Matthew 22

 

 1 Then (*) (1) Jesus answered, and spake unto them again in parables, saying,

 

(*) Luke 14:16; Revelation 19:9 .

(1) Not all of the whole company of them that are called by the voice of the Gospel are the true Church before God; for the most part of them had rather follow the commodities of this life, and some do most cruelly persecute those that call them, but they are the true Church, which obey when they are called, such as for the most part they are, whom the world despiseth.

 

 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain King which married his son,

 

 3 And (*) sent forth his servants, to call them that were bidden to the wedding, but they would not come.

 

(*) Christ reproacheth the Jews of their ingratitude & obstinate malice, in that they rejected the grace of God, which was so plentifully offered unto them.

 

 4 Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; mine oxen and my fatlings are (a) killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage.

 

(a) The word here used is commonly used in sacrifices, and is by translation used for other feasts also; for feasts and banquets were wont to be begun with sacrifices.

 

 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another about his merchandise.

 

 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them sharply, and slew them.

 

 7  (2) But when the King heard it, he was wroth, and sent forth his warriors, and (*) destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

 

(2) A dreadful destruction of them that contemn Christ.

(*) God punisheth extremely such ingratitude.

 

 8 Then said he to his servants, Truly the (b) wedding is prepared, but they which were bidden, were not worthy.

 

(b) The marriage feast.

 

 9  (3) Go ye therefore out into the highways, and as many as ye find, bid them to the marriage.

 

(3) God doth first call us, when we think nothing of it.

 

 10 So (*) those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all that ever they found, both (♣) good and (c) bad; so the wedding was furnished with guests.

 

(*) The ingratitude of them which are bid, cannot cause God’s liberality and his holy meats to perish, which he hath prepared for his.

(♣) In the Church the hypocrites are mixed with the godly.

(c) The general calling offereth the Gospel to all men; but their life is examined that enter in.

 

 11  (4) Then the King came in, to see the guests, and saw there a man which had not on a (*) wedding garment.

 

(4) In the small number which come at the calling, there are some castaways which do not confirm their faith with newness of life.

(*) He had not a pure affection and upright conscience, which proceeded of faith.

 

 12 And he said unto him, Friend, how (*) camest thou in hither, and hast not on a wedding garment? And he was (d) speechless.

 

(*) Though God suffer for a time hypocrites in the Church, yet he knoweth how to try them, and fan them out.

(d) Word for word, haltered, that is to say, he held his peace, as though he had a bridle or a halter about his neck.

 

 13 Then said the King to the (e) servants, Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into utter darkness; (*) there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

(e) To them that served the guests.

(*) Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 25:30 .

 

 14  (*) For many are (♣) called, but few chosen.

 

(*) Matthew 20:16 .

(♣) By the outward and general calling.

 

 15  ¶  (*) Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might (f) tangle him in talk.

 

(*) Mark 12:13; Luke 20:20 .

(f) Snare him in his words or talk. The Greek word is derived from snares which hunters lay.

 

 16 And they sent unto him their disciples with the (g) (*) Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God (h) truly, neither carest for any man; for thou considerest not the (i) (♣) person of men.

 

(g) They which with Herod made a new religion patched together of the heathenish and of the Jewish religion.

(*) These were certain flatterers of the court, which ever maintained that religion, which King Herod best approved; and though they were enemies to the Pharisees; yet in this thing they consented, thinking to entangle Christ, and so either to accuse him of treason, or to bring him into the hatred of all his people.
(h) Truly and sincerely.
(i) Thou art not moved with any appearance and outward shew.

(♣) As touching the outward quality, as whether a man be rich or poor.

 

 17  (5) Tell us therefore, how thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give (k) tribute unto Caesar, or not?

 

(5) The Christians must obey their Magistrates, although they be wicked and extortioners, but so far as the authority that God hath over us may remain safe unto him, and his honor is not diminished.
(k) The word that is used here signifieth a valuing and rating of men's substance, according to the proportion whereof they paid tribute in those provinces which were subject to tribute, and it is here taken for the tribute itself.

 

 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

 

 19 Shew me the (*) tribute money. And they brought him a (l) (♣) penny.

 

(*) Or, the coin of tribute.

