Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

Matthew chapter 22

English Standard Version

1And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ 5But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.”
15Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
23The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27After them all, the woman died. 28In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
29But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
34But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
44“‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? 45If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
New International Version

1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
4Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'
5But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12He asked, 'How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?' The man was speechless.
13Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14For many are invited, but few are chosen.'
15Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. 'Teacher,' they said, 'we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?'
18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, 'You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax.' They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, 'Whose image is this? And whose inscription?'
21Caesar's,' they replied. Then he said to them, 'So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.'
22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
23That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24Teacher,' they said, 'Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27Finally, the woman died. 28Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?'
29Jesus replied, 'You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you, 32I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.'
33When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'
37Jesus replied: ''Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'
41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?' 'The son of David,' they replied.
43He said to them, 'How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says,
44'The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.''
45If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?' 46No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
New American Standard Bible

1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2The kingdom of heaven is like a king who held a wedding feast for his son. 3And he sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, 'Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened cattle are all butchered and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!'?’ 5But they paid no attention and went their separate ways, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6and the rest seized his slaves and treated them abusively, and then killed them. 7Now the king was angry, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. 8Then he *said to his slaves, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9So go to the main roads, and invite whomever you find there to the wedding feast.’ 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.
11But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12and he *said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. 13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.'
15Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. 16And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and do not care what anyone thinks; for You are not partial to anyone. 17Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?' 18But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, 'Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.' And they brought Him a denarius. 20And He *said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' 21They *said to Him, 'Caesar’s.' Then He *said to them, 'Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.' 22And hearing this, they were amazed; and they left Him and went away.
23On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, 24saying, 'Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his wife, and raise up children for his brother.’ 25Now there were seven brothers among us; and the first married and died, and having no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26It was the same also with the second brother, and the third, down to the seventh. 27Last of all, the woman died. 28In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her in marriage.'
29But Jesus answered and said to them, 'You are mistaken, since you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: 32‘I AM THE God OF ABRAHAM, THE God OF ISAAC, AND THE God OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.' 33When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
34But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him: 36Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?' 37And He said to him, '?‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE Lord YOUR God WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38This is the great and foremost commandment. 39The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.'
41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: 42What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?' They *said to Him, 'The son of David.' 43He *said to them, 'Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying,
44‘THE Lord SAID TO MY Lord, 'SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES UNDER YOUR FEET'?’?
45Therefore, if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?' 46No one was able to offer Him a word in answer, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him any more questions.
Christian Standard Bible

1Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn't want to come. 4Again, he sent out other servants and said, 'Tell those who are invited: See, I've prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'
5"But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged, and he sent out his troops, killed those murderers, and burned down their city.
8"Then he told his servants, 'The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.' 10So those servants went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests. 11When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding. 12So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes? ' The man was speechless.
13"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14"For many are invited, but few are chosen."
15Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap him by what he said. 16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don't care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? "
18Perceiving their malicious intent, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax." They brought him a denarius. 20"Whose image and inscription is this? " he asked them.
21"Caesar's," they said to him.Then he said to them, "Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
23That same day some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to him and questioned him: 24"Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25Now there were seven brothers among us. The first got married and died. Having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother. 26The same thing happened to the second also, and the third, and so on to all seven. 27Last of all, the woman died. 28In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had married her."
29Jesus answered them, "You are mistaken, because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. 31Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven't you read what was spoken to you by God: 32I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
33And when the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
34When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: 36"Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest? "
37He said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38This is the greatest and most important command. 39The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands."
41While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them,
42"What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he? "They replied, "David's."
43He asked them, "How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord':
44The Lord declared to my Lord,'Sit at my right handuntil I put your enemies under your feet'?
45"If David calls him 'Lord,' how then can he be his son? " 46No one was able to answer him at all, and from that day no one dared to question him anymore.
New Living Translation

