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Summary

Matthew 22:1–14 – Parable of the Wedding Banquet

What happens:
Jesus tells of a king who prepares a wedding banquet for his son. He sends servants to invite the guests, but they refuse and mistreat the messengers. The king sends more servants, some killed, others beaten. He then destroys the murderers, burns their city, and invites anyone found on the streets, both good and bad, until the banquet hall is full. A man without wedding clothes is thrown out into the darkness.

What it means:
God invites all to his joyous celebration, yet rejecting his call has dire consequences. Entrance requires not only invitation but also the proper response—a transformed life symbolized by the wedding garment.


Matthew 22:15–22 – Paying Taxes to Caesar

What happens:
Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus by asking if it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. He asks for a denarius and inquires whose image it bears. They answer “Caesar,” and Jesus says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” leaving them amazed and unable to trap him.

What it means:
Jesus teaches wisdom in navigating civic obligations and divine loyalty. Believers honor earthly authorities without compromising ultimate allegiance to God.


Matthew 22:23–33 – Question About the Resurrection

What happens:
Sadducees, who deny resurrection, pose a hypothetical about a woman who marries seven brothers in turn. They ask whose wife she will be in the resurrection. Jesus replies that in the resurrection people neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. He cites God as the God of the living, not the dead, for all are alive to him.

What it means:
Jesus corrects misunderstandings about eternal life and affirms the reality of resurrection. God’s covenant relationship transcends earthly institutions and death itself.


Matthew 22:34–40 – The Greatest Commandment

What happens:
A Pharisee asks which commandment is greatest. Jesus answers that the first is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. He adds that all the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.

What it means:
Jesus summarizes God’s requirements as wholehearted love for God and compassionate love for others. True righteousness flows from these inseparable commitments.


Matthew 22:41–46 – Whose Son Is the Messiah?

What happens:
Jesus asks how the Messiah can be David’s son when David calls him “Lord” in Scripture. The crowds are amazed at his teaching and no one dares to ask him more questions.

What it means:
Jesus reveals the Messiah’s dual identity as descendant of David and divine Lord, highlighting the mystery of his person and the fulfillment of Scripture.


Application

  • Respond to God’s invitation with genuine transformation, not just words
  • Balance civic responsibility with ultimate loyalty to God, giving each what is due
  • Embrace belief in the resurrection and live in light of eternal life beyond earthly roles
  • Love God wholeheartedly and extend that love to others as the fulfillment of all God’s commands
  • Marvel at Jesus’ identity as both human descendant and divine Lord, deepening your worship and trust

Bible

1And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

4Again, 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.

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

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

7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10So 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.

11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13Then 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.

14For many are called, but few are chosen.

15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

16And 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.

17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

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

19Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

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

21They 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.

22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

23The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

24Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

25Now 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:

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

27And last of all the woman died also.

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

29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

32I 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.

33And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

34But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

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

37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38This is the first and great commandment.

39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.

43He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

44The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

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

46And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

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