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MATTHEW 22
God wants us to join Him at His banquet. He sends us invitations again and again. He does not want us to miss out on it. This banquet lasts for eternity. Have you accepted your invitation?
Parable of the Great Feast
1 Jesus also told them other parables. He said,2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for MATTHEW 22
God wants us to join Him at His banquet. He sends us invitations again and again. He does not want us to miss out on it. This banquet lasts for eternity. Have you accepted your invitation?
Parable of the Great Feast
1 Jesus also told them other parables. He said,2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Taxes for Caesar
15 Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.16 They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites.17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me?19 Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, 20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.
Discussion about Resurrection
23 That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question:24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.’ 25 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow.26 But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them.27 Last of all, the woman also died.28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.30 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.31 “But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’So he is the God of the living, not the dead.”33 When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching.
The Most Important Commandment
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question:42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “He is the son of David.”43 Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said,
44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,Sit in the place of honor at my right handuntil I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’
45 Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Matt 22:1-46 (NLT)
THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST. 22:1-14
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, John 10:16; John 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.
—Matthew Henry Concise
In Matthew 21:45 we see that the religious leaders failed to understand that the parables were about them. They wanted to seize Jesus but they feared the people. The people crowded to hear what Jesus had to say.
In the first parable in chapter 22, we know that Jesus is again saying that He is calling the Jews to repent and enter the kingdom. But as the parable goes, they ignore Him, they do not enter because of their hardness of heart. God does call everyone, but only a few will ever become true followers.
The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus. Pharisees can rouse treason. Jesus answers them by saying they should be good citizens. Give to the government what the law states is right. If anything goes against what God’s law says then they are not obey it. If it belongs to God then it should go to God. We must obey God first and above all things, man, and the letter of the law.
Jesus attacked the Sadducees, a small group with limited influence among the people. They embraced four principle tenets.
1. The denial of divinity and consequent authority of oral law
2. Accepted the teaching of Moses only and rejected later books of the Old Testament
3. Denied man’s resurrection, claimed soul died when the body died. Therefore there were no rewards in another life.
4. That man had absolute moral freedom and therefore it excluded divine government of the world.
Their question revealed that they did not understand the Scripture. There is no marriage in heaven. Jesus attacks their basic beliefs. There is a resurrection.
The Pharisees asked what the greatest commandment was. We are to love God with everything we have. Heart= affection, emotion. Soul=hope, ambition, desire. Mind=intellect, thoughts. Strength= physical power, abilities.
If we love our neighbor we will obey because the last of the ten commandments is all about relationships. It can be summed up as love. We are to study Scripture and to pass it on to our children; teaching them to study and to teach it to their children. (Duet 6:4-9) We are to know what the Word of says so that we will know the God of the Word. We are to study to show ourselves approved. God has delivered us from slavery to sin. He has given us love, God is love.
Jesus tried to teach the religious leaders by different parables and examples. Each time He answered their question it was to give them an opportunity to respond with a willing heart. Jesus knew what was in their hearts. Their reverence to God consisted to tradition learned by rote. They spoke empty words, devoid of any meaning. Their hearts were as cold as ice. God said God said they were a people who would draw near with honor on their lips but their hearts were not near Him. Is. 29:13
MATTHEW 23
Jesus has continued to build up His teaching on who is actually going to enter into the kingdom. He has shown that the Pharisees and religious leaders have misunderstood Scripture. They follow traditions by rote and do not know the Lord God. Jesus said don’t think that just because Abraham was your father that you have access to the kingdom. It is not because of your heritage, but because of your heart. You are hypocrites. He calls them a brood of vipers, sons of hell, and other evil names. It is clear that Jesus is trying to show them by their own attitudes and actions that they are not on track. Would you agree? If you think you are righteous enough to enter the kingdom then, well if you think He would give you a 20% margin , the answer is still “NO”. God says He wants perfection. He used the Pharisees as an example of how not to respond. Our righteousness must surpass theirs. Now they keep the law and have added more on top of it. The messages have come strongly against them and it is continuing. They put themselves in the seat of Moses, which is stating that they are the supreme authority. They loved to be called teacher or Rabbi, but Jesus says only the Holy Spirit is your teacher. Don’t call anyone father because the holy one in heaven is your Father. Don’t call anyone your leader because Christ is your only leader. This is making reference to the Trinity. They are hypocrites (an actor, one who is a pretender, one who acts pretentiously, a counterfeit, dissembler. In the Bible it refers to one who is acting righteous but is evil on the inside.
