “Of David.” 43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?’

45 “If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 No one was able to answer him a word, neither did any man dare ask him any more questions from that day forth.

The Parable of the Banquet
(Luke 14:15–24)

1 Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.

4 Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

5 But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.

7 The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’

10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’

But the man was speechless.

13 Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26)

15 Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words. 16 They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. 17 So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me? 19 Show Me the coin used for the tax.”

And they brought Him a denarius. a

20 “Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they answered.

So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

22 And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40)

23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. b 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brothers, down to the seventh. 27 And last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For all of them were married to her.”

29 Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels c in heaven. 31 But concerning 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’ d? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

The Greatest Commandment
(Deuteronomy 6:1–19; Mark 12:28–34)

34 And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: 36 “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?”

37 Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ e 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ f 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Mark 12:35–37; Luke 20:41–44)

41 While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them: 42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?”

“David’s,” they answered.

43 Jesus said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call 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.” ’ g

45 So if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how can He be David’s son?”

46 No one was able to answer a word, and from that day on no one dared to question Him any further.

Footnotes:

19 a A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.
24 b Deuteronomy 25:5
30 c SBL, BYZ, and TR the angels of God
32 d Exodus 3:6
37 e Deuteronomy 6:5
39 f Leviticus 19:18
44 g Psalm 110:1

The Parable of the Banquet

(Luke 14:15-24)

1And Jesus answering, again spake to them in similes, saying, 2'The reign of the heavens was likened to a man, a king, who made marriage-feasts for his son, 3and he sent forth his servants to call those having been called to the marriage-feasts, and they were not willing to come. 4Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Say to those who have been called: Lo, my dinner I prepared, my oxen and the fatlings have been killed, and all things are ready, come ye to the marriage-feasts; 5and they, having disregarded it, went away, the one to his own field, and the other to his merchandise; 6and the rest, having laid hold on his servants, did insult and slay them. 7'And the king having heard, was wroth, and having sent forth his soldiers, he destroyed those murderers, and their city he set on fire; 8then saith he to his servants, The marriage-feast indeed is ready, and those called were not worthy, 9be going, then, on to the cross-ways, and as many as ye may find, call ye to the marriage-feasts. 10'And those servants, having gone forth to the ways, did gather all, as many as they found, both bad and good, and the marriage-feast apartment was filled with those reclining.

11'And the king having come in to view those reclining, saw there a man not clothed with clothing of the marriage-feast, 12and he saith to him, Comrade, how didst thou come in hither, not having clothing of the marriage-feast? and he was speechless. 13'Then said the king to the ministrants, Having bound his feet and hands, take him up and cast forth to the outer darkness, there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth; 14for many are called, and few chosen.'

Paying Taxes to Caesar

(Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:19-26)

15Then the Pharisees having gone, took counsel how they might ensnare him in words, 16and they send to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we have known that thou art true, and the way of God in truth thou dost teach, and thou art not caring for any one, for thou dost not look to the face of men; 17tell us, therefore, what dost thou think? is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?' 18And Jesus having known their wickedness, said, 'Why me do ye tempt, hypocrites? 19show me the tribute-coin?' and they brought to him a denary; 20and he saith to them, 'Whose is this image and the inscription?' 21they say to him, 'Caesar's;' then saith he to them, 'Render therefore the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;' 22and having heard they wondered, and having left him they went away.

Sadducees Question the Resurrection

(Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-40)

23In that day there came near to him Sadducees, who are saying there is not a rising again, and they questioned him, saying, 24'Teacher, Moses said, If any one may die not having children, his brother shall marry his wife, and shall raise up seed to his brother. 25'And there were with us seven brothers, and the first having married did die, and not having seed, he left his wife to his brother; 26in like manner also the second, and the third, unto the seventh, 27and last of all died also the woman; 28therefore in the rising again, of which of the seven shall she be wife -- for all had her?'

