Matthew 22

Following the triumphal entry into Jerusalem in Matthew 21, the account of Jesus' teaching in the temple in Jerusalem continues. The parable of the wedding feast follows the parable of the two sons and the parable of the wicked husbandmen in the preceding chapter. After it, several groups in turn put questions to Jesus in order to test Him.

Outline

• Verses 1–14 The parable of the wedding feast. Those who were invited do not come and kill the king's servants. The king burns their city and invites everyone found in the highways. One man who is not wearing a wedding garment is cast into outer darkness.
• Verses 15–22 The disciples of the Pharisees, together with the Herodians, ask whether it is lawful to give tribute to Caesar. Jesus answers by pointing to the image and superscription on a denarius.
• Verses 23–33 The Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, pose the case of a woman who married seven brothers in succession. Jesus replies that in the resurrection people neither marry nor are given in marriage. He then argues for the resurrection from the words "the God of Abraham" (Exodus 3:6).
• Verses 34–40 A lawyer asks which is the great commandment in the law. Jesus names love for God and love for one's neighbor.
• Verses 41–46 Jesus in turn asks whose son the Christ is. When He cites Psalm 110:1 to show that David calls Him "Lord," no one is able to answer.

Key Verses

• Matthew 22:21 "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" — the verse most frequently cited in discussions of the relationship between faith and state power.
• Matthew 22:37–39 "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God … Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" — combines Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, summarizing the whole law in terms of two loves.
• Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen" — a verse on which interpreters differ regarding the relationship between calling and election.

People and Places

• Pharisees and Herodians: two groups that ordinarily held differing positions join together to test Jesus.
• Caesar: a title referring to the Roman emperor.
• Sadducees: a Jewish party that denied the resurrection.
• The lawyer: a man well versed in the law. The parallel passage in Mark describes him as a scribe.
• Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David: figures cited as authorities in the exchanges.

Points for Reflection

• "Chosen" in verse 14: The Reformed tradition, which emphasizes predestination, reads this as God's election. The Wesleyan and Arminian traditions place greater weight on the responsibility of those who reject the invitation.
• The meaning of the wedding garment: Some interpreters understand it as being clothed with the righteousness of Christ (justification). Others understand it as repentance and a holy life (sanctification).
• Explanations of the wedding-garment custom: Sermons often claim that "it was customary for a king to provide wedding garments to his guests." However, some observe that the text says nothing of this and that the historical basis for the claim is unclear.
• The burning in verse 7: Some interpreters connect the burning of the city with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
• The feast parable in Luke: Luke 14 also contains a parable of a great supper, but it lacks both the wedding-garment episode and the burning of the city. For this reason, opinions differ as to whether these are differing transmissions of the same parable or two distinct parables.
• Connections with New Testament parallels: Verses 15–22 are read alongside Mark 12:13–17, and verses 34–40 alongside Mark 12:28–34. Paul likewise calls love of neighbor the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:8–10). Psalm 110:1, quoted in verse 44, is also applied to Christ in Acts 2 and Hebrews 1.
• Interpreting verse 30: Matthew 22:30 is read as meaning that there is no marriage relationship after the resurrection. The common understanding is that it does not mean human beings become angels.

In the Korean Church

• The words "Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find" in verses 9–10 are frequently cited in sermons encouraging evangelism.
• Verse 21 is cited in discussions of the relationship between church and politics. It was also invoked in support of various positions during the debate over taxation of clergy.