This scathing denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees arose out of the incidents described in the preceding chapters. The religious leaders of Israel were presented as professional hypocrites. By saying "the official interpreters of the Scriptures" (23:2), Jesus was implying that the Pharisees were assuming Mosaic authority for their petty laws and traditions. The "prayer boxes" (23:5, also known as "phylacteries") were small boxes containing portions of Scripture (cf. Exod. 13:2-10; Deut. 6:4-9) that were strapped on the forehead and fore-arm during prayer (cf. Exod. 13:9, 16; Deut. 11:18). The "tassels" (Matt. 23:5; cf. Deut. 22:12) served as reminders to keep the law.
The term "Rabbi" (Matt. 23:7), from the Hebrew rab (meaning "great"), was a reverential form of address and title of respect. Note the threefold use of "for" in 23:8-10. Jesus called the Pharisees to give up their religion of human deeds and shortlived glory (23:5-7) and to seek God in humble repentance. Humility (23:12) was the key concept in Matthew 21-23.
—Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
Chapter 23
Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.4 They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’ 8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. 9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father.10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.11 The greatest among you must be a servant.12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either. 15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hellyou yourselves are!16 “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’17 Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?18 And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding.19 How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?20 When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it.21 And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it.22 And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens,but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel! 25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,and then the outside will become clean, too.27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.29 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’31 “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.32 Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started.33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?34 “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.35 As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar.36 I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.
Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Matt 23:1-39 (NLT)
There are ‘woes’ given here.
Jesus gave seven woes (23:13-36). For tithing (23:23), see Deuteronomy 14:22-29. The leaders did not understand the true meaning of the law. They debated the outer and inner cleanness of utensils while the law really was concerned with people and their moral purity (Matt. 23:25-26). "Whitewashed tombs" (23:27) were clean on the outside but were full of hidden death and decay. Inner purity (23:27-28) was demanded in order to escape destruction (23:29-36).
—Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
They say that to swear by the temple is nothing, but to swear by the gold of the temple is something.
Jesus tells them that prophets were sent to them and they killed the prophets, the ones who were sent to warn them. They rejected the prophets and now they are rejecting His Word, and rejecting God’s own Son. Because of that their house will be left desolate.
Gain being their godliness, by a thousand devices they made religion give way to their worldly interests. They were very strict and precise in smaller matters of the law, but careless and loose in weightier matters. It is not the scrupling a little sin that Christ here reproves; if it be a sin, though but a gnat, it must be strained out; but the doing that, and then swallowing a camel, or, committing a greater sin. While they would seem to be godly, they were neither sober nor righteous. We are really, what we are inwardly. Outward motives may keep the outside clean, while the inside is filthy; but if the heart and spirit be made new, there will be newness of life; here we must begin with ourselves. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was like the ornaments of a grave, or dressing up a dead body, only for show. The deceitfulness of sinners' hearts appears in that they go down the streams of the sins of their own day, while they fancy that they should have opposed the sins of former days. We sometimes think, if we had lived when Christ was upon earth, that we should not have despised and rejected him, as men then did; yet Christ in his Spirit, in his word, in his ministers, is still no better treated. And it is just with God to give those up to their hearts' lusts, who obstinately persist in gratifying them. Christ gives men their true characters.
Our Lord declares the miseries the inhabitants of Jerusalem were about to bring upon themselves, but he does not notice the sufferings he was to undergo. A hen gathering her chickens under her wings, is an apt emblem of the Saviour's tender love to those who trust in him, and his faithful care of them. He calls sinners to take refuge under his tender protection, keeps them safe, and nourishes them to eternal life. The present dispersion and unbelief of the Jews, and their future conversion to Christ, were here foretold. Jerusalem and her children had a large share of guilt, and their punishment has been signal. But ere long, deserved vengeance will fall on every church which is Christian in name only. In the mean time the Saviour stands ready to receive all who come to him. There is nothing between sinners and eternal happiness, but their proud and unbelieving unwillingness.
