United Commentaries

Matt.21.23-22.46

This section focuses on the Jewish leaders’ attack on Jesus’ authority. In each case, Jesus’ wisdom revealed the leaders’ spiritual blindness. These debates also revealed Jesus’ status as Messiah and the consequences of rejecting him. Tragically, the leaders grew more resistant with each encounter and plotted to eliminate Jesus (21:23, 46; 22:15-17, 23, 34, 41).

Matt.21.28-22.14

Three parables expose the guilt of those who had rejected the Messiah and forfeited their privilege as God’s chosen people. The new people of God are only those who embrace the Messiah.

Matt.22.1-14

In this parable, Israel, having repeatedly rejected God’s word in the past, rejects the Messiah and is judged as a result. In Israel’s place, God raised up the church (16:17-19; 21:43), of which righteousness is also expected (Rom 11:11-24).

Matt.22.2

The king represents God, whose son is Jesus (Gal 4:4; Heb 1:1-2).

The feast represents the Kingdom of the Messiah.

Matt.22.3-5

Those who were invited refers to the nation of Israel, who ignored God’s servants, the prophets (see study note on Matt 21:33-46).

Matt.22.7

Jesus was alluding to the coming destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (see 23:37-39; 24:2).

Matt.22.8

Those who reject God’s invitation aren’t worthy to enter his Kingdom (cp. 3:8; 10:13, 37-38).

Matt.22.9

everyone you see: God’s invitation is no longer restricted to the nation of Israel (see 28:16-20; cp. 10:5-6; 15:21-28).

Matt.22.10

good and bad alike: See 13:24-50.

Matt.22.11

The proper clothes correspond to spiritual fruit that demonstrates real faith (see 7:13-27).

Matt.22.13

Weeping and gnashing of teeth express the intense pain and sorrow that result from condemnation for sin and unbelief (see 8:12; 13:42, 50; 24:51; 25:30).

Outer darkness is a metaphor for eternal punishment.

Matt.22.14

While many people are called—they hear the invitation to the Kingdom—few are actually chosen by God and respond in faithful obedience to Jesus.

Matt.22.15-22

Roman taxation was a controversial issue in first-century Palestine (see also 17:24-27).

Matt.22.16

The Pharisees, strict nationalists who resented Roman rule, were normally at odds with the supporters of Herod. Here, the unlikely alliance arose from a mutual hatred of Jesus.

Matt.22.17

Is it right . . . or not? The question was designed to trap Jesus. If he answered no, he could be arrested for rebellion against Rome. If he answered yes, he could be accused of supporting Roman oppression.

Matt.22.18

You hypocrites! See study note on 23:13.

Matt.22.20

The poll tax had to be paid using the denarius coin, which bore the picture and title of Caesar. Old Testament prohibitions against images (Exod 20:4; Lev 26:1; Deut 4:15-24) made the use of this coin controversial among Jews (see Josephus, War 2.9.2-3). Some Roman procurators apparently produced coins without images for use in Palestine in order not to offend the Jewish conscience.

Matt.22.21

Jesus outwitted his opponents by affirming the honor due to Caesar, while clearly differentiating it from the supreme honor and allegiance due to God. Loyalty to God does not necessarily entail disloyalty to the governing authorities. Jesus was acknowledging two dominions, Caesar’s and God’s, the latter having priority (Acts 4:19).

Matt.22.23-33

The resurrection was an important issue of Jesus’ day, but the question was raised only to trap Jesus.

Matt.22.23

The Sadducees (see 3:7) described a situation involving levirate marriage (see Gen 38:6-11; Deut 25:5-6), which they considered proof that resurrection from the dead is not possible.

Matt.22.29

The power of God most likely refers to God’s ability to raise the dead.

Matt.22.30

like the angels in heaven: Jesus was not teaching genderlessness (i.e., androgyny) nor disparaging the divine order of marriage and sexuality; rather, he was affirming that people will be transformed into a glorious new existence (see 1 Cor 15:35-49; 2 Cor 5:1-5) in which aspects of the present order, such as marriage, will not be present.

Matt.22.31-32

Since God spoke of being the God of Abraham in the present tense, this proves that Abraham still lives and thus that there is a resurrection.

Matt.22.36

Since many strict Jews saw all commandments as equally binding, a careless response to this question could lead to the accusation of undermining the law of God.

Matt.22.37

Jesus answers from the Shema (Deut 6:4-9), one of the core statements of God’s covenant with Israel (The first Hebrew word of Deut 6:4-9 is shema‘, “hear”).

Matt.22.39

Love your neighbor as yourself: Lev 19:18; see also Rom 13:9; Gal 5:6, 14; Jas 2:8.

Matt.22.40

are based on: Jesus’ statement affirmed the unity and coherence of God’s will, as recorded in Scripture.

Matt.22.41-46

Having successfully defended himself against his opponents’ traps (21:23–22:40), Jesus questioned them as to how the Messiah can be called both the son of David and, at the same time, the Lord of David (Ps 110:1).

Matt.22.42

the son of David: See study note on Matt 9:27; see also 2 Sam 7:12-14; Pss 2:7-9; 110; Isa 11:1, 10; Jer 23:5-6.

Matt.22.44

The quotation is from Ps 110:1, which is frequently cited by New Testament authors to describe Jesus (see Acts 2:34-35; 1 Cor 15:25; Heb 1:13; 2:8; 10:12-13; Rev 3:21).

Matt.22.45

how can the Messiah be his son? The answer is that Jesus is more than the son of David: He is the Son of God (14:33).

Matt.22.46

No one could answer him because they had never thought the Messiah would be God as a human being in the flesh (see John 1:1-14).