Matthew 22
22
The Parable of the Wedding Feast.#This parable is from Q; see Lk 14:15–24. It has been given many allegorical traits by Matthew, e.g., the burning of the city of the guests who refused the invitation (Mt 22:7), which corresponds to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. It has similarities with the preceding parable of the tenants: the sending of two groups of servants (Mt 22:3, 4), the murder of the servants (Mt 22:6), the punishment of the murderers (Mt 22:7), and the entrance of a new group into a privileged situation of which the others had proved themselves unworthy (Mt 22:8–10). The parable ends with a section that is peculiar to Matthew (Mt 22:11–14), which some take as a distinct parable. Matthew presents the kingdom in its double aspect, already present and something that can be entered here and now (Mt 22:1–10), and something that will be possessed only by those present members who can stand the scrutiny of the final judgment (Mt 22:11–14). The parable is not only a statement of God’s judgment on Israel but a warning to Matthew’s church. 1#Lk 14:15–24. Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, 2“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast#Wedding feast: the Old Testament’s portrayal of final salvation under the image of a banquet (Is 25:6) is taken up also in Mt 8:11; cf. Lk 13:15. for his son. 3#Servants…other servants: probably Christian missionaries in both instances; cf. Mt 23:34. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. 4A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ 5Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6#21:35. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7#See note on Mt 22:1–14. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. 9Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ 10The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,#Bad and good alike: cf. Mt 13:47. and the hall was filled with guests. 11#A wedding garment: the repentance, change of heart and mind, that is the condition for entrance into the kingdom (Mt 3:2; 4:17) must be continued in a life of good deeds (Mt 7:21–23). But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. 12He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. 13#Wailing and grinding of teeth: the Christian who lacks the wedding garment of good deeds will suffer the same fate as those Jews who have rejected Jesus; see note on Mt 8:11–12. #8:12; 25:30. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ 14Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Paying Taxes to the Emperor.#The series of controversies between Jesus and the representatives of Judaism (see note on Mt 21:23–27) is resumed. As in the first (Mt 21:23–27), here and in the following disputes Matthew follows his Marcan source with few modifications. 15#Mk 12:13–17; Lk 20:20–26. Then the Pharisees#The Pharisees: while Matthew retains the Marcan union of Pharisees and Herodians in this account, he clearly emphasizes the Pharisees’ part. They alone are mentioned here, and the Herodians are joined with them only in a prepositional phrase of Mt 22:16. Entrap him in speech: the question that they will pose is intended to force Jesus to take either a position contrary to that held by the majority of the people or one that will bring him into conflict with the Roman authorities. went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech. 16They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians,#Herodians: see note on Mk 3:6. They would favor payment of the tax; the Pharisees did not. saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status. 17#Is it lawful: the law to which they refer is the law of God. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” 18Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19#They handed him the Roman coin: their readiness in producing the money implies their use of it and their acceptance of the financial advantages of the Roman administration in Palestine. Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. 20He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” 21#Rom 13:7. They replied, “Caesar’s.”#Caesar’s: the emperor Tiberius (A.D. 14–37). Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar: those who willingly use the coin that is Caesar’s should repay him in kind. The answer avoids taking sides in the question of the lawfulness of the tax. To God what belongs to God: Jesus raises the debate to a new level. Those who have hypocritically asked about tax in respect to its relation to the law of God should be concerned rather with repaying God with the good deeds that are his due; cf. Mt 21:41, 43. At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” 22When they heard this they were amazed, and leaving him they went away.