—Matthew Henry Concise
his son.3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Taxes for Caesar
15 Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.16 They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites.17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me?19 Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, 20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.
Discussion about Resurrection
23 That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question:24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.’ 25 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow.26 But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them.27 Last of all, the woman also died.28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.30 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.31 “But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said,32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’So he is the God of the living, not the dead.”33 When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching.
The Most Important Commandment
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question:42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “He is the son of David.”43 Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said,44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,Sit in the place of honor at my right handuntil I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’45 Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Matt 22:1-46 (NLT)
THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST. 22:1-14
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, John 10:16; John 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.
—Matthew Henry Concise
In Matthew 21:45 we see that the religious leaders failed to understand that the parables were about them. They wanted to seize Jesus but they feared the people. The people crowded to hear what Jesus had to say.
In the first parable in chapter 22, we know that Jesus is again saying that He is calling the Jews to repent and enter the kingdom. But as the parable goes, they ignore Him, they do not enter because of their hardness of heart. God does call everyone, but only a few will ever become true followers.
The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus. Pharisees can rouse treason. Jesus answers them by saying they should be good citizens. Give to the government what the law states is right. If anything goes against what God’s law says then they are not obey it. If it belongs to God then it should go to God. We must obey God first and above all things, man, and the letter of the law.
Jesus attacked the Sadducees, a small group with limited influence among the people. They embraced four principle tenets.
1. The denial of divinity and consequent authority of oral law
2. Accepted the teaching of Moses only and rejected later books of the Old Testament
3. Denied man’s resurrection, claimed soul died when the body died. Therefore there were no rewards in another life.
4. That man had absolute moral freedom and therefore it excluded divine government of the world.
Their question revealed that they did not understand the Scripture. There is no marriage in heaven. Jesus attacks their basic beliefs. There is a resurrection.
The Pharisees asked what the greatest commandment was. We are to love God with everything we have. Heart= affection, emotion. Soul=hope, ambition, desire. Mind=intellect, thoughts. Strength= physical power, abilities.
If we love our neighbor we will obey because the last of the ten commandments is all about relationships. It can be summed up as love. We are to study Scripture and to pass it on to our children; teaching them to study and to teach it to their children. (Duet 6:4-9) We are to know what the Word of says so that we will know the God of the Word. We are to study to show ourselves approved. God has delivered us from slavery to sin. He has given us love, God is love.
Jesus tried to teach the religious leaders by different parables and examples. Each time He answered their question it was to give them an opportunity to respond with a willing heart. Jesus knew what was in their hearts. Their reverence to God consisted to tradition learned by rote. They spoke empty words, devoid of any meaning. Their hearts were as cold as ice. God said God said they were a people who would draw near with honor on their lips but their hearts were not near Him. Is. 29:13
MATTHEW 23
Jesus has continued to build up His teaching on who is actually going to enter into the kingdom. He has shown that the Pharisees and religious leaders have misunderstood Scripture. They follow traditions by rote and do not know the Lord God. Jesus said don’t think that just because Abraham was your father that you have access to the kingdom. It is not because of your heritage, but because of your heart. You are hypocrites. He calls them a brood of vipers, sons of hell, and other evil names. It is clear that Jesus is trying to show them by their own attitudes and actions that they are not on track. Would you agree? If you think you are righteous enough to enter the kingdom then, well if you think He would give you a 20% margin , the answer is still “NO”. God says He wants perfection. He used the Pharisees as an example of how not to respond. Our righteousness must surpass theirs. Now they keep the law and have added more on top of it. The messages have come strongly against them and it is continuing. They put themselves in the seat of Moses, which is stating that they are the supreme authority. They loved to be called teacher or Rabbi, but Jesus says only the Holy Spirit is your teacher. Don’t call anyone father because the holy one in heaven is your Father. Don’t call anyone your leader because Christ is your only leader. This is making reference to the Trinity. They are hypocrites (an actor, one who is a pretender, one who acts pretentiously, a counterfeit, dissembler. In the Bible it refers to one who is acting righteous but is evil on the inside.
