Matthew 22

Matthew 22:1-14

Chapter 63 “All things are ready; come unto the marriage.” “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 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. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

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. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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. For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:1-14) We have before us the parable of the marriage feast. It is the third in a trilogy of judgment parables, parables by which our Lord describes the basis of God’s judgment upon those who despise the blessings and privileges of grace. In the parable of the two sons (Matthew 20:28-32), the parable of the husbandman (Matthew 20:33-34), and this parable of the marriage feast our Savior shows us why God cast off the nation of Israel and sent the gospel to the Gentiles. Without question, it was God’s purpose from eternity to save his elect among the Gentiles. Without question, God predestinated the fall of the Jews as the very means by which he would save his elect among the Gentiles (Romans 11:11; Romans 11:25-26). There are no accidents in God’s universe (Romans 11:33-36). Yet, the cause of divine judgment upon that nation was and is their unbelief. The gospel was first revealed to the Jews, the nation of Israel, in the types and shadows of the Mosaic economy. To Israel alone God gave his law, the priesthood, the tabernacle, and his prophets. When Christ came, he preached the gospel to none but the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Yet, that nation, being blinded by their religious leaders, despised the privileges of mercy God gave them, the gospel of his grace, and his dear Son. Though they feverishly adhered to the rites and ceremonies of the law, they had long rejected the message of God’s prophets. When John the Baptist came preparing the way of the Lord, they ignored him.

When God’s own Son came, they hung him up on the cursed tree to die. And when God sent the apostles and disciples of Christ to proclaim the message of Christ the risen Lord and ascended King, they rejected their message, imprisoned them, beat them, and murdered them. Therefore, in 70 AD the Lord God sent the Roman army, under the command of Titus, into Jerusalem. By the hand of Titus, God destroyed both Jerusalem and the nation of Israel. At the end of Daniel’s 70th week, the house of Israel was left desolate. Their light was turned into darkness. Never again would that nation have a word from God or a visitation of his grace. God said to his servants, “Israel will not hear. Leave her alone. Go ye therefore into the highways of the world, and as many as you find, whether Jew or Gentile, bid them come. And whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Israel rejected God. Therefore God rejected Israel. Israel despised the light God had given her. Therefore God withdrew the light. Israel despised and rejected God’s Son. Therefore God cast her off forever.

God’s judgment upon the nation of Israel stands as a beacon to warn us. God will not trifle with those who trifle with his Son and the gospel of his grace. An awesome weight of responsibility lies upon the shoulders of all who hear the gospel of Christ faithfully preached to them. It will not be heard without consequence. It will be to all either a savor of life unto life or of death unto death (2 Corinthians 2:15-17; Romans 11:21; Proverbs 1:23-33). The same sun that melts the candle hardens the clay.

And the same message that melts the believer’s heart before God hardens the unbeliever’s heart in judgment. In this parable of the marriage feast our Savior plainly teaches us seven things. The salvation proclaimed in the gospel is comparable to a marriage feast. — “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son” (v.2). At a marriage feast everything is provided for the guests. They are not expected to bring anything. It would be an insult for them to do so. Even so, in the gospel of Christ there is complete provision for all the needs of a man’s soul before God. Everything needed to relieve spiritual hunger and thirst is found in Christ. The pardon of sin, peace with God, and the hope of eternal life are all spread before us in rich abundance in the gospel. This is truly “a feast of fat things.” All this bounty comes to needy sinners through the love, grace, and mercy of God, by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. By the preaching of the gospel, Christ himself speaks to sinners. He calls sinners to himself. The Son of God calls sinners into marriage union with himself! And every sinner who comes to him by faith, he clothes with the wedding garment of his own righteousness, gives a place in his kingdom, and will present faultless before the presence of his Father’s glory in the last day (Matthew 11:28-30; John 7:37; Jude 1:24-25). The gospel of Christ truly is “glad tidings of good things!” The God of Glory calls sinners into union with himself through his dear Son. He calls for rebel sinners to be reconciled to him by faith in his Son; and he does so upon the basis of reconciliation accomplished by his Son (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Our Lord Jesus here reminds us that the invitations of the gospel are full, free, and unlimited. — “All things are ready, come to the marriage” (v.4). There is nothing lacking. No barriers are set before us. No conditions are to be met by us. — “All things are ready!” The gospel sets an open door of mercy, love, and grace before all fallen sinners, and says, “Come.” No one is excluded from the range of its invitation. — “Whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely.” Though only few enter in by the straight gate, all are bidden to enter. And all who enter find that “all things are ready.” There is nothing to be made ready by us, or even by God. All things are already ready, made ready by the eternal purpose of God and the finished work of Christ, the sinner’s Substitute. Pardon by blood atonement is ready! Righteousness is ready! Peace and reconciliation are ready! Sonship by adoption is ready! Yet, our Savior also teaches us that the gospel of the grace of God is flatly rejected by many who hear it. “But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy” (Matthew 22:5-8). Most of those people who hear the gospel receive no spiritual benefit from it. Many who hear the gospel of Christ week after week, month after month, year after year yet refuse to trust him. The preaching of the gospel profits them nothing. They see no beauty in Christ. They feel no need for Christ. Such rebels may not openly scoff and ridicule the message of grace, or outwardly oppose the gospel.

