Thematic Bible




Matthew 22:1 (show verse)

Jesus again spoke in parables to them [i.e., the Jewish leaders], saying,

Matthew 22:2 (show verse)

"The kingdom of heaven is similar to a certain king who held a wedding reception for his son.

Matthew 22:3 (show verse)

He sent his servants out to call those who had been invited to the wedding reception, but they refused to come.

Matthew 22:4 (show verse)

Again he sent out other servants saying, 'Tell those who were invited, look, I have already prepared the dinner; my cattle and [other] well-fattened animals have been butchered and everything is ready. [Now] come to the wedding reception dinner.'
Absorption » Business engagements take precedence with worldly men
Business » Cares » Engagements
Business life » Business Cares Result in » Business engagements take precedence with worldly men
The call of God » Rejection of, leads to » Destruction
Comes » The comes of God's word » Come at the king's urgent invitation
Entertainments » Kinds of, mentioned in scripture » Dinner
Feasts » Of new moons » Spiritual
Feasts » Figurative
Feasts » Wedding » The king's son
Spiritual food » Prepared in abundance for believers (select reading pr 91-6)
God » Divine preparation for the needs of believers » A spiritual feast
God's Call » The comes of God's word » Come at the king's urgent invitation
Jesus Christ » History of » Enunciates » The parable of the marriage banquet (in jerusalem)
Jesus Christ » Parables of » The arriage of the king's son
Kingdom of God » What the kingdom of God is likened to
Kingdom of heaven » Compared » To a king who made a marriage feast for his son
Oxen » Illustrative » (prepared for a feast,) of the provision of the gospel
Parables » Parables of Christ » Marriage-feast
Preparation » Divine preparation for the needs of believers » A spiritual feast
divine Providence » Divine preparation for the needs of believers » A spiritual feast
Social functions » Wedding feasts » The king's son
Social life » Wedding feasts » The king's son
Spiritual » Feasts » Prepared in abundance for believers (select reading pr 91-6)
Wicked people » Gospel invitation to, illustrated by the parables of » The marriage supper

Matthew 22:5 (show verse)

But they made fun of it, and went on about their business, one to his farm, another to his store.

Matthew 22:6 (show verse)

But the rest of them grabbed his servants, physically abused them and [finally] killed them.

Matthew 22:7 (show verse)

The king became furious and sent his army to destroy these murderers and burn their city.

Matthew 22:8 (show verse)

Then he told his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited to it [proved they] were not worthy [to attend].

Matthew 22:9 (show verse)

Now go to the main crossroads of the highways and invite everyone you find there to the wedding reception.'

Matthew 22:10 (show verse)

So, his servants went out to the highways and gathered in all those who could be found, both bad and good, so that the wedding [reception] was full of guests.

Matthew 22:11 (show verse)

But when the king came in [to the dining hall] to meet the guests, he noticed a man who was not wearing a [proper] wedding outfit.

Matthew 22:12 (show verse)

He said to the man, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wearing the proper wedding outfit?' And he could not say a word.

Matthew 22:13 (show verse)

Then the king said to his servants, 'Tie him up, hand and foot, and throw him into [a place of] outer darkness where there will be crying and excruciating pain.'

Matthew 22:14 (show verse)

For many people are called [by God] but [only those] few [who respond] are chosen [by Him]."

Matthew 22:15 (show verse)

Then the Pharisees conspired as to how they could trap Jesus by what He said.

Matthew 22:16 (show verse)

So, they sent their disciples, [along] with the Herodians to Him [Note: These were members of a political party favoring King Herod], saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and that you teach the truth about God's way. You do not care for [i.e., do not fear or give in to] anyone or allow the position of any person to influence you.

Matthew 22:17 (show verse)

So, tell us what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

Matthew 22:18 (show verse)

But Jesus perceived their wicked intention and said, "Why are you putting me to a test, you hypocrites?

Matthew 22:19 (show verse)

Show me the coin used for paying taxes." And they brought to Him a coin [Note: This coin was equivalent to one day of a farm laborer's pay, or about $60-$84 in 1994].

Matthew 22:20 (show verse)

He said to them, "Whose image and inscription are on this coin?"

Matthew 22:21 (show verse)

They answered Him, "Caesar's." Then He replied, "Pay to Caesar whatever belongs to Caesar and pay to God whatever belongs to God."

Matthew 22:22 (show verse)

And when they heard this, they marveled; then left Him and went away.

Matthew 22:23 (show verse)

Some Sadducees [Note: These were the Jewish party that denied there was a resurrection] came to Jesus that day and asked Him,

Matthew 22:24 (show verse)

"Teacher, Moses said [in Deut. 25:5] that when a man dies without having had any children, his brother must marry his widow and father children by her, who would [then] be considered his [dead] brother's.

Matthew 22:25 (show verse)

Now among our people there were [these] seven brothers; the first one married and [later] died without having any children, leaving his widow to [marry] his brother.

Matthew 22:26 (show verse)

The same thing happened to the second and the third and [on through to] the seventh [brother].

Matthew 22:27 (show verse)

And after they all died, the woman [also] passed away.

Matthew 22:28 (show verse)

Now whose wife will she be in the resurrected state, since all seven of them were married to her?"

Matthew 22:29 (show verse)

But Jesus answered them, "You are mistaken [in your reasoning], not knowing [what] the Scriptures [teach] or [how much] power God has.

Matthew 22:30 (show verse)

For in the resurrected state men do not get married, nor are women given away in marriage, but [all] are like angels in heaven.

Matthew 22:31 (show verse)

But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God spoke to you, saying, [Ex. 3:6]

Matthew 22:32 (show verse)

I am Abraham's God, and Isaac's God and Jacob's God.' [So], He is not God to those who are [physically] dead, but [He is] God to those who are [still] alive."

Matthew 22:33 (show verse)

And when the crowds heard this they were astounded at His teaching.

Matthew 22:34 (show verse)

But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced [the objections of] the Sadducees, they gathered together [i.e., to continue plotting against Jesus. See verse 15].

Matthew 22:35 (show verse)

One of them, a teacher of the law of Moses, asked Him a question [in an attempt] to test Him.

Matthew 22:36 (show verse)

"Teacher, which one is the greatest commandment in the law of Moses?" he asked.

Matthew 22:37 (show verse)

Jesus replied, [Deut. 6:5] "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.'

Matthew 22:38 (show verse)

This is the foremost and greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:39 (show verse)

A second one, similar to it is [Lev. 19:18], 'You must love your neighbor the same way that you love yourself.'

Matthew 22:40 (show verse)

The entire law of Moses and the prophets hinge on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:41 (show verse)

Now while the Pharisees were assembled together, Jesus asked them this question,

Matthew 22:42 (show verse)

"What do you think about the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one]? Whose son do you think He is?" They replied, "[He is] the son of David."

Matthew 22:43 (show verse)

He said to them, "How is it [then] that David, by [inspiration of] the Holy Spirit, calls Him Lord, saying,

Matthew 22:44 (show verse)

[Psa. 110:1] 'The Lord [i.e., God] said to my [i.e., David's] Lord [i.e., Jesus], sit at my right side until I put your enemies [in full subjection] beneath your feet.'

Matthew 22:45 (show verse)

If David then could call Him [i.e., Jesus] Lord, how could He be his son?"

Matthew 22:46 (show verse)

No one was able to answer [Jesus' reasoning] with [so much as] a word, and no one dared to ask Him any more questions from that day onward.