29And Jesus answering said to them, 'Ye go astray, not knowing the Writings, nor the power of God; 30for in the rising again they do not marry, nor are they given in marriage, but are as messengers of God in heaven. 31'And concerning the rising again of the dead, did ye not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, 32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not a God of dead men, but of living.' 33And having heard, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching;

The Greatest Commandment

(Deuteronomy 6:1-19; Mark 12:28-34)

34and the Pharisees, having heard that he did silence the Sadducees, were gathered together unto him; 35and one of them, a lawyer, did question, tempting him, and saying, 36Teacher, which is the great command in the Law?' 37And Jesus said to him, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thine understanding -- 38this is a first and great command; 39and the second is like to it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; 40on these -- the two commands -- all the law and the prophets do hang.'

Whose Son is the Christ?

(Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44)

41And the Pharisees having been gathered together, Jesus did question them, 42saying, 'What do ye think concerning the Christ? of whom is he son?' They say to him, 'Of David.' 43He saith to them, 'How then doth David in the Spirit call him lord, saying,

44The Lord said to my lord, Sit at my right hand, till I may make thine enemies thy footstool?

45If then David doth call him lord, how is he his son?' 46And no one was able to answer him a word, nor durst any from that day question him any more.

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

¹ Jesus continued with His parabolic riddles, saying, ² "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king preparing an extravagant wedding feast for his son – imagine the most magnificent celebration you've ever witnessed, then multiply it beyond measure. ³ The king sent his servants to summon the invited guests, those who had already received their invitations and knew they should come. But they refused to attend this momentous occasion. ⁴ He sent more servants with an urgent message: 'Tell them brunch is ready! The prime beef has been prepared, the finest foods are laid out, and everything is perfect. Come to the wedding feast!'

⁵ But the invited guests dismissed this royal summons as insignificant. One went off to his farm and another to his business, completely distracted by the busyness of their lives. ⁶ Others responded with shocking violence, seizing the king's servants, abusing them, and even killing them.

⁷ The king's righteous anger blazed. He dispatched his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. ⁸ Then he told his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those I invited proved unworthy through their own choices. ⁹ So go into the street corners, the public squares, the places where people gather. Invite everyone you find to the wedding feast!' ¹⁰ The servants went everywhere, gathering everyone they could find, both those society deemed good and those it condemned as bad. Soon the wedding hall overflowed with guests who recognized the privilege of the invitation.

¹¹ When the king came to welcome his guests, he noticed someone who had refused to wear the wedding clothes provided by the host – a serious insult to both father and son. ¹² 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you come in here without wearing proper wedding clothes?' The man stood speechless, knowing he had deliberately rejected the king's provision.

¹³ The king commanded his servants, 'Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. ¹⁴ For many are invited to My Kingdom, but few choose to embrace the invitation's full meaning and requirements.'

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

¹⁵ The Pharisees huddled together, plotting how to trap Jesus in His words, seeking any excuse to discredit or destroy Him. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples alongside Herod's supporters, an unlikely alliance united only by their opposition to Jesus. With fake flattery, they began: "Teacher, we know You're genuine and teach God's way truthfully. You don't fear anyone's opinion or play favorites. ¹⁷ Tell us then, is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" They thought they had crafted the perfect trap.

¹⁸ But Jesus, knowing their malicious intent, responded: "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Your words drip honey while your hearts harbor poison. ¹⁹ Show Me the coin used for paying taxes." They brought Him a denarius, the Roman currency required for tax payment. ²⁰ "Whose image and inscription are on this coin?" He asked, drawing their attention to its details.

²¹ "Caesar's," they replied. Then Jesus delivered His masterful answer: "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God." The profound implications stretched far beyond their simple question. ²² Amazed at His wisdom, they fell silent and departed.

Marriage at the Resurrection

²³ That same day, Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, approached with their own theological trap disguised as a question. ²⁴ "Teacher," they began, "Moses said if a man dies childless, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. ²⁵ Now consider this scenario: Seven brothers lived among us. The first married and died childless, leaving his wife to his brother. ²⁶ The same happened to the second, then the third, right through to the seventh. ²⁷ Finally, the woman died too. ²⁸ Now then, in the resurrection you teach about, whose wife will she be? All seven were married to her!"

