Bible Commentaries
Matthew 22

Verse 1

Jesus. See App-98 .

by = in. Greek. en . App-104 .

parables. This was the third of the three spoken in the Temple. Compare Matthew 21:28 , Matthew 21:33 .

Verse 2

The kingdom of heaven. See App-114 . heaven = the heavens. See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

marriage = marriage or wedding feast. See App-140 .

Verse 3

sent forth, &c. John, the Lord, and the Twelve.

were bidden = those who had been bidden. This bidding had been done by the prophets. For the custom of such a later "sending" compare Esther 5:8 with Esther 6:14 .

to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

wedding = wedding feast, as "marriage" in Matthew 22:1 .

would not come = wished not to come. App-102 .

Verse 4

other servants. Peter and "them that heard Him" (Hebrews 2:3 ), as recorded in the Acts.

are bidden = had been bidden, as in Matthew 22:3 .

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ).

dinner = breakfast, or luncheon. Not deipnon, which is supper.

fatlings = fatted beasts. Gr . sitistos. Occurs only here.

unto. Greek. ei s.

Verse 5

made light of it = gave no heed [to it].

went their ways = went away.

his = his own; "our own" being emphatic for contrast. Compare 1 Chronicles 29:16 .

merchandise = commerce. Greek. emporia. Occurs only in Matthew.

Verse 6

entreated, &c. As in Acts 4:1-3 ; Acts 5:40 , Acts 5:41 ; Acts 11:19 . slew them. Act 7:64-60 ; Acts 8:1 ; Acts 12:2-5 .

Verse 7

thereof. See the varied supply of the Ellipsis after "heard" in verses: Matthew 22:7 , Matthew 22:22 ; Matthew 22:33 .

his armies. The Roman armies.

burned up their city. Greek. empretho. Occurs only here. This refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place shortly after the close of the Acts Dispensation.

Verse 8

Then, &c. This, as to time, leaps over the present Dispensation, and takes up the yet future preaching of Matthew 24:14 , for it has to do with the same people.

Verse 9

Go ye therefore, &c. After the present Dispensation.

into = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

the highways = the public roads, or crossroads. Greek. diexodos. Occurs only here.

Verse 10

went out = having gone out.

bad. Greek. poneros. App-128 .

was furnished = became filled.

Verse 11

to see = to gaze upon, view as a spectacle, or inspect. App-133 .

he saw = he beheld. App-133 .

a wedding garment. As prescribed by Eastern etiquette.

Verse 12

Friend. Greek. hetairos. Occurs only in Matthew (here; Matthew 11:16 ; Matthew 20:13 ; Matthew 26:50 ).

not. Greek. me . Not the same word as in Matthew 22:11 , because this refers to the man's subjective consciousness of the omission when he entered, not to the mere forgetfulness of the fact.

speechless. There was no excuse for the insult implied in the negative me , above.

Verse 13

outer = the outer. Greek. exoteros. Occurs only in Matthew 8:12 ; Matthew 22:13 , and Matthew 25:30 .

weeping, &c. The weeping and the grinding. See note on Matthew 8:12 .

Verse 15

went = came: as in Matthew 22:23 . A threefold temptation. See above.

the Pharisees. See App-120 .

entangle = entrap. Greek. pagideuo. Occurs only here.

Verse 16

their = their own.

Herodians. It is uncertain whether this refers to Herod's servants, officers, household, or to a political party. Probably = courtiers.

Masters = Teacher. App-98 . Matthew 22:1 .

we know. Greek. oida. See App-132 .

God. App-98 .

neither carest = there is no (Greek. ou. App-105 .) care with Thee.

for = about. Greek. peri = concerning.

regardest not = lookest not on. Greek. eis .

Verse 17

tribute. This was the poll-tax paid in Roman money by each person who was enrolled in the census. See note on Matthew 17:25 . Occurs only there, here, and Mark 12:14 .

Verse 18

perceived. Greek. ginosko. App-132 .

wickedness. Greek. poneria. App-128 .

Verse 19

money = coin. Greek. nomisma. Occurs only here.

penny = a denarius. See note on Matthew 20:2 and App-51 .:4.

Verse 20

image. Therefore not a Jewish or Herodian coin, but a Roman.

superscription = inscription.