They show their contempt by their love of other things, their preference for other things, by their love of the world, which is enmity against God. Their hearts are full of this world, so full of the pleasures and cares of the world that there is no room for Christ. Money and property, fashion and pleasure, happiness and popularity are the things that interest them. Christ and his gospel simply have no appeal to them. The sad fact is, multitudes will find themselves in hell, not because they were grossly immoral, but because they loved the world and gave no consideration to the Son of God. While this is clearly, as I stated in the opening paragraph, a judgment parable, it is a parable full of grace. Robert Hawker wrote with regard to it… “We shall enter, through the teaching of God the Holy Ghost, into the beautiful design of our Lord, in this parable, if we take with us, all the way through it, the leading features the Son of God hath drawn. The kingdom of heaven is uniformly meant to describe the kingdom of grace, in the present gospel state of the church. The certain king, here spoken of, is God our Father. And the marriage is that union the Son of God hath been mercifully pleased, at the call of God his Father, to make with our nature, and with each person in that nature whom God the Father hath given to him, whose redemption Christ hath purchased, and God the Holy Ghost hath regenerated, for the purpose of grace here, and glory hereafter. This marriage took place, in the plan and counsel of Jehovah, before all worlds. The church was then presented by the Father, and fore-viewed by the Son, and sanctified in the will and design of God the Holy Ghost when Christ betrothed her to himself forever. And although, in the ordination of the divine will, this church of Jesus was to be involved in the Adam-fall of our nature, in common with the whole race of men, yet the original connection could not be dissolved by this spiritual adultery, but rather afforded occasion for the Son of God to get more glory and honor by her recovery, is the wonderful means he accomplished in time, by the salvation he wrought for this purpose. The church, therefore, departing from her glorious husband, and having lost the image of God by sin, and having mingled with the heathen, and learned their works; this parable represents the King as sending forth his servants to bring his church home to her lawful Lord and Husband again, notwithstanding all her baseness and unworthiness of departure.

The invitation to this purpose is represented under the image and similitude of a great dinner, in which a plentiful table is spread, the richest food is provided, servants are in waiting, and all with one voice say, all things are ready, come to the marriage!…The servants being again and again sent, and the contempt shown by some, and the cruelty by others; are meant to set forth the various ages of the church, in which Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles, have ministered to this one end, and the events which have followed. These things are so plain, that every one who is acquainted with the Bible, cannot but know them…The final issue of the Lord’s design, can neither be frustrated, nor unaccomplished. The Lord Jehovah, in his threefold character of persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, hath made, for this, an effectual security. The church is One with Christ, her Head and Husband, from all eternity. Hence every individual which constitutes a part in that mystical body, notwithstanding the after act in the Adam-nature, and Adam-fall, is secured from a pre-union with the Lord, her Husband, from everlasting ruin. Hence their effectual call and conversion is engaged for in covenant settlements.