²⁹ Jesus exposed their error: "You're desperately wrong, understanding neither the Scriptures nor God's power! ³⁰ In the resurrection, people won't marry or be given in marriage. They'll be like God's angels in Heaven, their very existence transcending current earthly relationships. ³¹ But regarding the resurrection of the dead - haven't you read what God spoke 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 supposed dead, but of the truly living!" ³³ The crowds stood amazed at His teaching, recognizing an authority that transcended their religious leaders' dry academics.

The Greatest Commandment

³⁴ When the Pharisees heard He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered for another attempt to trap Him. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in religious law, posed this test: ³⁶ "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the Law?"

³⁷ Jesus replied with divine wisdom: "Love יהוה (Yahweh) your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind!" ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment, the foundation of all true spirituality. ³⁹ And the second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments – they are the essence of God's will for humanity."

Whose Son is the Messiah?

⁴¹ While the Pharisees were still gathered, Jesus posed His own question: ⁴² "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is He?" They replied, "David's son!" ⁴³ He pressed deeper: "Then why did David, speaking by the Spirit, call Him 'Lord'?" ⁴⁴ "For he said,

'יהוה (Yahweh) said to my Lord:
Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies under Your feet.'

⁴⁵ "If David calls Him 'Lord,' how can He be merely David's son?"

⁴⁶ No one could answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare to ask Him any more questions. His wisdom had silenced every trap, and exposed the undeniable limitations of their understanding of Scripture.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Matthew 22?

1.1Introduction to Matthew 22

1.2Context of Matthew 22

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Matthew 22 Unique Insights

1.5Question the Text

1.6Matthew 22 Connections to Yeshua

1.7Matthew 22 Scriptural Echoes

1.8Matthew 22 Devotional

1.9Did You Know?

What is the meaning of Matthew 22?

The mnemonic device for this chapter is:

“W.E.D – Watch, Examine, Declare!”

W – Wedding Feast (Jesus continues talking about the Kingdom of God as a parable of the wedding banquet where many are invited, but few are chosen.)
E – Examinations (The Pharisees and Sadducees try to trap Yeshua with questions about taxes to Caesar, the resurrection and the greatest commandment in the Torah.)
D – Declaration (Yeshua declares the greatest commandment is love, and silences them with His own question: “Whose Son is the Messiah?”)

Introduction to Matthew 22

Imagine walking into a room where brilliant minds have set the perfect verbal trap for you—a question so cunningly crafted that any answer you give will destroy you. In Matthew 22, Jesus faces not one but three such traps, each laid by different groups of religious experts desperate to discredit Him before the Passover crowds. What follows is a masterclass in divine wisdom that leaves His opponents speechless and the watching crowds astonished.

The chapter opens with a wedding parable that would make anyone uncomfortable—where invited guests murder the king’s messengers, the king destroys their city in retribution, and a poorly dressed guest gets thrown into “outer darkness.” Before you can catch your breath, Jesus is thrust into a rapid-fire series of impossible questions: Should Jews pay taxes to Caesar? Whose wife will a seven-times-widowed woman be in heaven? Which commandment matters most?

With each response, Jesus doesn’t just evade their traps—He reframes the entire conversation to expose what’s really at stake: our relationship with God and with each other. When He finally turns the tables with His own question about the Messiah’s identity, His opponents retreat in silence, unable to answer the one question that matters most. These ancient verbal duels still challenge our deepest assumptions about politics, eternity, love, and the true identity of the One who claims to be both David’s son and David’s Lord.

Context of Matthew 22

This chapter continues the narrative of Yeshua’s final week in Jerusalem, following His triumphant entry and cleansing of the Temple in Matthew 21. The mounting tension between the Messiah and the religious authorities reaches a crescendo as various groups attempt to trap Him with clever questions. The immediate context shows the escalating conflict that will lead to His crucifixion, with the religious leaders becoming increasingly desperate to discredit Him before the crowds who gathered for Passover.

Within the larger narrative of Matthew’s Gospel, this chapter serves as a crucial link between Yeshua’s public ministry and His passion. It demonstrates His divine wisdom and authority while highlighting the tragic irony of the religious leaders’ rejection of God’s invitation to His kingdom. The chapter’s themes of divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and the true nature of God’s law echo throughout Scripture, from the prophets’ warnings to Israel to the apostolic teachings about the nature of God’s kingdom.