This scathing denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees arose out of the incidents described in the preceding chapters. The religious leaders of Israel were presented as professional hypocrites. By saying "the official interpreters of the Scriptures" (23:2), Jesus was implying that the Pharisees were assuming Mosaic authority for their petty laws and traditions. The "prayer boxes" (23:5, also known as "phylacteries") were small boxes containing portions of Scripture (cf. Exod. 13:2-10; Deut. 6:4-9) that were strapped on the forehead and fore-arm during prayer (cf. Exod. 13:9, 16; Deut. 11:18). The "tassels" (Matt. 23:5; cf. Deut. 22:12) served as reminders to keep the law.
The term "Rabbi" (Matt. 23:7), from the Hebrew rab (meaning "great"), was a reverential form of address and title of respect. Note the threefold use of "for" in 23:8-10. Jesus called the Pharisees to give up their religion of human deeds and shortlived glory (23:5-7) and to seek God in humble repentance. Humility (23:12) was the key concept in Matthew 21-23.
—Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
Chapter 23
Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.4 They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father.10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.11 The greatest among you must be a servant.12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hellyou yourselves are!16 “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’17 Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?18 And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding.19 How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?20 When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it.21 And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it.22 And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens,but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,and then the outside will become clean, too.27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.29 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’31 “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.32 Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started.33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?34 “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.35 As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar.36 I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.
Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Matt 23:1-39 (NLT)
There are ‘woes’ given here.
Jesus gave seven woes (23:13-36). For tithing (23:23), see Deuteronomy 14:22-29. The leaders did not understand the true meaning of the law. They debated the outer and inner cleanness of utensils while the law really was concerned with people and their moral purity (Matt. 23:25-26). "Whitewashed tombs" (23:27) were clean on the outside but were full of hidden death and decay. Inner purity (23:27-28) was demanded in order to escape destruction (23:29-36).
—Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
They say that to swear by the temple is nothing, but to swear by the gold of the temple is something.
Jesus tells them that prophets were sent to them and they killed the prophets, the ones who were sent to warn them. They rejected the prophets and now they are rejecting His Word, and rejecting God’s own Son. Because of that their house will be left desolate.
Gain being their godliness, by a thousand devices they made religion give way to their worldly interests. They were very strict and precise in smaller matters of the law, but careless and loose in weightier matters. It is not the scrupling a little sin that Christ here reproves; if it be a sin, though but a gnat, it must be strained out; but the doing that, and then swallowing a camel, or, committing a greater sin. While they would seem to be godly, they were neither sober nor righteous. We are really, what we are inwardly. Outward motives may keep the outside clean, while the inside is filthy; but if the heart and spirit be made new, there will be newness of life; here we must begin with ourselves. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was like the ornaments of a grave, or dressing up a dead body, only for show. The deceitfulness of sinners' hearts appears in that they go down the streams of the sins of their own day, while they fancy that they should have opposed the sins of former days. We sometimes think, if we had lived when Christ was upon earth, that we should not have despised and rejected him, as men then did; yet Christ in his Spirit, in his word, in his ministers, is still no better treated. And it is just with God to give those up to their hearts' lusts, who obstinately persist in gratifying them. Christ gives men their true characters.
Our Lord declares the miseries the inhabitants of Jerusalem were about to bring upon themselves, but he does not notice the sufferings he was to undergo. A hen gathering her chickens under her wings, is an apt emblem of the Saviour's tender love to those who trust in him, and his faithful care of them. He calls sinners to take refuge under his tender protection, keeps them safe, and nourishes them to eternal life. The present dispersion and unbelief of the Jews, and their future conversion to Christ, were here foretold. Jerusalem and her children had a large share of guilt, and their punishment has been signal. But ere long, deserved vengeance will fall on every church which is Christian in name only. In the mean time the Saviour stands ready to receive all who come to him. There is nothing between sinners and eternal happiness, but their proud and unbelieving unwillingness.