The Question About the Resurrection.#Here Jesus’ opponents are the Sadducees, members of the powerful priestly party of his time; see note on Mt 3:7. Denying the resurrection of the dead, a teaching of relatively late origin in Judaism (cf. Dn 12:2), they appeal to a law of the Pentateuch (Dt 25:5–10) and present a case based on it that would make resurrection from the dead ridiculous (Mt 22:24–28). Jesus chides them for knowing neither the scriptures nor the power of God (Mt 22:29). His argument in respect to God’s power contradicts the notion, held even by many proponents as well as by opponents of the teaching, that the life of those raised from the dead would be essentially a continuation of the type of life they had had before death (Mt 22:30). His argument based on the scriptures (Mt 22:31–32) is of a sort that was accepted as valid among Jews of the time. 23#Mk 12:18–27; Lk 20:27–40. On that day Sadducees approached him, saying that there is no resurrection.#Saying that there is no resurrection: in the Marcan parallel (Mk 12:18) the Sadducees are correctly defined as those “who say there is no resurrection”; see also Lk 20:27. Matthew’s rewording of Mark can mean that these particular Sadducees deny the resurrection, which would imply that he was not aware that the denial was characteristic of the party. For some scholars this is an indication of his being a Gentile Christian; see note on Mt 21:4–5. They put this question to him, 24#Gn 38:8; Dt 25:5–6. saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies#‘If a man dies…his brother’: this is known as the “law of the levirate,” from the Latin levir, “brother-in-law.” Its purpose was to continue the family line of the deceased brother (Dt 25:6). without children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’ 25Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died and, having no descendants, left his wife to his brother. 26The same happened with the second and the third, through all seven. 27Finally the woman died. 28Now at the resurrection, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had been married to her.” 29#The sexual relationships of this world will be transcended; the risen body will be the work of the creative power of God. Jesus said to them in reply, “You are misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God. 30At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven. 31And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you#Cf. Ex 3:6. In the Pentateuch, which the Sadducees accepted as normative for Jewish belief and practice, God speaks even now (to you) of himself as the God of the patriarchs who died centuries ago. He identifies himself in relation to them, and because of their relation to him, the living God, they too are alive. This might appear no argument for the resurrection, but simply for life after death as conceived in Wis 3:1–3. But the general thought of early first-century Judaism was not influenced by that conception; for it human immortality was connected with the existence of the body. by God, 32#Ex 3:6. ‘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.
The Greatest Commandment.#The Marcan parallel (Mk 12:28–34) is an exchange between Jesus and a scribe who is impressed by the way in which Jesus has conducted himself in the previous controversy (Mk 12:28), who compliments him for the answer he gives him (Mk 12:32), and who is said by Jesus to be “not far from the kingdom of God” (Mk 12:34). Matthew has sharpened that scene. The questioner, as the representative of other Pharisees, tests Jesus by his question (Mt 22:34–35), and both his reaction to Jesus’ reply and Jesus’ commendation of him are lacking. 34#Mk 12:28–34; Lk 10:25–28. When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35and one of them [a scholar of the law]#[A scholar of the law]: meaning “scribe.” Although this reading is supported by the vast majority of textual witnesses, it is the only time that the Greek word so translated occurs in Matthew. It is relatively frequent in Luke, and there is reason to think that it may have been added here by a copyist since it occurs in the Lucan parallel (Lk 10:25–28). Tested: see note on Mt 19:3. tested him by asking, 36“Teacher,#For the devout Jew all the commandments were to be kept with equal care, but there is evidence of preoccupation in Jewish sources with the question put to Jesus. which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37#Dt 6:5. He said to him,#Cf. Dt 6:5. Matthew omits the first part of Mark’s fuller quotation (Mk 12:29; Dt 6:4–5), probably because he considered its monotheistic emphasis needless for his church. The love of God must engage the total person (heart, soul, mind). “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39#Lv 19:18; Jas 2:8. The second is like it:#Jesus goes beyond the extent of the question put to him and joins to the greatest and the first commandment a second, that of love of neighbor, Lv 19:18; see note on Mt 19:18–19. This combination of the two commandments may already have been made in Judaism. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40#The double commandment is the source from which the whole law and the prophets are derived. #Rom 13:8–10; Gal 5:14. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
The Question About David’s Son.#Having answered the questions of his opponents in the preceding three controversies, Jesus now puts a question to them about the sonship of the Messiah. Their easy response (Mt 22:43a) is countered by his quoting a verse of Ps 110 that raises a problem for their response (43b–45). They are unable to solve it and from that day on their questioning of him is ended. 41#Mk 12:35–37; Lk 20:41–44. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus questioned them,#The Pharisees…questioned them: Mark is not specific about who are questioned (Mk 12:35). 42#David’s: this view of the Pharisees was based on such Old Testament texts as Is 11:1–9; Jer 23:5; and Ez 34:23; see also the extrabiblical Psalms of Solomon 17:21. How, then…saying: Jesus cites Ps 110:1 accepting the Davidic authorship of the psalm, a common view of his time. The psalm was probably composed for the enthronement of a Davidic king of Judah. Matthew assumes that the Pharisees interpret it as referring to the Messiah, although there is no clear evidence that it was so interpreted in the Judaism of Jesus’ time. It was widely used in the early church as referring to the exaltation of the risen Jesus. My lord: understood as the Messiah. saying, “What is your opinion about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “David’s.” 43He said to them, “How, then, does David, inspired by the Spirit, call him ‘lord,’ saying:
44#Ps 110:1; Acts 2:35; Heb 1:13. ‘The Lord said to my lord,
“Sit at my right hand
until I place your enemies under your feet”’?