Ancient Key Word Study

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γάμους (gamous) – “wedding feast” (v. 2): More than just a celebration, this term in ancient culture represented the culmination of a covenant relationship. The word choice emphasizes the intimacy and joy of God’s intended relationship with His people, drawing on imagery found throughout the prophetic literature.
ἀνάξιοι (anaxioi) – “unworthy” (v. 8): This term doesn’t merely mean “undeserving” but carries the connotation of those who have demonstrated their unworthiness through their actions and attitudes. The word choice highlights the responsibility of those who reject God’s invitation.
διδάσκαλε (didaskale) – “teacher” (v. 16): While seemingly respectful, this address from the Pharisees’ disciples carries ironic undertones, as they use it while attempting to trap Yeshua. The term acknowledges His role as a religious instructor while subtly questioning His authority.
εἰκὼν (eikōn) – “image” (v. 20): This word, used when Yeshua asks about the image on the coin, carries deep theological significance, hearkening back to humanity being created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). The word choice adds layers of meaning to His response about giving to Caesar.
ἀνάστασις (anastasis) – “resurrection” (v. 23): This technical term for resurrection was a point of fierce debate between Pharisees and Sadducees. Its use here emphasizes the concrete, physical nature of the resurrection being discussed.
συνήγαγεν (synēgagen) – “gathered together” (v. 34): This verb carries echoes of God gathering His people throughout the Old Testament, creating an ironic contrast as the Pharisees gather to oppose God’s Messiah.
κρεμάννυμι (kremannymi) – “hangs” (v. 40): The word choice for how all the Law and Prophets “hang” on the two great commandments suggests both dependence and organic connection, like branches from a tree, rather than mere organizational structure.

Matthew 22 Unique Insights

The parable of the wedding feast contains several layers of meaning that would have resonated deeply with its original Jewish audience. The repeated invitations mirror God’s persistent calling of Israel through the prophets, while the burning of the city (v. 7) would have carried particular weight for Matthew’s audience, likely written after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. The detail about the man without wedding clothes (vv. 11-13) reflects an ancient Middle Eastern custom where kings provided appropriate garments for wedding guests, making the man’s failure to wear one an act of deliberate dishonor.

The Rabbinical literature provides fascinating parallel discussions about many of the issues raised in this chapter. The Mishnah tractate Sanhedrin contains detailed debates about the resurrection, while various midrashim discuss the balance between religious and civil obligations that emerges in the Caesar’s coin episode. The early church father Origen saw the wedding garment as representing the “putting on of Christ” (Romans 13:14), connecting this parable to Paul’s theology of salvation.

The chapter’s structure itself reveals a sophisticated literary design, with three hostile questions (about taxes, resurrection, and the greatest commandment) followed by Yeshua’s own question about David’s son. This pattern creates a crescendo effect, culminating in the silencing of His opponents and the establishment of His authority.