—Matthew Henry Concise
God wants us to join Him at His banquet. He sends us invitations again and again. He does not want us to miss out on it. This banquet lasts for eternity. Have you accepted your invitation?
Parable of the Great Feast
1 Jesus also told them other parables. He said,2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for MATTHEW 22
God wants us to join Him at His banquet. He sends us invitations again and again. He does not want us to miss out on it. This banquet lasts for eternity. Have you accepted your invitation?
Parable of the Great Feast
1 Jesus also told them other parables. He said,2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Taxes for Caesar
15 Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.16 They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites.17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me?19 Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, 20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.
Discussion about Resurrection
23 That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question:24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.’ 25 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow.26 But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them.27 Last of all, the woman also died.28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.30 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.31 “But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’So he is the God of the living, not the dead.”33 When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching.
The Most Important Commandment
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question:42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “He is the son of David.”43 Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said,
44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,Sit in the place of honor at my right handuntil I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’
45 Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Matt 22:1-46 (NLT)
THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST. 22:1-14
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, John 10:16; John 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.
—Matthew Henry Concise
In Matthew 21:45 we see that the religious leaders failed to understand that the parables were about them. They wanted to seize Jesus but they feared the people. The people crowded to hear what Jesus had to say.
In the first parable in chapter 22, we know that Jesus is again saying that He is calling the Jews to repent and enter the kingdom. But as the parable goes, they ignore Him, they do not enter because of their hardness of heart. God does call everyone, but only a few will ever become true followers.
The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus. Pharisees can rouse treason. Jesus answers them by saying they should be good citizens. Give to the government what the law states is right. If anything goes against what God’s law says then they are not obey it. If it belongs to God then it should go to God. We must obey God first and above all things, man, and the letter of the law.
Jesus attacked the Sadducees, a small group with limited influence among the people. They embraced four principle tenets.
1. The denial of divinity and consequent authority of oral law
2. Accepted the teaching of Moses only and rejected later books of the Old Testament
3. Denied man’s resurrection, claimed soul died when the body died. Therefore there were no rewards in another life.
4. That man had absolute moral freedom and therefore it excluded divine government of the world.
Their question revealed that they did not understand the Scripture. There is no marriage in heaven. Jesus attacks their basic beliefs. There is a resurrection.
The Pharisees asked what the greatest commandment was. We are to love God with everything we have. Heart= affection, emotion. Soul=hope, ambition, desire. Mind=intellect, thoughts. Strength= physical power, abilities.
If we love our neighbor we will obey because the last of the ten commandments is all about relationships. It can be summed up as love. We are to study Scripture and to pass it on to our children; teaching them to study and to teach it to their children. (Duet 6:4-9) We are to know what the Word of says so that we will know the God of the Word. We are to study to show ourselves approved. God has delivered us from slavery to sin. He has given us love, God is love.
Jesus tried to teach the religious leaders by different parables and examples. Each time He answered their question it was to give them an opportunity to respond with a willing heart. Jesus knew what was in their hearts. Their reverence to God consisted to tradition learned by rote. They spoke empty words, devoid of any meaning. Their hearts were as cold as ice. God said God said they were a people who would draw near with honor on their lips but their hearts were not near Him. Is. 29:13
MATTHEW 23
Jesus has continued to build up His teaching on who is actually going to enter into the kingdom. He has shown that the Pharisees and religious leaders have misunderstood Scripture. They follow traditions by rote and do not know the Lord God. Jesus said don’t think that just because Abraham was your father that you have access to the kingdom. It is not because of your heritage, but because of your heart. You are hypocrites. He calls them a brood of vipers, sons of hell, and other evil names. It is clear that Jesus is trying to show them by their own attitudes and actions that they are not on track. Would you agree? If you think you are righteous enough to enter the kingdom then, well if you think He would give you a 20% margin , the answer is still “NO”. God says He wants perfection. He used the Pharisees as an example of how not to respond. Our righteousness must surpass theirs. Now they keep the law and have added more on top of it. The messages have come strongly against them and it is continuing. They put themselves in the seat of Moses, which is stating that they are the supreme authority. They loved to be called teacher or Rabbi, but Jesus says only the Holy Spirit is your teacher. Don’t call anyone father because the holy one in heaven is your Father. Don’t call anyone your leader because Christ is your only leader. This is making reference to the Trinity. They are hypocrites (an actor, one who is a pretender, one who acts pretentiously, a counterfeit, dissembler. In the Bible it refers to one who is acting righteous but is evil on the inside.
