1.
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Jesus. See App-98 .
by = in. Greek. en . App-104 .
parables. This was the third of the three spoken in the Temple. Compare Matthew 21:28 , Matthew 21:33 .
2.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
The kingdom of heaven. See App-114 . heaven = the heavens. See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
marriage = marriage or wedding feast. See App-140 .
3.
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
sent forth, &c. John, the Lord, and the Twelve.
were bidden = those who had been bidden. This bidding had been done by the prophets. For the custom of such a later "sending" compare Esther 5:8 with Esther 6:14 .
to. Greek. eis. App-104 .
wedding = wedding feast, as "marriage" in Matthew 22:1 .
would not come = wished not to come. App-102 .
4.
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
other servants. Peter and "them that heard Him" (Hebrews 2:3 ), as recorded in the Acts.
are bidden = had been bidden, as in Matthew 22:3 .
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ).
dinner = breakfast, or luncheon. Not deipnon, which is supper.
fatlings = fatted beasts. Gr . sitistos. Occurs only here.
unto. Greek. ei s.
5.
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
made light of it = gave no heed [to it].
went their ways = went away.
his = his own; "our own" being emphatic for contrast. Compare 1 Chronicles 29:16 .
merchandise = commerce. Greek. emporia. Occurs only in Matthew.
6.
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
entreated, &c. As in Acts 4:1-3 ; Acts 5:40 , Acts 5:41 ; Acts 11:19 . slew them. Act 7:64-60 ; Acts 8:1 ; Acts 12:2-5 .
7.
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
thereof. See the varied supply of the Ellipsis after "heard" in verses: Matthew 22:7 , Matthew 22:22 ; Matthew 22:33 .
his armies. The Roman armies.
burned up their city. Greek. empretho. Occurs only here. This refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place shortly after the close of the Acts Dispensation.
8.
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Then, &c. This, as to time, leaps over the present Dispensation, and takes up the yet future preaching of Matthew 24:14 , for it has to do with the same people.
9.
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Go ye therefore, &c. After the present Dispensation.
into = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .
the highways = the public roads, or crossroads. Greek. diexodos. Occurs only here.
10.
So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
went out = having gone out.
bad. Greek. poneros. App-128 .
was furnished = became filled.
11.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
to see = to gaze upon, view as a spectacle, or inspect. App-133 .
he saw = he beheld. App-133 .
a wedding garment. As prescribed by Eastern etiquette.
12.
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Friend. Greek. hetairos. Occurs only in Matthew (here; Matthew 11:16 ; Matthew 20:13 ; Matthew 26:50 ).
not. Greek. me . Not the same word as in Matthew 22:11 , because this refers to the man's subjective consciousness of the omission when he entered, not to the mere forgetfulness of the fact.
speechless. There was no excuse for the insult implied in the negative me , above.
13.
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
outer = the outer. Greek. exoteros. Occurs only in Matthew 8:12 ; Matthew 22:13 , and Matthew 25:30 .
weeping, &c. The weeping and the grinding. See note on Matthew 8:12 .
14.
For many are called, but few are chosen.
15.
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
went = came: as in Matthew 22:23 . A threefold temptation. See above.
the Pharisees. See App-120 .
entangle = entrap. Greek. pagideuo. Occurs only here.
16.
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
their = their own.
Herodians. It is uncertain whether this refers to Herod's servants, officers, household, or to a political party. Probably = courtiers.
Masters = Teacher. App-98 . Matthew 22:1 .
we know. Greek. oida. See App-132 .
God. App-98 .
neither carest = there is no (Greek. ou. App-105 .) care with Thee.
for = about. Greek. peri = concerning.
regardest not = lookest not on. Greek. eis .
17.
Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
tribute. This was the poll-tax paid in Roman money by each person who was enrolled in the census. See note on Matthew 17:25 . Occurs only there, here, and Mark 12:14 .
18.
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
perceived. Greek. ginosko. App-132 .
wickedness. Greek. poneria. App-128 .
19.
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
money = coin. Greek. nomisma. Occurs only here.
penny = a denarius. See note on Matthew 20:2 and App-51 .:4.
20.
And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
image. Therefore not a Jewish or Herodian coin, but a Roman.
superscription = inscription.
21.
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
22.
When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
these words. See note on "thereof", Matthew 22:7 .
