Matthew 22

The similitude of a marriage whereunto they that were first invietd to refused to come, 1.and therefore othhers are invited in their stead, 8. amongst whichh one appearing without the wedding – garment is cast out, 11 Christ answers the question of the Pharisees and Herodians, whether men may give tribute to Cesar, 15. To the question of the Sadduces concerning the woman which had seven husband: and against them he proves thhe resurection from the dead,23. Declares which is the greatest Commandment in thhe Law, 35 and that the Messias is not only Davids Son, but also his Lord,41.

1. And Jesus answering spake to them again by similitudes, saying,

2. The Kingdome of Heaven is like [By this similitude is set before our eyes the great ingratitude of the Jews, who being through the preaching of the Gospel called by God to the communion of his Son and to the salvation, despised the same, and therefore should be grieviuosly punished and cast off: and that afterwards the Gentiles should be called in their stead] a certain King [Gr. a man thhat was a King] i.e. God the Father] which prepered a marriage for his Son. [that is, the gracious and spiritual fellowship with Christ, and eternal salvation.]

3. And set forth his servants [Namely the Prophets and faithful Priests] to call [that is, to bring in] those that were invited to the wedding: [namely, the Jews] and they would came not come.

4. Again he sent forth other servants, [Namely, thhe Apostles, Evangelists, and other Teachers of the holy Gospel] saying, say to the invited, Behold, i have prepared my dinner, mine oxen, and thhe fatted (beasts) are killed, and all things are ready, [seeing Christ was now come in the flesh, actually accomplish the work of our salvation] Come to the wedding.

5. But they not regarding (this) went their way, this (man) to his field, that to his merchandise.

6. And the rest laid hold on his servants, abused and killed them.

7. Now when the King heard (that) he waxed wroth, and sending his armies, [Which were the Romans, whom God made use of to bring this judgment upon them; although they intended no such matter, as Esa 10.7.] destroyed those murderers, and set their City on fire.

8. Then said he to his servant, Thhe wedding indeed is ready, but the invites were not worthy of it. [See Acts 13. verse 46]

9. Therefore go on the issues of the ways [or crosse ways, i.e. into all parts of the Countries of the world, Rom.10. verse 18] and as ye shall finde, [of all sorts, without difference] call them to the wedding.

10. And the same servants going forth into the (high) ways; gathered together all that they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was filled with (guests) sitting down.

11. And when the King was gone in, to view the (guests) sitting down, [Namely, at the last judgement day; see verse 13] he saw there a man not (being) clad with a wedding – garment. [This wedding – garment is Christ with his righteousness, received by true faith, which is essectual, and shewed forth by the works of charity, Romans 13:14. Galatians 3:26,27. Rev 19 verse 8]

12. And he said unto them, Friend [Gr. fellow, or companion] How art thou came in hither, not having (on) a wedding – garment. And he was dumb. [Namely, as one that is muzled]

13. Then said the King to the Minister, [Namely which served at the Table: whereby are understood the Angels. see Matth 13.41,42.] Binde his hands and feet, take him away, and cast (him) out (into) the outmost darkness; [see hereof, Matth 8.12.] There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14. For many are called, but few are chosen. [This conclusion respects not onely this single man led down here, as an exampe of hypocrites, but likewise the multitude of those, who being before invited, despised the same.]

15. Then the Pharisees went away, and took counsel together, how they should ensnare him in (his) talk [or with their talk . see Mrk 12.13.]

16. And they sent out unto him their Desciples, with the Herodians; [Some ancient Teachers think that these Herodians were a peculiar sect, which embraced and followed a mixture of the Jewish and Heathenish Religion, brought in by Herod th great, which agrees with Mark 8:15. Others think that they were Courtiers or servants of Herod Antipas, which gathered these tributes for the Emperour, and laid hands on those that refuse: which is gathered from the words, Luke 20. verse 20] saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest no man: for thou regardest not the person of men. [Ggr. face; that is, the outward state or condition of men, as power, richhes, kinred, or the like.]

17. Tell us therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute [or taxes] tp Cesar, or not?

18. But Jesus knowing their malice, said,

19. What tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? shew me the tribute – money. [This was a peice of money called by the name of the Romanes Denarius, as is exprest at the end of the verse, whereon the Romane Emperours image and the name was stamped: which and no other coin, was to be given for tribute, that dominion of the Romane Empire; like as before also they used to pay the tribute of the Temple, with half a shekel of the Santuary; on which stood, on the one side, the shekel of Israel, and on the other side, the holy Jerusalem. Of the Denarius, see Matth. 18.28.] and they brought him a penny.

20. And he said unto them, Whose is this umage, and the superscription?

21. They said unto him, Cesars. Then said he unto them, Give therefore to Cesar, that which is Cesars, and to God, thhat which is Gods

22. And they hearing this, marvelled, and leaving him they went away.

23. The same day came unto him he Sadduces, [Of the sect of the Sadduces; see more largely, Acts 23:8,] which say that there is no ressurection, and asked him,

24. Saying, Master, Moses said, if any man die, having no children, [that is, sons] his brother [who was to raise up seed unto deceased brothher, which should bear his brothers name, and his heir, Deuteronomy 25:5,6.] shall marry his wife, [Gr. by right of assinity take to wife] and raise up seed unot his brother.

25. Now there were with us seven brethren, and the first having married (a wife) died, and seeing he had no seed, he left his wife for his brother.

26. Likewise also the second, and the third, unto the seventh. [Gr. unto the seven.]

27. Last of all the woman died also.

28. Therefore in the resurrection, whose wise shhall she be of those seven? for they all had her.

29. But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye erre, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.

30. For the resurrection they [viz.men] take not in marriage, neither are they [viz.women.] given out in marriage; but they are Angels of God in Heaven. [Not in respect of effence, but as concerning marriage, and the natural properties of this transitory life. See 1 Cor 15. verse 44. Phil.3.21.]

31. And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which is spoken to you by God, who saith,

32. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. [To be any ones God, is to give one eternal salvation , both of body and soul; see Psalms 33:12.and Psalm 144. verse 15. whence followeth, that those Patriarchs lived with God, in repect of their souls, (which these Sadduces also denied, Acts 23:8.) and should also arise in respect of their bodies, and live eternally; seeing he is called a God, not of one part of them only, but of their whole person] God is not a God of the dead, but of the living.

33. And the multitude hearing (this), were astonished at his doctrine

34. And the Pharisees having heard that he had slopt the mouth of the Sedduecs, were gathered together.

35. And one of them being a lawyer asked, tempting him, and saying,

36. Master, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? [That is, the greatest.]

37. And Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy understanding. [or reasoning; that is, weighing, pondering in the understanding.]

38. This is the first and greatest Commandment.

39. And the second like unto this (is) Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self.

40. On these two Commandments, depend the whole Law and the Prophets. [Thhat is, herein, as in the total summe; are all the Commandments of the Law, and the Exposition of the Prophets upon the same conatined. See Romans 13:10. 1 Tim 1.5.]

41. Now when the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42. And said, What think ye of Christ? [That is, of the promised Messias, or Anointed] Whose Son is he?They said unto him, Davids (Son)

43. He said unto them, How then doth David in the Spirit [That is, being moved by the holy Ghost. see 2 Pet. 1.21.] call him his Lord? saying,

44. The Lord said unto my Lord, sit at my right (hand) [of the righht hand, see Matth. 20.21.] until I shall have set thine enemies for a footstool of thy feet.

45. If therefore David call him (his) Lord, [See the interpretation hereof, Luke 20:44.] how is he his Son?

46. And no man could answer him a word: neither durst any man ask him (any thing) more from that day forwards