A secret union subsisted between Christ and his members from all eternity. And this brings up after it an open espousal of every one of them at the season of their conversion. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power. And hence they are carried safely on through all the periods of time, and will be brought home to a more public display of the divine love, at the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 19:9).” Next, our Master tells us plainly that many who profess to believe the gospel are yet without faith and under the wrath of God. “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. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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. (Matthew 22:10-13). C.H. Spurgeon said, “This man without the wedding garment is the type of those who pretend to be Christians, but do not honor the Lord Jesus, nor his atoning sacrifice, nor his holy name. They are not in accord with the design of the gospel feast, namely, the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ in his saints. They came into the church for gain, for honor, for fashion, or for the purpose of undermining the faith of others.” Yes, the vast majority of those who take up a profession of religion are walking in the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 7:21-23). This man without a wedding garment is the representative of all who are found in the last day without the garment of Christ’s righteousness. Our Lord did not say that he was without a garment. No doubt he was clothed, as many are, in a righteousness of his own. His crime was that he was not wearing the wedding garment, the garment of Christ’s righteousness. Many would have us believe that this wedding garment is the good works of a holy life. Thanks be to God, that is not the case! “If our acceptance at Christ’s table upon earth, or at his marriage supper in heaven, rested upon what some are so fond of talking of, but not a single son or daughter of Adam’s fallen race ever knew; I mean good works and an holy life, no guests would be found for either. Neither doth this wedding garment consist in the adorning of a renewed soul by the graces of the Holy Spirit, such as faith, repentance, or any, or all of the sweet effects of the Lord’s work in the soul. These are all blessed and essential things in the life of grace, and every child of God, called by grace, will be blessed in the enjoyment of them, but they are not Christ. These are the effects, not the cause; the fruits of regeneration, but not the root of salvation. The wedding garment, therefore, is none of these. And though it is blessed, yea very blessed, when grace is in lively exercise, to behold how true believers in Christ, from an union with Christ, act faith upon him, and live to him, and his praise; adorning, the doctrine of God our Savior in all things: yet these form no part in the wedding garment, which is wholly of Christ, wrought out by Christ, and is; put on the believer by Christ. Every act of theirs is polluted, and must be cleansed in the blood of Christ, as well as their persons; for without this cleansing, neither the one, nor the other, can find acceptance before God.” (Robert Hawker) Let us be sure we have this wedding garment. If we appear before God in any other at that great day, we shall, like this man, be speechless, and shall be cast “into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” But the possession of this garment, the righteousness of Christ, proves that we were eternally betrothed to Christ, and that we are, by his grace, a part of his chosen bride, adorned for her Husband and by her Husband, “members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Revelation 21:12; Ephesians 5:23-32). Still, our Savior assures us that man’s unbelief will not alter, thwart, or in any way hinder the purpose of God. — “The wedding was furnished with guests” (Matthew 22:10). The purpose of God does not depend upon man. Though the Jews rejected God’s Son, he had a “remnant according to the election of grace”, who gladly embraced him. And though many refuse to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, every chosen, redeemed, and regenerated sinner in this world, everyone purposed by God from eternity to be saved, shall be saved by him and shall believe on him (Romans 3:3-4; Romans 11:11; Romans 11:24-26). In the last day, on the day of judgment, all false professors will be detected, exposed, and eternally condemned (Matthew 22:12-13). In this life a profession of faith and a fairly moral life is enough to secure a name and reputation as a Christian. But when we stand before God, he will examine us thoroughly and judge us according to strict justice by those things written in the court books of heaven (Revelation 20:11-12). If we are not washed in the blood of Christ and robed with his righteousness, we will be lost forever. None shall enter into everlasting bliss whose names were not written in the Lamb’s book of life by divine election before the world began. And all whose names are in that book shall enter in, because they are made perfectly holy and righteous in Christ (Revelation 21:27). 7.In Matthew 22:14 the Son of God declares that the source and cause of true faith is God’s sovereign, electing love. — “For many are called, but few are chosen.” If you and I are true believers, if we truly believe the gospel of Christ, if we truly rest our souls upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone, it is because God, from all eternity, chose us as the objects of his special love and grace (Jeremiah 31:3). All who believe God gladly confess, with Toplady… “‘Tis not that I did choose Thee, For, Lord, that could not be; This heart would still refuse Thee, Hadst Thou not chosen me: Thou, from the sin that stained me, Hast washed and set me free, And to this end ordained me, That I should live to Thee. ‘Twas sovereign mercy called me, And taught my opening mind, The world had else enthralled me, To heavenly glories blind.’ My heart owns none before Thee, For Thy rich grace I thirst - This knowing, if I love Thee, Thou must have loved me first!’“ Called and Called “Many are called.” — That statement refers to the general call that goes forth to all who hear the gospel. But there is another call. There is an inward, personal, particular, divine call, which is issued by God the Holy Spirit to God’s elect and to them alone (John 10:3). This call of the Holy Spirit is always effectual and irresistible. God the Holy Spirit effectually draws chosen, redeemed sinners to Christ by almighty grace (Psalms 65:4). This call always produces faith in Christ. It always results in salvation. This inward, irresistible call is given only to God’s elect, those who were chosen, predestinated, and redeemed (Romans 8:28-29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-24; 2 Timothy 1:9-10). The examples of this call are numerous (Ezekiel 16:6-8; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 19:5-6; John 11:43-44). Were it not for this effectual call of the Spirit, no one would ever be saved (John 6:44-45). But this is not the call mentioned in our text. The call, which our Lord speaks of here, is the earnest proclamation of the gospel by his servants. Every time a true servant of God preaches the gospel of God’s electing love, redeeming mercy, and saving grace, sinners are called to faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). The call of the gospel is universal in its scope. It goes forth to all who hear the gospel preached. It is a sincere and gracious call (Romans 10:1-4), issued by divine authority which all who hear it are responsible to obey (Proverbs 1:22-33). The question is often asked, “If only God’s elect are going to be saved, why do we preach the gospel to all men?” The Scriptures give us three clear answers to that question: (1.) Our Lord commands us to preach the gospel to all (Matthew 10:27; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). (2.) The preaching of the gospel is God’s ordained means of salvation for his elect (1 Cot. Matthew 1:21-25). And (3.) we have no way of knowing who the elect are until they believe the gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5). Therefore, we preach the gospel to all. And when we have done so, when we have faithfully preached the gospel to all, we are free of their blood (1 Corinthians 9:16; Ezekiel 33:7-9). Sinners respond to the preaching of the gospel in many ways. Some flatly reject the gospel call (Matthew 22:3). Some lightly esteem it (Matthew 22:5; Lamentations 1:12). Others are enraged by it (Matthew 22:6). Some pretend to obey it, taking up a profession of religion (Matthew 22:10-11). And some, those to whom the gospel comes in divine power, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Divine Election Why? Why do some believe, while others believe not? It is because “few are chosen.” The difference between those who believe and those who believe not is the choice of God. There are some people in this world whom God has chosen to salvation. Sooner or later, they shall be saved. They shall believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The rest are left in their sins. God has done them no injustice. He does not violate their will. He does not force them to do what they choose not to do. He simply leaves them to themselves. And you can be sure of this — If God leaves a man to himself, if God leaves a man to his own free-will, that man will never believe on the lord Jesus Christ and be saved (John 6:37-40; John 10:16; John 10:26; Acts 13:46-48). Thank God, he does not leave all men unto themselves! He has chosen to save some. There is yet “a remnant according to the election of grace”, of whom he says, “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Let me make just four statements about this matter of election, as it is presented in this 14th verse. It is a fact beyond dispute that the Bible teaches the doctrine of God’s sovereign, unconditional, election of his people unto salvation in Christ (John 15:16; Romans 9:11-13; Ephesians 1:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter 1:2). It is also a fact beyond dispute that the Bible declares that God’s elect in this world are few. Our Savior said, “Few are chosen.” I solemnly admonish you to make your calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). Trust the Son of God. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are among the number of those chosen, redeemed, and called to salvation and eternal life in Jesus Christ, we ought to be filled with wonder, praise, and gratitude before the holy Lord God (Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 15:10). Election has secured for us a place with Christ in glory. And in the end, it shall be said, “The election hath obtained it.” “Who shall condemn to endless flames The chosen people of our God. Since in the Book of life their names Are clearly writ in Jesus’ blood? He, for the sins of the elect, Hath a complete atonement made; And justice never can expect That the same debt should twice be paid. His sovereign mercy knows no end, His faithfulness shall still endure; And those who on His Word depend Shall find His Word forever sure.”

