The Gospels · Chapter 22 of 28

Matthew 22

Jesus tells the parable of a wedding feast whose invited guests refuse and are replaced, warning of one cast out for lacking a wedding garment. His opponents try to trap him on taxes, resurrection, and the greatest commandment, but he silences each. Then he questions them about the Messiah as David's son and Lord, and no one can answer.

What happens in Matthew 22

Jesus compares the kingdom to a king's wedding feast for his son. The invited refuse and mistreat the servants, so the king fills his hall with all found in the highways, both bad and good. Yet one guest without a wedding garment is cast into outer darkness, for many are called, few chosen. The Pharisees then send disciples with Herodians to trap him on tribute to Caesar. Jesus asks whose image is on the coin and says to render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.

The Sadducees, denying resurrection, pose a riddle about a woman married to seven brothers, but Jesus corrects them from the power of God, the living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. A lawyer asks the greatest commandment, and Jesus names love for God and neighbor as the sum of the law. Finally he asks whose son the Messiah is, showing from David's psalm that he is David's son and Lord.

Matthew 22 in context

These confrontations take place in the temple during Jesus's final week, as opposing groups take turns trying to discredit him publicly. Pharisees and Herodians were unlikely allies united against Jesus. The tax question was politically explosive under Roman occupation.

The Sadducees rejected resurrection and accepted only the law of Moses. The closing question about Psalm 110 turns the tables, silencing every faction and ending their attempts to entangle him.

Main themes of Matthew 22

Matthew 22 (KJV)

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Verses to carry from Matthew 22

“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.”Matthew 22:21

“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.”Matthew 22:37

“Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.”Matthew 22:42

Reflection

The invited guests were too busy, the questioners too clever, and all missed the King in their midst. It is possible to debate religion and still refuse the invitation. Give God what bears his image, your whole self, and love him with heart, soul, and mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Come clothed in his grace.

A prayer from Matthew 22