This scathing denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees arose out of the incidents described in the preceding chapters. The religious leaders of Israel were presented as professional hypocrites. By saying "the official interpreters of the Scriptures" (23:2), Jesus was implying that the Pharisees were assuming Mosaic authority for their petty laws and traditions. The "prayer boxes" (23:5, also known as "phylacteries") were small boxes containing portions of Scripture (cf. Exod. 13:2-10; Deut. 6:4-9) that were strapped on the forehead and fore-arm during prayer (cf. Exod. 13:9, 16; Deut. 11:18). The "tassels" (Matt. 23:5; cf. Deut. 22:12) served as reminders to keep the law.
The term "Rabbi" (Matt. 23:7), from the Hebrew rab (meaning "great"), was a reverential form of address and title of respect. Note the threefold use of "for" in 23:8-10. Jesus called the Pharisees to give up their religion of human deeds and shortlived glory (23:5-7) and to seek God in humble repentance. Humility (23:12) was the key concept in Matthew 21-23.
—Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
Chapter 23
Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.4 They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’ 8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. 9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father.10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.11 The greatest among you must be a servant.12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either. 15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hellyou yourselves are!16 “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’17 Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?18 And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding.19 How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?20 When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it.21 And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it.22 And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens,but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel! 25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,and then the outside will become clean, too.27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.29 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’31 “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.32 Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started.33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?34 “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.35 As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar.36 I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.
Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Matt 23:1-39 (NLT)
There are ‘woes’ given here.
Jesus gave seven woes (23:13-36). For tithing (23:23), see Deuteronomy 14:22-29. The leaders did not understand the true meaning of the law. They debated the outer and inner cleanness of utensils while the law really was concerned with people and their moral purity (Matt. 23:25-26). "Whitewashed tombs" (23:27) were clean on the outside but were full of hidden death and decay. Inner purity (23:27-28) was demanded in order to escape destruction (23:29-36).
—Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
They say that to swear by the temple is nothing, but to swear by the gold of the temple is something.
Jesus tells them that prophets were sent to them and they killed the prophets, the ones who were sent to warn them. They rejected the prophets and now they are rejecting His Word, and rejecting God’s own Son. Because of that their house will be left desolate.
Gain being their godliness, by a thousand devices they made religion give way to their worldly interests. They were very strict and precise in smaller matters of the law, but careless and loose in weightier matters. It is not the scrupling a little sin that Christ here reproves; if it be a sin, though but a gnat, it must be strained out; but the doing that, and then swallowing a camel, or, committing a greater sin. While they would seem to be godly, they were neither sober nor righteous. We are really, what we are inwardly. Outward motives may keep the outside clean, while the inside is filthy; but if the heart and spirit be made new, there will be newness of life; here we must begin with ourselves. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was like the ornaments of a grave, or dressing up a dead body, only for show. The deceitfulness of sinners' hearts appears in that they go down the streams of the sins of their own day, while they fancy that they should have opposed the sins of former days. We sometimes think, if we had lived when Christ was upon earth, that we should not have despised and rejected him, as men then did; yet Christ in his Spirit, in his word, in his ministers, is still no better treated. And it is just with God to give those up to their hearts' lusts, who obstinately persist in gratifying them. Christ gives men their true characters.
Our Lord declares the miseries the inhabitants of Jerusalem were about to bring upon themselves, but he does not notice the sufferings he was to undergo. A hen gathering her chickens under her wings, is an apt emblem of the Saviour's tender love to those who trust in him, and his faithful care of them. He calls sinners to take refuge under his tender protection, keeps them safe, and nourishes them to eternal life. The present dispersion and unbelief of the Jews, and their future conversion to Christ, were here foretold. Jerusalem and her children had a large share of guilt, and their punishment has been signal. But ere long, deserved vengeance will fall on every church which is Christian in name only. In the mean time the Saviour stands ready to receive all who come to him. There is nothing between sinners and eternal happiness, but their proud and unbelieving unwillingness.