Matthew 22:15-46

Chapter 64 Trappers Trapped“Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 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. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

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. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 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: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also.

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 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. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

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. This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.” (Matthew 22:15-46)In the passage before us the Holy Spirit has recorded a series of subtle snares laid by our Lord’s enemies during the last days of his earthly ministry. By their pretentious questions, asked with the pretense of seeking to honor God and understand his truth, these hell-inspired religionists were trying to entangle our Lord, trying to trick him into saying something they could use as an accusation against him. Obviously, their schemes failed. They were taken in their own snare, and retreated in utter confusion. There is much to be learned from this event. Religious knowledge is not spiritual knowledge. Spiritual knowledge and discernment comes only by faith in Christ (Hebrews 11:3). It is attained only by divine revelation (1 Corinthians 2:11-16). A saving knowledge of Christ is not a carnal apprehension of the intellect, but the gift and revelation of God the Holy Spirit. — “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more” (2 Corinthians 5:16). Let us be sure we understand what the Spirit of God tells us. Our knowledge of Christ is not a carnal apprehension of the intellect, but the gift and revelation of God the Holy Spirit.

Being born again by the omnipotent grace and irresistible mercy of God the Holy Spirit, all who are taught of God, know Christ after the Spirit, and not after the flesh. John Owen wrote… “Of all the poison which at this day is diffused in the minds of men, corrupting them from the mystery of the gospel, there is no part that is more pernicious than this one perverse imagination, that to ‘believe in Christ’ is nothing at all but to ‘believe the doctrine of the gospel!’” A Question about Taxes The Herodians obviously had some connection with both Herod and with the Pharisees. It is really unknown to us who they were, what their connections were, and what their beliefs were. Many have tried to figure out who these men were. I will leave that to them. I want you to see the message the Holy Spirit of God would have us to learn. The Herodians hoped to entangle our Savior with a political question, asking whether it is lawful to pay taxes. “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 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. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money.