1Jesus also told them other parables. He said, 2The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. 3When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
4So 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!’ 5But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. 6Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
7The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. 8And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. 9Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ 10So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
11But 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. 13Then 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.’
14For many are called, but few are chosen.'
15Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 16They 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. 17Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'
18But Jesus knew their evil motives. 'You hypocrites!' he said. 'Why are you trying to trap me? 19Here, show me the coin used for the tax.' When they handed him a Roman coin, 20he asked, 'Whose picture and title are stamped on it?'
21Caesar’s,' they replied. 'Well, then,' he said, 'give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.'
22His reply amazed them, and they went away.
23That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees — religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: 24Teacher, 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.’ 25Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow. 26But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them. 27Last of all, the woman also died. 28So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.'
29Jesus replied, 'Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. 30For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.
31But 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.'
33When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching.
34But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?'
37Jesus replied, '‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.'
41Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question:
42What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?' They replied, 'He is the son of David.'
43Jesus 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 hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’
45Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?'
46No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
King James Version

1And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4Again, 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. 5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10So 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. 11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13Then 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. 14For many are called, but few are chosen.
15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16And 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. 17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21They 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. 22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
23The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25Now 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: 26Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27And last of all the woman died also. 28Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32I 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. 33And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
34But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

What does Matthew chapter 22 mean?

Jesus' back-and-forth engagement in the temple with some of Israel's religious leaders (Matthew 21:23) continues in this chapter. It begins with a third devastating parable about them. Then Jesus easily handles questions intended to trip Him up. Finally, He asks them a hard question of His own.

Jesus' third parable goes beyond merely exposing the religious leaders to revealing God's grace for others. Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a king throwing a wedding feast for his son. None of the citizens he invites will attend, however, resisting to the point of killing the king's messengers. After destroying the murderers, the king invites as many as can be found on the public roads, and the hall is filled. The king has one guest thrown out, however, when he arrives without a wedding garment. This passage is a close parallel to His parable of the great banquet (Luke 14:12–24) but features a few important distinctions. Christ's words here not only speak to Israel's rejection of the Messiah, they also establish concepts related to salvation by grace (Matthew 22:1–14).

After hearing three parables in which they are pictured as rebelling against God, the Pharisees are ready to be done with Jesus. They hatch a plan to force Jesus to say something that might get Him arrested for rebellion against Rome. Some of the Pharisees' disciples, along with Herodians, begin by flattering Jesus, then asking if paying taxes to Caesar—meaning to the Roman empire—is right according to the Old Testament law. Jesus knows exactly what they are trying to do and calls them hypocrites. He then holds a Roman denarius and asks whose image is on it. He tells the people to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. This remark establishes the idea that we, as image-bearers of God (Genesis 1:27), ought to give all of ourselves to Him (Matthew 22:15–22).

Next, some from the group known as the Sadducees approach Jesus. This was a more politically connected, aristocratic, and less spiritual sect. Sadducees did not believe in angels, a spiritual world, or an afterlife. They rejected the idea that God's people will be raised from the dead and live eternally. To show why such an idea is absurd to them, they imagine a scenario in which one woman ends up married to each of seven brothers in turn. Each of them dies, one by one, passing her on to be married to the next. Finally, she dies (Matthew 22:23–27).

The Sadducees ask Jesus who the woman will be married to in the resurrection. Jesus rebukes them for misinterpreting Scripture and underestimating God's power. He corrects their misguided question by pointing out that there is no marriage in heaven. This answer also establishes that both angels and the afterlife are real. He then asks them why God would claim to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob if He is the God of the living and not the dead? Using their own tactic, and their own Scriptures, He has shown a core belief of the Sadducees to be false. Again, the crowd is greatly impressed by Jesus' teaching (Matthew 22:28–33).

Next Jesus is approached by one of the Pharisees. This man is a "lawyer," meaning he is an expert in the Old Testament and its traditional interpretations. He tests Jesus by asking a simple question debated among the religious leaders: Which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus answers Him directly: that to love God with everything is the primary commandment. The second is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Everything we think, believe, or do with respect to God is grounded in this fundamental idea (Matthew 22:34–40).

Finally, Jesus asks the Pharisees a challenging question of His own: Whose son is the Christ? They answer rightly that the Christ, the Messiah, is the son of David. Jesus asks how that can be since David called the Christ "my Lord," quoting from Psalm 110:1. This perspective touches on the idea of Messiah's divine nature. None of them can answer, and Jesus silences His opponents yet again (Matthew 22:41–46).

At this point, Jesus will deliver a devastating critique of the Pharisees, leading to His heartfelt mourning over Israel's rejection of God (Matthew 23).
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app:
BibleRef.com is part of Got Questions Ministries

For answers to your Bible questions, please visit