23.
The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
The same day = On (Greek. en. App-104 .) that same day.
the Sadducees. No Article. See App-120 .
is no resurrection = is not a resurrection.
no. Greek. me. Denying subjectively not the fact, but asserting their disbelief of the fact.
24.
Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Moses. See note on Matthew 8:4 .
If a man die. &c. An hypothetical case. See App-118 . Quoted from Deuteronomy 25:5 . See App-107 .
die = should die.
children. Greek. teknon, here put for son. So Deuteronomy 25:5 .
marry. Greek. epigambreuo. Occurs only in Matthew. Used here because it specially refers to a marriage between relatives.
seed = issue, as in Matthew 22:25 .
25.
Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
issue. Same as "seed" in Matthew 22:24 .
26.
Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
27.
And last of all the woman died also.
last of all = at last, as in Matthew 21:37 .
the woman died also = the woman also died.
28.
Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Jesus = But Jesus ( App-98 . X).
not knowing. Note the negative, implying their unwillingness to know, not stating the mere fact. See App-105 . All are sure to err who do not know the Scriptures.
30.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
heaven. Singular. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
31.
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
touching = concerning. Greek. peri .
of the dead = of dead bodies, with Art. See App-139 .
have ye not read . . . = Did ye never read . . . See App-143 .
by. Greek. hupo.
saying. See App-107 .
32.
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
I am, &c. Quoted from Exodus 3:6 . See App-117 .
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ).
the dead = dead people. See App-139 . (without the Article).
the living = living people. The only conclusion being that they must rise and live again in resurrection in order that He may be their God. This is what the Lord set out to prove (in Matthew 22:31 ) "concerning the resurrection". Greek. zao . See note on Matthew 9:18 .
33.
And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
this. See note on "thereof" (Matthew 22:7 ).
at. Greek. epi . App-104 .
doctrine = teaching.
34.
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
35.
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36.
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
which, &c. = what kind of commandment?
is the great = is great. The Scribes divided them all up: 248 affirmative ones (the number of the members of the body): 365 negative (the number of days in the year): 248 + 365 = 613 = the number of letters in the Decalogue. Some were great and some were small (or heavy and light). The question was as to great and small (as in Matthew 22:38 ); not the greatest and least.
37.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Thou shalt love, &c. Quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 ; Deuteronomy 10:12 ; Deuteronomy 30:6 .
the LORD = Jehovah. App-98 .
soul. Greek. psuche. App-110 .
38.
This is the first and great commandment.
39.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
the second, &c. Quoted from Leviticus 19:18 .
40.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
On = In. Greek. en . App-104 .
all = the whole.
41.
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Pharisees. See App-120 .
42.
Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
What think ye of Christ? See App-154 .
of = concerning. Greek. peri, as in Matthew 22:16 ("for").
Christ = the Messiah (with Art.)
The Son of David. Literally David's Son. The last of nine occurances of this title in Matthew. See note on Matthew 1:1 , and App-98 .
43.
He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
in = by, as in Matthew 22:1 .
spirit. Greek. pneum a. App-101 .
44.
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
The LORD said, &c . = Jehovah said unto Adonai. Quoted from Psalms 110:1 . See App-4 ; App-98 . For the principle underlying the form of quotation, see App-107 and App-117 .
till, &c. = until I shall have (Greek. an) set Thine enemies as a footstool for Thy feet. The first of seven references to Psalms 110:1 in the N.T. (here; Mark 12:36 . Luke 20:42 .Acts 2:34 . 1 Corinthians 15:25 .Hebrews 1:13 ; Hebrews 10:13 ). All refer to Messiah's session on the Father's throne until His enemies shall be placed "as a footstool for His feet", except 1 Corinthians 15:25 , where they are at length put in subjection to the Son (Adonai) "under His feet." In all the six, the enemies are placed as a footstool by Jehovah, but in 1 Corinthians 15:25 they are placed "under" by Adonai Himself. This was subject to Israel's repentance. See notes on Matthew 10:23 ; Matthew 16:28 ; Matthew 23:39 ; Matthew 24:34 .Acts 8:19-26 ; Acts 28:25-26 .
45.
If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
46.
And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
no man = no one. Greek. ou deis. See App-105 .
a word. Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .
from. Greek. apo. App-104 .