And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 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. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way” (Matthew 22:15-22) The word “then” in Matthew 22:15 directs our attention to the preceding parables given by our Lord. In the parable of the two sons our Savior told them that their religious works would profit them nothing before God (Matthew 21:31). In the parable of the husbandmen the Pharisees “perceived that he spake of them” (Matthew 22:45), when he said, “The kingdom shall be taken from you,” and judgment shall fall upon you (Matthew 22:42-45). Then, the parable of the marriage feast plainly declared the message of God’s sovereign, electing love and irresistible, saving grace (Matthew 22:14). That message of grace was the clincher. The Pharisees, the Herodians, and the Sadducees were all enraged by it, and sought to destroy the Son of God for preaching it. Here is the first thing set before us in this passage. — The cross of Christ, the gospel of God’s free, sovereign, saving grace in Christ, the gospel of God’s free, sovereign, saving grace in Christ alone, is an offence to all natural men, and more offensive to lost religious people than to anyone else (Galatians 5:11). Why is the gospel of Christ so offensive to self-righteous people? The gospel of Christ declares that man is totally depraved, that all men are spiritually dead, evil at heart, and utterly incapable of doing good before God (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 3:10-20). The gospel doctrine of unconditional election makes salvation to be a matter wholly determined by the immutable will of God, not the will of man (John 15:16; Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). The sweet message of accomplished redemption by Christ alone, limited atonement, makes salvation to be merited by and effectually secured by Christ, taking man out of the work altogether (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12). The gospel proclaims grace that is free, irresistible, and effectual, making the new birth and faith in Christ the gifts and operations of the irresistible grace and omnipotent mercy of God the Holy Spirit, not the work of man’s imaginary free will (Psalms 65:4; Psalms 110:3; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:12). And the gospel of Christ assures every believing sinner of an everlasting, indestructible salvation by Christ (John 10:27-30). The perseverance of the saints makes salvation, grace, and eternal life entirely dependent upon the work of God, and in no way dependent upon the works of man. Second, we see in Matthew 22:16 how Satan often comes against us as a flattering friend, rather than an enraged enemy. The Herodians, who hated our Savior, said to him, “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. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou?” Many may be deceived by seductive kindness and flattery of deceitful men, who would never be moved by direct opposition. Samson, Solomon, and Hezekiah are well-known examples of that fact. Sweet things cause more sickness than bitter things. The warm, balmy sunshine of a bright summer day is far more likely to make a man shed his protective armor than the freezing blasts of winter. Satan is never so dangerous as when he appears to be our friend. The third lesson, the primary lesson taught by our Lord’s answer to the Herodians is the fact that in all matters of civil law it is our duty to be obedient to civil government. — “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7). I do not approve of many things, indeed, of most things promoted and encouraged by the institutions of government in our country. I am thankful for the nation, love it, and am willing to fight to the death to defend the land and liberty God has given us. But those laws of the land that tend to destroy the very fabric of society, I do not and cannot condone. Yet, wherever the laws of the land do not demand that I violate the Word of God, I am and must be obedient to the laws of civil government. We must be obedient to God, regardless of cost or consequence, even when law forbids our obedience (Acts 4:18-20). But, where Caesar does not demand disobedience to Christ, we must render unto Caesar the things that are his. That includes paying taxes (Matthew 17:27). A Question about the Resurrection In Matthew 22:23-33 the Sadducees attempted to entangle the Son of God with a question about the resurrection. The Sadducees were the liberals of the day. They denied the resurrection. The Sadducees and the Pharisees were not at all friendly with one another. But they were willing to put aside their differences when it came to opposing Christ. They were happy to work together against him, as in Matthew 22:15-22. There are three things in these verses that are as obvious as the sun… First, we see how utterly dishonest people can be while pretending to sincerely serve God. “The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 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: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:23-29). These men pretended to honor Moses, the Scriptures, and God, though they sought honor only for themselves. And, in their pretentiously pious attempt to destroy the doctrine of Christ, they fabricated a story. Imaginary suppositions are the strongest weapons of religious infidels. While ignoring obvious evidences of divine truth, they pile up suppositions and hypothetical situations to cast reproach upon the revealed truth of the God they despise. When we are confronted with such people, we should simply ignore them. We must never be drawn into debate (which God the Holy Spirit calls the work of the flesh) with people who are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

