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Monday, October 14th, 2024
the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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Bible Commentaries
Matthew 22

Brown's Commentary on the New TestamentBrown's Commentary

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Introduction

  1. Introduction
    (Read) Matthew 22:1-14
    1. Parable of the Fig Tree
    2. John’s Baptism
    3. Parable of the Two Sons
    4. Parable of the Vineyard
    5. Christ is the Chief Cornerstone

Introduction

  1. Introduction
    (Read) Matthew 22:1-14
    1. Parable of the Fig Tree
    2. John’s Baptism
    3. Parable of the Two Sons
    4. Parable of the Vineyard
    5. Christ is the Chief Cornerstone

Verses 1-14

  1. Parable: The Marriage Feast
    Matthew 22:1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 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. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 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. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 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. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
    1. The Kingdom of Heaven is “Like” / This doesn’t mean it is exact!
    2. Characters in the Parable:
      1. King: God
      2. Son: Jesus
      3. Servant: US
      4. Those bidden: Jews
      5. Those on the highways: Gentiles (Us)
    3. Those with the “Wedding Garments” are the truly saved!
      1. Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
      2. Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
    4. Now Explain it: Called the Jews who rejected Him
      1. ​​​​​​​Make Salvation available to the Gentiles
      2. On that day of the Marriage Supper, only those who are truly saved will get into heaven.
      3. Those who have just been going through the motions will be lost!

Verses 1-14

  1. Parable: The Marriage Feast
    Matthew 22:1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 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. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 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. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 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. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
    1. The Kingdom of Heaven is “Like” / This doesn’t mean it is exact!
    2. Characters in the Parable:
      1. King: God
      2. Son: Jesus
      3. Servant: US
      4. Those bidden: Jews
      5. Those on the highways: Gentiles (Us)
    3. Those with the “Wedding Garments” are the truly saved!
      1. Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
      2. Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
    4. Now Explain it: Called the Jews who rejected Him
      1. ​​​​​​​Make Salvation available to the Gentiles
      2. On that day of the Marriage Supper, only those who are truly saved will get into heaven.
      3. Those who have just been going through the motions will be lost!

Verses 15-40

  1. Passover Examination
    The 5 days prior to the Passover, the lamb was to be examined for deficiencies…that’s what’s happening in the next three sections.
    1. Tribute
      Matthew 22:15-22
      Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 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. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 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 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
      1. We are to subject ourselves to the civil authority…
        1. Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
        2. 1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
        3. Where we must vary from this is when the government asks us to commit sin…
        4. Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
    2. The Resurrection
      Matthew 22:23-33
      The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 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. 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: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 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. 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
      1. Based on the law of levirate marriage described in Deu_25:5-10, if a married man died childless, it was his brother’s responsibility to impregnate his brother’s widow and account the child as the deceased husband’s descendant. The Pharisees imagined elaborate circumstances that raised the question, “Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be?
      2. But the Sadducees only believed in the 1st 5 books of the Bible / didn’t believe in the resurrection and didn’t believe in Angels.
      3. Jesus threw their beliefs back in their face…
        1. ​​​​​​​You don’t know the scripture OR the power of God!
        2. There is a resurrection :: God is the God of the living, the great “I AM” !!!
        3. We’ll be as the “Angels”
  2. The Greatest Commandment
    Matthew 22:34-40
    But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
    1. It is clear enough what it means to love the Lord with all we are, though it is exceeding difficult to do.
    2. But there has been much confusion about what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.
      1. This doesn’t mean that we must love ourselves before we can love anyone else; it means that in the same way we take care of ourselves and are concerned about our own interests, we should take care and have concern for the interests of others.

Verses 15-40

  1. Passover Examination
    The 5 days prior to the Passover, the lamb was to be examined for deficiencies…that’s what’s happening in the next three sections.
    1. Tribute
      Matthew 22:15-22
      Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 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. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 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 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
      1. We are to subject ourselves to the civil authority…
        1. Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
        2. 1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
        3. Where we must vary from this is when the government asks us to commit sin…
        4. Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
    2. The Resurrection
      Matthew 22:23-33
      The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 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. 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: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 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. 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
      1. Based on the law of levirate marriage described in Deu_25:5-10, if a married man died childless, it was his brother’s responsibility to impregnate his brother’s widow and account the child as the deceased husband’s descendant. The Pharisees imagined elaborate circumstances that raised the question, “Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be?
      2. But the Sadducees only believed in the 1st 5 books of the Bible / didn’t believe in the resurrection and didn’t believe in Angels.
      3. Jesus threw their beliefs back in their face…
        1. ​​​​​​​You don’t know the scripture OR the power of God!
        2. There is a resurrection :: God is the God of the living, the great “I AM” !!!
        3. We’ll be as the “Angels”
  2. The Greatest Commandment
    Matthew 22:34-40
    But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
    1. It is clear enough what it means to love the Lord with all we are, though it is exceeding difficult to do.
    2. But there has been much confusion about what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.
      1. This doesn’t mean that we must love ourselves before we can love anyone else; it means that in the same way we take care of ourselves and are concerned about our own interests, we should take care and have concern for the interests of others.

Verses 41-46

  1. Christ THE LORD
    Matthew 22:41-46 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
    1. Psalms 110:1-4 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
    2. This is a Psalm of David…
      1. Jehovah said to Adonai…
      2. The lesser always calls the greater “Lord”
      3. Was Christ greater than David? If so, then how can He be is Son? …because He is the Messiah!

Verses 41-46

  1. Christ THE LORD
    Matthew 22:41-46 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
    1. Psalms 110:1-4 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
    2. This is a Psalm of David…
      1. Jehovah said to Adonai…
      2. The lesser always calls the greater “Lord”
      3. Was Christ greater than David? If so, then how can He be is Son? …because He is the Messiah!
Bibliographical Information
Brown, Jim. "Commentary on Matthew 22". "Brown's Commentary on the New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnc/matthew-22.html. 2017.
 
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