Matthew 22

22:1-14.  Another parable aimed at the Pharisees and other leaders.  They are invited to the wedding feast of the king’s son, but end up having their city destroyed (which literally happened in A.D.70) because of their terrible treatment of the king’s slaves. Cf. Mt.23:31-33, 37-38.

     Vv.8-14 is about the universal call of the gospel, of course.  But the main focus is something else.  Both evil and good are invited, but merit is not the issue.  The issue is proper dress.  Covering.  Atoning covering has been the issue for man ever since the Lord sacrificed animals to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve.  Are you clothed with the garments of salvation?  Has He wrapped you in the robe of righteousness?  (Is.61:10).  Has the Lord of the feast removed your filthy garments from you and clothed you with festal robes?  (Zech.2:3-4).  Are you wearing a robe of white?  (Rev.19:8,14).  Proper garments are freely given to all who come.  There is no excuse for one who comes refusing proper dress.  See Zeph.1:7-8.

     22:12,14.  Though many will share this man’s humiliation on the Great Day, it will be individual and personal for each one.

     22:16.  The Pharisees hated the Herodians, but because of their political muscle, they needed them to witness the treason they hoped to charge Jesus with.

     22:30.  Jesus is not saying, as some might suppose, that we will be like angels in every respect, but is making the analogy in only one respect – that in eternity there is no need for natural regeneration.

     22:32.  Death ends a covenant between men.  But God has made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his heirs (Gen.17:7).  Therefore, there is a resurrection of the dead, and Abraham lives by the power of God.

     22:37.  Heart, Soul, and Mind.  Gen.6:5 and Mt.9:4 both speak of how a man thinks in his heart.  Prov.23:7 says,  “For as he reckons in his soul (margin), so is he.  He says to you, ‘Eat and drink!’  But his heart is not with you.”  The point is that heart, soul, and mind are used as synonymous terms in this quote from Dt.6:5.  This is not to be understood as dividing man into parts, but is said for emphasis.  The whole thinking, feeling, choosing will of a man as a unity is to love the Lord. Cf. Luke 10:25-37 & notes.

     22:41-46.  The Pharisees were well aware that people were calling Jesus the son of David.  Jesus uses David’s words in Ps.110 to show that David himself called the Messiah Lord, i.e. the Son of God.  About v.46, Matthew Henry says that their inability to answer Jesus was not because they didn’t understand Ps.110, but because they did!  To answer Jesus would have required more than they were prepared to yield.