There are some things we know (1 Peter 1:18-25), and some things we do not know (Acts 1:7). Spiritual things can be known only by the Word of God and the power of God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 22:29). They are never learned by carnal debate. In Matthew 22:30 our Savior shows us something of the blessedness of the resurrection – “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). In that blessed, glorious state we shall be as the angels of God. We know very little about the life that awaits us in the resurrection. But there are some things about that which awaits us in resurrection glory that the Lord our God has graciously revealed; and those things are sure: — The glory awaiting us is beyond imagination (1 Corinthians 2:9). — No consequence of sin shall follow us into eternity (Revelation 21:4). — We shall be “as the angels of God.” — We shall forever enjoy the immediate presence of our Lord! — In heavenly glory we shall be forever perfectly obedient to his will, serving him perfectly, giving him all glory, without sin, and without the restraints or needs of these carnal bodies! Then, the Lord Jesus speaks about his eternality as God our Savior. “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 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. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine” (Matthew 22:31-33). Our Savior quotes Exodus 3:6 in the present tense: – “I am (not was) the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Remember, the God who spoke those words to Moses out of the burning bush is Christ himself, the Angel of the Lord. Then he adds these words – “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” He is telling us that he is the eternal God, and assures us that all who die in him are not dead, but living. Because he is the Resurrection and the Life, those who trust him shall never die (John 11:25-26). A Question about the Law Next, the Pharisees sent one of their lawyers to tempt the Savior with a question about the law. “But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:34-40). The word “lawyer” here does not refer to the kind of lawyer you might find in a court of law. This man was not a trial lawyer, or a civil lawyer, but a religious lawyer, the worst kind of lawyer! He was a man whose life and business it was to study and teach the Mosaic law, with all the customs and traditions appended to it by men. Again, there are three things in these verses that must be understood: (1.) The law of God is holy, just, and good. What a blessed place this world would be if all men loved God and one another! But, (2.) no sinful man is capable of obeying God’s holy law. The grace of God teaches us to love God and one another (1 John 3:16-17; 1 John 4:9-11), and enables us in a measure to do so; but our best love is full of sin! (3.) The only way any sinner can obey and fulfil God’s holy law is by the doing and dying of Christ, our Representative and Substitute (Romans 8:1-4). He obeyed the law for us. He paid our debt to the full satisfaction of divine justice. And we fulfill the law by trusting him, only by faith in him (Romans 3:28). One Significant Question In Matthew 22:41-46 the Son of God puts forth one question before which all other questions fade into insignificance. — “What think ye of Christ?” With this question of all questions, he snared the fowlers and trapped the trappers. These learned religious men were put to silence by this question. To answer it honestly, they would have been compelled to acknowledge that the Messiah must be both God and man. But, rather than be honest, they held to their religious traditions and went to hell! I put this question to you. — “What think ye of Christ?” Let me answer for myself and for every saved soul, according to the Scriptures. The Man Christ Jesus is the mighty God (1 Timothy 3:16). Yet, he is really and truly man, the woman’s Seed (Galatians 4:4-6). He is the Lord our Righteousness! (Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 33:16). He is our all-sufficient Substitute! (2 Corinthians 5:21). He is our omnipotent Savior! (Hebrews 7:25; Matthew 1:21). He is our all-prevailing Advocate with the Father! (1 John 2:1-2). And he is precious (1 Peter 2:7). Overruling Providence Once more, we see how that our Lord takes what wicked men, inspired by Satan himself, meant for evil, and turns it for good. We should never miss an opportunity to admire the overruling providence of our God, who constantly works all things together for the everlasting salvation of his elect (Genesis 50:20; Psalms 76:10; Romans 8:28). The malice of the Herodians, Sadducees, and Pharisees was sweetly overruled to the glory of Christ and the comfort of our souls. Had those wicked men not raised their trivial questions of strife, we would never have had the precious things revealed in this passage. We certainly could never have known the meaning of those words spoken to Moses out of the burning bush had our Savior not explained it to us here. “God in Christ,” wrote Robert Hawker, “is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Speaking of those who have died in Christ, Hawker continued, “All live to him; their souls among the spirits of just men, made perfect, and their bodies, from an union with Christ, resting in this covenant hope of being raised at the last day. For if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” What a sweet, delightful thing it is to realize that our great God made the malice of these wicked men an occasion to put forth that one question of indescribable importance, — “What think ye of Christ?” Again, I am compelled to give you Mr. Hawker’s tremendous comments on that question. “What think ye of Christ? What think ye of his person, of his offices, characters, relations? What think ye of the completeness, fulness, suitableness, all-sufficiency of his salvation? What think ye of Christ as to his worth, preciousness, beauty, glory? What, as to his value, importance, his absolute necessity, and the living without knowing him, and the dying without enjoying him? Oh! for the proper apprehension of Jesus!

Oh for the absolute and certain union with him, and interest in him! The soul that hath so learned Christ, will best know how to enter into the full sense of our Lord’s question; and will best appreciate the being found in him, so as to render all other knowledge of no value, but the knowledge of Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God, for salvation to every one that believeth.”