—Matthew Henry Concise
his son.3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Taxes for Caesar
15 Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.16 They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites.17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me?19 Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, 20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.
Discussion about Resurrection
23 That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question:24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.’ 25 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow.26 But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them.27 Last of all, the woman also died.28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.30 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.31 “But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said,32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’So he is the God of the living, not the dead.”33 When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching.
The Most Important Commandment
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question:42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “He is the son of David.”43 Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said,44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,Sit in the place of honor at my right handuntil I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’45 Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Matt 22:1-46 (NLT)
THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST. 22:1-14
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, John 10:16; John 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.
—Matthew Henry Concise
In Matthew 21:45 we see that the religious leaders failed to understand that the parables were about them. They wanted to seize Jesus but they feared the people. The people crowded to hear what Jesus had to say.
In the first parable in chapter 22, we know that Jesus is again saying that He is calling the Jews to repent and enter the kingdom. But as the parable goes, they ignore Him, they do not enter because of their hardness of heart. God does call everyone, but only a few will ever become true followers.
The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus. Pharisees can rouse treason. Jesus answers them by saying they should be good citizens. Give to the government what the law states is right. If anything goes against what God’s law says then they are not obey it. If it belongs to God then it should go to God. We must obey God first and above all things, man, and the letter of the law.
Jesus attacked the Sadducees, a small group with limited influence among the people. They embraced four principle tenets.
1. The denial of divinity and consequent authority of oral law
2. Accepted the teaching of Moses only and rejected later books of the Old Testament
3. Denied man’s resurrection, claimed soul died when the body died. Therefore there were no rewards in another life.
4. That man had absolute moral freedom and therefore it excluded divine government of the world.
Their question revealed that they did not understand the Scripture. There is no marriage in heaven. Jesus attacks their basic beliefs. There is a resurrection.
The Pharisees asked what the greatest commandment was. We are to love God with everything we have. Heart= affection, emotion. Soul=hope, ambition, desire. Mind=intellect, thoughts. Strength= physical power, abilities.
If we love our neighbor we will obey because the last of the ten commandments is all about relationships. It can be summed up as love. We are to study Scripture and to pass it on to our children; teaching them to study and to teach it to their children. (Duet 6:4-9) We are to know what the Word of says so that we will know the God of the Word. We are to study to show ourselves approved. God has delivered us from slavery to sin. He has given us love, God is love.
Jesus tried to teach the religious leaders by different parables and examples. Each time He answered their question it was to give them an opportunity to respond with a willing heart. Jesus knew what was in their hearts. Their reverence to God consisted to tradition learned by rote. They spoke empty words, devoid of any meaning. Their hearts were as cold as ice. God said God said they were a people who would draw near with honor on their lips but their hearts were not near Him. Is. 29:13
MATTHEW 23
Jesus has continued to build up His teaching on who is actually going to enter into the kingdom. He has shown that the Pharisees and religious leaders have misunderstood Scripture. They follow traditions by rote and do not know the Lord God. Jesus said don’t think that just because Abraham was your father that you have access to the kingdom. It is not because of your heritage, but because of your heart. You are hypocrites. He calls them a brood of vipers, sons of hell, and other evil names. It is clear that Jesus is trying to show them by their own attitudes and actions that they are not on track. Would you agree? If you think you are righteous enough to enter the kingdom then, well if you think He would give you a 20% margin , the answer is still “NO”. God says He wants perfection. He used the Pharisees as an example of how not to respond. Our righteousness must surpass theirs. Now they keep the law and have added more on top of it. The messages have come strongly against them and it is continuing. They put themselves in the seat of Moses, which is stating that they are the supreme authority. They loved to be called teacher or Rabbi, but Jesus says only the Holy Spirit is your teacher. Don’t call anyone father because the holy one in heaven is your Father. Don’t call anyone your leader because Christ is your only leader. This is making reference to the Trinity. They are hypocrites (an actor, one who is a pretender, one who acts pretentiously, a counterfeit, dissembler. In the Bible it refers to one who is acting righteous but is evil on the inside.
