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22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
22:4 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.
22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
22:10 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.
22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
22:13 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.
22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
22:16 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.
22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
22:19 Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
22:21 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.
22:22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
22:24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
22:25 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:
22:26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
22:27 And last of all the woman died also.
22:28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
22:32 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.
22:33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
22:37 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.
22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.
22:43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
22:44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
22:45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
22:46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

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Everything King James Bible:Matthew

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Matthew
Book: Matthew
Chapter: 22

Overview:
The Parable of the Marriage Feast. (1-14) The Pharisees
question Jesus as to the Tribute. (15-22) The question of the
Sadducees as to the resurrection. (23-33) The substance of the
Commandments. (34-40) Jesus questions the Pharisees. (41-46)

1-14 The provision made for perishing souls in the Gospel, is
represented By a royal Feast made By a King, with eastern
liberality, On the Marriage of his son. Our merciful God has not
only provided Food, but a royal Feast, for the perishing souls
of his rebellious creatures. There is enough and to spare, of
every thing that can add to our present comfort and Everlasting
happiness, in the Salvation of his Son Jesus Christ. The guests
first invited were the Jews. When the prophets of the Old
Testament prevailed not, nor John the Baptist, nor Christ
himself, who told them the Kingdom of God was at Hand, the
apostles and ministers of the Gospel were sent, after Christ's
resurrection, to tell them it was come, and to persuade them to
accept the offer. The reason why sinners come not to Christ and
Salvation By him, is, not because they cannot, but because they
will not. Making Light of Christ, and of the great Salvation
wrought out By him, is the damning Sin of the world. They were
careless. Multitudes perish for ever through mere carelessness,
who show No direct aversion, but are careless as to their souls.
Also the business and profit of worldly employments hinder many
in closing with the Saviour. Both farmers and merchants must be
diligent; but whatever we have of the world in our hands, our
care must be to keep it out of our hearts, lest it come between
us and Christ. The utter ruin coming upon the Jewish Church and
nation, is here represented. Persecution of Christ's Faithful
ministers fills up the Measure of guilt of any people. The offer
of Christ and Salvation to the Gentiles was not expected; it was
such a surprise as it would be to wayfaring men, to be invited
to a royal wedding-Feast. The design of the Gospel is to gather
souls to Christ; all the children of God scattered abroad, Joh
10:16; 11:52. The case of hypocrites is represented By the
guest that had not On a wedding-garment. It concerns all to
prepare for the scrutiny; and those, and those only, who Put On
the Lord Jesus, who have a Christian temper of mind, who live By
Faith in Christ, and to whom he is all in all, have the
wedding-garment. The imputed Righteousness of Christ, and the
Sanctification of the Spirit, are both alike necessary. No Man
has the wedding-garment By nature, or can form it for himself.
The Day is coming, when hypocrites will be called to account for
all their presumptuous intruding into Gospel ordinances, and
usurpation of Gospel privileges. Take him away. Those that walk
unworthy of Christianity, forfeit all the happiness they
presumptuously claimed. Our Saviour here passes out of the
Parable into that which it teaches. Hypocrites go By the Light
of the Gospel itself down to utter Darkness. Many are called to
the wedding-Feast, that is, to Salvation, but few have the
wedding-garment, the Righteousness of Christ, the Sanctification
of the Spirit. Then let us examine ourselves whether we are in
the Faith, and seek to be approved By the King.

15-22 The Pharisees sent their disciples with the Herodians, a
party among the Jews, who were for full subjection to the Roman
emperor. Though opposed to each other, they joined against
Christ. What they said of Christ was right; whether they knew it
or not, blessed be God we know it. Jesus Christ was a Faithful
Teacher, and a bold reprover. Christ saw their wickedness.
Whatever mask the Hypocrite puts On, our Lord Jesus sees through
it. Christ did not interpose as a Judge in matters of this
nature, for his kingdom is not of this world, but he enjoins
peaceable subjection to the powers that be. His adversaries were
reproved, and his disciples were taught that the Christian
religion is No enemy to civil government. Christ is, and will
be, the wonder, not only of his friends, but of his enemies.
They admire his Wisdom, but will not be guided By it; his power,
but will not submit to it.

23-33 The doctrines of Christ displeased the infidel Sadducees,
as Well as the Pharisees and Herodians. He carried the great
truths of the resurrection and a future state, further than they
had yet been revealed. There is No arguing from the state of
things in this world, as to what will take place hereafter. Let
Truth be set in a clear Light, and it appears in full strength.
Having thus silenced them, our Lord proceeded to show the Truth
of the doctrine of the resurrection from the books of Moses. God
declared to Moses that he was the God of the patriarchs, who had
died long before; this shows that they were then in a state of
being, capable of enjoying his favour, and proves that the
doctrine of the resurrection is clearly taught in the Old
Testament as Well as in the New. But this doctrine was kept for
a more full Revelation, after the Resurrection of Christ, who
was the First-fruits of them that slept. All errors arise from
not knowing the Scriptures and the power of God. In this world
Death takes away one after another, and So ends all earthly
hopes, joys, sorrows, and connections. How wretched are those who
look for nothing better Beyond the Grave!

34-40 An interpreter of the Law asked our Lord a question, to
try, not So much his knowledge, as his Judgment. The Love of God
is the first and great commandment, and the sum of all the
commands of the first table. Our Love of God must be sincere,
not in Word and tongue only. All our Love is too little to
bestow upon him, therefore all the powers of the soul must be
engaged for him, and carried out toward him. To Love our
neighbour as ourselves, is the second great commandment. There
is a self-Love which is corrupt, and the root of the greatest
sins, and it must be Put off and mortified; but there is a
self-Love which is the rule of the greatest duty: we must have a
due concern for the welfare of our own souls and bodies. And we
must Love our neighbour as truly and sincerely as we Love
ourselves; in many cases we must deny ourselves for the good of
others. By these two Commandments let our hearts be formed as By
a mould.

41-46 When Christ baffled his enemies, he asked what thoughts
they had of the promised Messiah? How he could be the Son of
David and yet his Lord? He quotes Ps 110:1. If the Christ was
to be a mere Man, who would not exist till many ages after
David's Death, how could his forefather Call him Lord? The
Pharisees could not answer it. Nor can any solve the difficulty
except he allows the Messiah to be the Son of God, and David's
Lord equally with the Father. He took upon him human nature, and
So became God manifested in the Flesh; in this sense he is the
Son of Man and the Son of David. It behooves us above all things
seriously to inquire, "What think we of Christ?" Is he
altogether glorious in our eyes, and precious to our hearts? May
Christ be our joy, our confidence, our all. May we daily be made
more like to him, and more devoted to his service.

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