Verse 22

these words. See note on "thereof", Matthew 22:7 .

Verse 23

The same day = On (Greek. en. App-104 .) that same day.

the Sadducees. No Article. See App-120 .

is no resurrection = is not a resurrection.

no. Greek. me. Denying subjectively not the fact, but asserting their disbelief of the fact.

Verse 24

Moses. See note on Matthew 8:4 .

If a man die. &c. An hypothetical case. See App-118 . Quoted from Deuteronomy 25:5 . See App-107 .

die = should die.

children. Greek. teknon, here put for son. So Deuteronomy 25:5 .

marry. Greek. epigambreuo. Occurs only in Matthew. Used here because it specially refers to a marriage between relatives.

seed = issue, as in Matthew 22:25 .

Verse 25

issue. Same as "seed" in Matthew 22:24 .

Verse 27

last of all = at last, as in Matthew 21:37 .

the woman died also = the woman also died.

Verse 29

Jesus = But Jesus ( App-98 . X).

not knowing. Note the negative, implying their unwillingness to know, not stating the mere fact. See App-105 . All are sure to err who do not know the Scriptures.

Verse 30

heaven. Singular. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

Verse 31

touching = concerning. Greek. peri .

of the dead = of dead bodies, with Art. See App-139 .

have ye not read . . . = Did ye never read . . . See App-143 .

by. Greek. hupo.

saying. See App-107 .

Verse 32

I am, &c. Quoted from Exodus 3:6 . See App-117 .

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ).

the dead = dead people. See App-139 . (without the Article).

the living = living people. The only conclusion being that they must rise and live again in resurrection in order that He may be their God. This is what the Lord set out to prove (in Matthew 22:31 ) "concerning the resurrection". Greek. zao . See note on Matthew 9:18 .

Verse 33

this. See note on "thereof" (Matthew 22:7 ).

at. Greek. epi . App-104 .

doctrine = teaching.

Verse 36

which, &c. = what kind of commandment?

is the great = is great. The Scribes divided them all up: 248 affirmative ones (the number of the members of the body): 365 negative (the number of days in the year): 248 + 365 = 613 = the number of letters in the Decalogue. Some were great and some were small (or heavy and light). The question was as to great and small (as in Matthew 22:38 ); not the greatest and least.

Verse 37

Thou shalt love, &c. Quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 ; Deuteronomy 10:12 ; Deuteronomy 30:6 .

the LORD = Jehovah. App-98 .

soul. Greek. psuche. App-110 .

Verse 39

the second, &c. Quoted from Leviticus 19:18 .

Verse 40

On = In. Greek. en . App-104 .

all = the whole.

Verse 41

Pharisees. See App-120 .

Verse 42

What think ye of Christ? See App-154 .

of = concerning. Greek. peri, as in Matthew 22:16 ("for").

Christ = the Messiah (with Art.)

The Son of David. Literally David's Son. The last of nine occurances of this title in Matthew. See note on Matthew 1:1 , and App-98 .

Verse 43

in = by, as in Matthew 22:1 .

spirit. Greek. pneum a. App-101 .

Verse 44

The LORD said, &c . = Jehovah said unto Adonai. Quoted from Psalms 110:1 . See App-4 ; App-98 . For the principle underlying the form of quotation, see App-107 and App-117 .

till, &c. = until I shall have (Greek. an) set Thine enemies as a footstool for Thy feet. The first of seven references to Psalms 110:1 in the N.T. (here; Mark 12:36 . Luke 20:42 .Acts 2:34 . 1 Corinthians 15:25 .Hebrews 1:13 ; Hebrews 10:13 ). All refer to Messiah's session on the Father's throne until His enemies shall be placed "as a footstool for His feet", except 1 Corinthians 15:25 , where they are at length put in subjection to the Son (Adonai) "under His feet." In all the six, the enemies are placed as a footstool by Jehovah, but in 1 Corinthians 15:25 they are placed "under" by Adonai Himself. This was subject to Israel's repentance. See notes on Matthew 10:23 ; Matthew 16:28 ; Matthew 23:39 ; Matthew 24:34 .Acts 8:19-26 ; Acts 28:25-26 .

Verse 46

no man = no one. Greek. ou deis. See App-105 .

a word. Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

from. Greek. apo. App-104 .