(l) Before Matthew 17:24 there is mention made of a didrachma, and here, of a penny, whereas a didrachma is more by the seventh part than a penny; so that there seemeth to be a jar in these two places; but they may safely be recorded thus; The penny was paid to the Romans for tribute according to the proportion they were rated at, the drachma was paid of everyone to the Temple, which also the Romans took to themselves when they had subdued Judea.

(♣) Which was of value about four pence half penny.

 

 20 And he said unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

 

 21 They said unto him, Caesar’s. Then said he unto them, (*) Give therefore to Caesar, the things which are Caesar’s, and give unto God, those things which are God’s.

 

(*) Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25; Romans 13:7 .

 

 22 And when they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went their way.

 

 23  ¶ (6) (*) The same day the Sadducees came to him, (which say that there is no resurrection) and asked him,

 

(6) Christ voucheth the resurrection of the flesh against the Sadducees.

(*) Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27; Acts 23:8 .

 

 24 Saying, Master, (*) Moses said, If a man die, having no (m) (♣) children, let his brother (♠) marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

 

(*) Deuteronomy 25:5 .

(m) Under which name are daughters also comprehended, but yet as touching the family and name of a man, because he that left daughters was in no better case, than if he had left no children at all, (for they were not reckoned in the family) by the name of children are Sons understood. 

(♣) Or, sons.

(♠) By the title of alliance; and hereby brother be meaneth the next kinsman, that lawfully might marry her.

 

 25 Now there were with us seven brethren, and the first married a wife, and deceased, and having no issue, left his wife unto his brother.

 

 26 Likewise also the second, and the third, unto the seventh.

 

 27 And last of all the woman died also.

 

 28 Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven? For all had her.

 

 29 Then Jesus answered, and said unto them, Ye (*) are deceived, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.

 

(*) Where God’s word is not preached and understood, there must needs reign blindness and errors.

 

 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry wives, nor wives are bestowed in marriage, but are as the (n) (*) Angels of God in heaven.

 

(n) He saith not that they shall be without bodies, for then they should not be men anymore, but they shall be as Angels, for they shall neither marry nor be married.

(*) For as much as they shall be exempted from the infirmities of this present life.

 

 31 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read what is spoken unto you of God, saying,

 

 32  (*) I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

 

(*) Exodus 3:6; Mark 12:27 .

 

 33 And when the multitude heard it, they were astonied at his doctrine.

 

 34  ¶ (*) (7) But when the Pharisees had heard, that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they assembled together.

 

(*) Mark 12:28 .

(7) The Gospel doeth not abolish the precepts of the Law, but doeth rather confirm them.

 

 35 And (o) one of them, which was an expounder of the Law, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

 

(o) A scribe, so saith in Mark 12:28; now what a scribe is, look at Matthew 2:4 .

 

 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?

 

 37 Jesus said to him, (*) Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy (p) soul, and with all thy mind.

 

(*) Deuteronomy 6:5 .

(p) The Hebrew text readeth, Deuteronomy 6:5 with thine heart, soul, and strength; and in Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27 we read with soul, heart, strength and thought.

 

 38 This is the first and the great commandment.

 

 39 And the second is like unto this, (*) Thou shalt love thy (q) neighbor as thyself.

 

(*) Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8 .

(q) Another man.

 

 40 On these two commandments hangeth the whole Law and the Prophets.

 

 41  ¶ (8) (*) While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

 

(8) Christ proveth manifestly that he is David's son according to the flesh, but otherwise, David's Lord, and very God.

(*) Mark 12:35; Luke 20:41 .

 

 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? (r) Whose (*) son is he? They said unto him, David’s.

 

(r) Or, whose stock or family; for the Hebrews call a man's posterity, sons.

(*) Of what stock or family.

 

 43 He said unto them, How then doeth David in (*) spirit, call him Lord, saying,

 

(*) By the spirit of prophecy speaking of the kingdom of Christ.

 

 44  (*) The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my (♣) right hand, (♠) till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

 

(*) Psalm 110:1 .

(♣) By the right hand is signified the authority and power, which God giveth his Son Christ in making him lieutenant and governor over his Church.

(♠) Not that his kingdom shall then end; but the office of his humanity shall cease, and he with the Father and holy Ghost shall reign forever as one God all in all.

 

 45 If then David call him (*) Lord, how is he his son?

 

(*) Christ is David’s son touching his manhood, and his Lord, concerning his Godhead.

 

 46 And none could answer him a word, neither durst any from that day forth ask him any more questions.

 

 

Steve

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