Question the Text

Verses 1-2: Why does Jesus continue with another parable immediately after the harsh conclusion of the previous one? What might this tell us about His urgency to communicate certain truths to His listeners?
Verse 3: Why would invited guests refuse to come to a royal wedding feast? What social, political, or personal motivations might explain such an unusual response to a king’s invitation?
Verse 4: Why does the king send a second invitation with more details about the feast rather than immediately punishing those who refused? What does this reveal about God’s patience and multiple opportunities for people to respond to Him?
Verses 5-6: How do we make sense of the extreme reaction of the invited guests who not only ignore the invitation but mistreat and kill the king’s servants? What might this escalation represent spiritually?
Verse 7: The king’s violent response seems disproportionate—destroying the city of those who rejected his invitation. How might this be interpreted prophetically regarding Jerusalem’s future? Does this violent imagery challenge our understanding of God’s character?
Verses 8-10: Why does the king declare the originally invited guests “unworthy” and then invite “both bad and good” from the streets? What does this say about worthiness in God’s kingdom versus human expectations of who deserves inclusion?
Verses 11-13: What is the significance of the wedding garment, and why would a guest gathered from the streets be expected to have one? Why is the punishment for lacking proper attire so severe—being cast into “outer darkness”?
Verse 14: How do we reconcile “many are called, but few are chosen” with the inclusive invitation to all? Does this suggest predestination, human responsibility, or something else entirely?
Verses 15-17: Why do the Pharisees and Herodians—normally political opponents—collaborate against Jesus? What does this unexpected alliance reveal about how perceived threats can unite former enemies?
Verses 18-22: Why does Jesus use a Roman coin to make His point about taxes rather than simply answering the question directly? What deeper message might He be conveying about material possessions versus spiritual obligations?
Verses 23-28: The Sadducees present an elaborate scenario about marriage in the resurrection, which they themselves don’t believe in. What motivates such intellectual dishonesty, and how might this reflect ways we sometimes approach spiritual questions with hidden agendas?
Verses 29-33: Jesus states that the Sadducees “know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” How might we also fall into similar traps of limiting our understanding of divine realities based on earthly paradigms?
Verses 34-40: Why does Jesus combine two separate commandments from different parts of Torah (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18) as if they’re inseparable? What does this tell us about the nature of true righteousness and reading His Word?
Verses 41-46: Jesus turns the tables by asking His own question about the Messiah. Why does He reference Psalm 110, where יהוה (Yahweh) speaks to David’s Lord? What paradox is He highlighting about His own identity that silences His critics?

Matthew 22 Connections to Yeshua

This chapter demonstrates Yeshua’s identity as the promised Messiah through multiple layers. The wedding feast parable presents Him as the Son of the King, echoing messianic banquet imagery from Isaiah 25:6-8. His responses to the challenges show His divine wisdom, fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah’s teaching authority (Isaiah 11:2-4).

Most significantly, Yeshua’s question about David’s son (vv. 41-46) masterfully reveals His divine nature while maintaining His human lineage. By quoting Psalm 110:1, He demonstrates how the Messiah must be both David’s son and David’s Lord or Adonai in Hebrew, a paradox resolved only in His unique identity as fully God and fully man. This revelation stands as the climactic answer to the chapter’s sequential challenges, showing that the true understanding of Scripture leads to recognition of His divine authority.

Matthew 22 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous Old Testament themes and prophecies. The wedding feast parable echoes Isaiah 25:6-8, where יהוה (Yahweh) promises a great banquet for all peoples.

The discussion of resurrection connects to Daniel 12:2 and Ezekiel 37. The greatest commandment combines Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, showing how love fulfills Torah. Yeshua’s use of Psalm 110 demonstrates how the Old Testament testified to His divine nature centuries before His incarnation.

Matthew 22 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our own response to God’s invitation. Like the wedding feast invitees, we each must decide how we will respond to His gracious call. The religious leaders’ attempts to trap Yeshua remind us to approach Him with genuine hearts rather than trying to fit Him into our preconceptions.

Yeshua’s command to love God and neighbor shows us that true spirituality isn’t about winning theological arguments but about living in loving relationship with God and others. His wisdom in handling hostile questions teaches us to rely on Scripture and seek God’s wisdom when facing challenges to our faith.

Consider this: How do you respond to God’s invitations in your life? Are there areas where you’ve been making excuses like those who refused the wedding feast? How can you better demonstrate love for God and neighbor in practical ways this week?

Did You Know?

The wedding feast parable reflects ancient Middle Eastern royal wedding customs where refusing an invitation was considered an act of rebellion against the king’s authority.
The Herodians and Pharisees who questioned Yeshua about taxes were typically bitter enemies, showing how opposition to the Messiah created unlikely alliances.
The denarius mentioned in the tax question would have been a silver coin worth about a day’s wages for a laborer.
The Sadducees’ question about marriage and resurrection was likely a well-known riddle they used to argue against resurrection belief.
The concept of levirate marriage (marriage to a deceased brother’s wife) originated in Deuteronomy 25:5-6 and was still practiced in first-century Judaism.
The phrase “sit at my right hand” from Psalm 110 was understood as a clear messianic reference in first-century Jewish interpretation.
The number of commands Yeshua summarized (613 according to Jewish tradition) makes His two-command summary even more remarkable.

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Bible Themes

Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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