45#Since Matthew presents Jesus both as Messiah (Mt 16:16) and as Son of David (Mt 1:1; see also note on Mt 9:27), the question is not meant to imply Jesus’ denial of Davidic sonship. It probably means that although he is the Son of David, he is someone greater, Son of Man and Son of God, and recognized as greater by David who calls him my ‘lord.’ If David calls him ‘lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46#Lk 20:40. No one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
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Matthew 22: NABRE
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Matthew 22
22
The Parable of the Wedding Celebration
1 And continuing, Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man—a king—who gave a wedding celebration for his son. 3And he sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the wedding celebration, and they did not want to come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding celebration!” ’ 5But they paid no attention and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“paid no attention”) has been translated as a finite verb went away—this one to his own field, that one to his business. 6And the others, seizing his slaves, mistreated them#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and killed them.#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation 7And the king was angry and sent his troops and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sent”) has been translated as a finite verb destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding celebration is ready, but those who had been invited were not worthy. 9Therefore, go out to the places where the roads exit the city and invite to the wedding celebration as many people as you find.’ 10And those slaves went out into the roads and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went out”) has been translated as a finite verb gathered everyone whom they found, both evil and good, and the wedding celebration was filled with dinner guests.#Literally “with those reclining at table” 11But when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came in”) which is understood as temporal the king came in to see the dinner guests,#Literally “ones reclining at table” he saw a man there not dressed in wedding clothes. 12And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here, not having wedding clothes?’ But he could say nothing.#Literally “he was silent” 13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot#Literally “feet and hands” and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“tie”) has been translated as a finite verb throw him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’ 14For many are called but few are chosen.”
Paying Taxes to Caesar
15Then the Pharisees went and consulted#Literally “took counsel” so that they could entrap him with a statement. 16And they sent their disciples to him with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care what anyone thinks,#Literally “it is not a care to you concerning anyone” because you do not regard the opinion of people.#Literally “because you do not look at the face of men” 17Therefore tell us what you think. Is it permitted to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18But because he#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“knew”) which is understood as causal knew their maliciousness, Jesus said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 19Show me the coin for the tax!” So 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, “Therefore give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God!” 22And when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal heard this,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation they were astonished, and they left him and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“left”) has been translated as a finite verb went away.
A Question About Marriage and the Resurrection
23On that day Sadducees—who say there is no resurrection—came up to him and asked him, 24saying, “Teacher, Moses said if someone dies without having children, his brother is to marry his wife and father#Literally “raise up” descendants for his brother. 25Now there were seven brothers with us. And the first died after#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“getting married”) which is understood as temporal getting married, and because he#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as causal did not have descendants, he left his wife to his brother. 26So also the second and the third, up to the seventh. 27And last of all the woman died. 28In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her as wife.”#*The words “as wife” are not in the Greek text but are implied 29But Jesus answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to them, “You are mistaken, because#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal you do not know the scriptures or the power of God! 30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God#Some manuscripts omit “of God” in heaven. 31Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, who said, 32“I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob”?#A quotation from Exod 3:6 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living!” 33And when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal the crowds heard this,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation they were amazed at his teaching.
The Greatest Commandment
34Now when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled at the same place.#Or “they assembled together” 35And one of them, a legal expert, put a question to him#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation to test him: 36“Teacher, which commandment is greatest 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.’#A quotation from Deut 6:5 38This is the greatest and first commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’#A quotation from Lev 19:18 40On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”
David’s Son and Lord
41Now while#*Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“assembled”) the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them, 42saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “David’s.” 43He said to them, “How then does David, by 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” ’?#A quotation from Ps 110:1
45If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?” 46And no one was able to answer him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask him any more questions.#*The word “questions” is not in the Greek text but is implied
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