This scathing denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees arose out of the incidents described in the preceding chapters. The religious leaders of Israel were presented as professional hypocrites. By saying "the official interpreters of the Scriptures" (23:2), Jesus was implying that the Pharisees were assuming Mosaic authority for their petty laws and traditions. The "prayer boxes" (23:5, also known as "phylacteries") were small boxes containing portions of Scripture (cf. Exod. 13:2-10; Deut. 6:4-9) that were strapped on the forehead and fore-arm during prayer (cf. Exod. 13:9, 16; Deut. 11:18). The "tassels" (Matt. 23:5; cf. Deut. 22:12) served as reminders to keep the law.
The term "Rabbi" (Matt. 23:7), from the Hebrew rab (meaning "great"), was a reverential form of address and title of respect. Note the threefold use of "for" in 23:8-10. Jesus called the Pharisees to give up their religion of human deeds and shortlived glory (23:5-7) and to seek God in humble repentance. Humility (23:12) was the key concept in Matthew 21-23.
—Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
Chapter 23
Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.4 They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father.10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.11 The greatest among you must be a servant.12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hellyou yourselves are!16 “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’17 Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?18 And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding.19 How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?20 When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it.21 And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it.22 And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens,but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,and then the outside will become clean, too.27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.29 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’31 “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.32 Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started.33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?34 “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.35 As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar.36 I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.
Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Matt 23:1-39 (NLT)
There are ‘woes’ given here.
Jesus gave seven woes (23:13-36). For tithing (23:23), see Deuteronomy 14:22-29. The leaders did not understand the true meaning of the law. They debated the outer and inner cleanness of utensils while the law really was concerned with people and their moral purity (Matt. 23:25-26). "Whitewashed tombs" (23:27) were clean on the outside but were full of hidden death and decay. Inner purity (23:27-28) was demanded in order to escape destruction (23:29-36).
—Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
They say that to swear by the temple is nothing, but to swear by the gold of the temple is something.
Jesus tells them that prophets were sent to them and they killed the prophets, the ones who were sent to warn them. They rejected the prophets and now they are rejecting His Word, and rejecting God’s own Son. Because of that their house will be left desolate.
Gain being their godliness, by a thousand devices they made religion give way to their worldly interests. They were very strict and precise in smaller matters of the law, but careless and loose in weightier matters. It is not the scrupling a little sin that Christ here reproves; if it be a sin, though but a gnat, it must be strained out; but the doing that, and then swallowing a camel, or, committing a greater sin. While they would seem to be godly, they were neither sober nor righteous. We are really, what we are inwardly. Outward motives may keep the outside clean, while the inside is filthy; but if the heart and spirit be made new, there will be newness of life; here we must begin with ourselves. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was like the ornaments of a grave, or dressing up a dead body, only for show. The deceitfulness of sinners' hearts appears in that they go down the streams of the sins of their own day, while they fancy that they should have opposed the sins of former days. We sometimes think, if we had lived when Christ was upon earth, that we should not have despised and rejected him, as men then did; yet Christ in his Spirit, in his word, in his ministers, is still no better treated. And it is just with God to give those up to their hearts' lusts, who obstinately persist in gratifying them. Christ gives men their true characters.
Our Lord declares the miseries the inhabitants of Jerusalem were about to bring upon themselves, but he does not notice the sufferings he was to undergo. A hen gathering her chickens under her wings, is an apt emblem of the Saviour's tender love to those who trust in him, and his faithful care of them. He calls sinners to take refuge under his tender protection, keeps them safe, and nourishes them to eternal life. The present dispersion and unbelief of the Jews, and their future conversion to Christ, were here foretold. Jerusalem and her children had a large share of guilt, and their punishment has been signal. But ere long, deserved vengeance will fall on every church which is Christian in name only. In the mean time the Saviour stands ready to receive all who come to him. There is nothing between sinners and eternal happiness, but their proud and unbelieving unwillingness.
—Matthew Henry Concise