Matthew Chapter 22 (AMP)
Parable of the Marriage Feast - Tribute to Caesar - Jesus Answers the Sadducees
Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
And he sent his servants to call those who had [previously] been invited to the wedding feast, but they refused to come.
Then he sent out some other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened calves are butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”’
But they paid no attention [they disregarded the invitation, treating it with contempt] and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest [of the invited guests] seized his servants and mistreated them [insulting and humiliating them] and killed them.
The king was enraged [when he heard this], and sent his soldiers and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding [feast] is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.
So go to the main highways that lead out of the city, and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’
Those servants went out into the streets and gathered together all the people they could find, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests [sitting at the banquet table].
“But when the king came in to see the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed [appropriately] in wedding clothes,
and he said, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wearing the wedding clothes [that were provided for you]?’ And the man was speechless and without excuse.
Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].’
For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.”
Then the Pharisees went and conspired together plotting how to trap Him by [distorting] what He said.
They sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are sincere and that You teach the way of God truthfully, without concerning Yourself about [what] anyone [thinks or says of Your teachings]; for You are impartial and do not seek anyone’s favor [and You treat all people alike, regardless of status].
Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus, aware of their malice, asked, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius [a day’s wage].
And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
They said, “[The Emperor Tiberius] Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
When they heard this, they were caught off guard, and they left Him and went away.
On that day some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection [of the dead], came to Him and asked Him a question,
saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, leaving no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his widow, and raise children for his brother.’
Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother.
The second also [died childless], and the third, down to the seventh.
Last of all, the woman died.
So in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.”
But Jesus replied to them, “You are all wrong because you know neither the Scriptures [which teach the resurrection] nor the power of God [for He is able to raise the dead].
For in the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven [who do not marry nor produce children].
But as to the resurrection of the dead—have you not read [in the Scripture] what God said to you:
‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
Now when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced (muzzled) the Sadducees, they gathered together.
One of them, a lawyer [an expert in Mosaic Law], asked Jesus a question, to test Him:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’
The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Now while the Pharisees were [still] gathered together, Jesus asked them a question:
“What do you [Pharisees] think of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David.”
Jesus asked them, “How is it then that David by the inspiration of the Spirit, calls Him ‘Lord,’ saying,
‘The Lord (the Father) said to my Lord (the Son, the Messiah), “Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet”’?
So then, if David calls Him (the Son, the Messiah) ‘Lord,’ how is He David’s son?”
No one was able to say a word to Him in answer, nor from that day on did anyone dare to question Him again..
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!!
Content source: Amplified version of the Holy Bible
Image source: Our media Team
Every time Jesus wanted to reach the hearts of his disciples, to refer revelations of kingdom, he used parabolas, in this passage Jesus reveals Israel's guilt by refusing the invitation to enter the kingdom, as a result, the nation lost the right to its privileges and will witness the destruction of Jerusalem.
the image of the wedding dress is used to show that faith and obedience to the will of God are important for the members of the new community who have responded to the invitation to participate in that holiday, Jesus uses this parable to invite all those who believe they are coming, but since the guests refused, Jesus did not consider them worthy, so I sent for all those who met on the way, for many are called, and few are chosen.
Jesus returns to speak in parables one of the most common forms of teaching, because the parable allows to identify the spiritual with the natural, helping to understand the principles of the kingdom contained in them. Here it is expressed that the kingdom prepares a banquet for a union, this wedding represents the union of the son of God with the church, which is prepared from now on with his coming to earth. Many of us receive the invitation of Jesus to be transformed by his grace and love, but few are chosen to give the best of themselves, such as being able to be a chosen one, this depends on the thirst, dedication and love with which you choose to serve God in complete obedience.
Without the man asking for the second most important commandment Jesus explains that this is the second after loving God, because when we receive his love, we can truly love, the attempts of love of the world do not happen to be self-centeredness, vanity, and self-love exaggerated, to see us as God sees us and love us as He loves us, we understand that it is easy to love others despite their defects, weaknesses or character, which do not prevent us from seeing what best of them for the love of God in us.
In the final part of his ministry, Jesus continues to use examples that unmask scribes and priests. For that reason, they want to eliminate it, but Jesus makes the comparison
I personally has learned a great lesson from the Parable of the Marriage Feast, as Christians we should be ready for the second coming of christ by watching and praying.
Lord Jesus used this formula to hide his identity and destiny (Son), when they rejected Jesus, they were rejecting the kingdom of God, Jesus said: the kingdom of God is among you.
In this parable Jesus makes a simultaneous wedding king with the kingdom of God, Jesus is constantly inviting men to come to his presence, and to turn his heart to him.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter into it, and have dinner with him, and with me. (Revelation 3:20)
certainly in this passage the author teaches us that the guests did not attend the call of invitation, which were no longer fit to come to the party, so the owner of the party uses another plan and orders to abuse all who find in the way. We are Blessed to hear the voice of God.
23 On that day, some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection [of the dead], came to Him and asked Him a question,
24 saying: "Master, Moses said: 'If a man dies without leaving children, his brother as a close relative will marry his widow and raise children for his brother'.
25 Now there were seven brothers among us; the first one married and died, and having no children left his wife with his brother.
26 The second also [died without children], and the third, until the seventh.
27 Finally, the woman died.
28 Then in the resurrection, whose wife will be the seven? Because everyone had married her. "
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. And they cited the story of a woman who married a man who later died. According to the law of the levirate, cited in the book of Deuteronomy 25, her husband's brother married her to perpetuate the offspring of the dead brother. But he also died and the same thing happened to the other brothers. In this case, the Sadducees were wrong in two aspects that the Lord emphasized: read verses 29 and 30:
29 But Jesus answered them: "You are all wrong because you do not know the Scriptures [that teach the resurrection] or the power of God [because He can raise the dead].
30 Because in the resurrection, neither men marry nor women give themselves in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven [who do not marry nor produce children].
Here they demonstrated their ignorance in two areas; the Holy Scriptures and the power of God. It does not say here that those were angels. Neither we will be angels in heaven but angels, in the sense that in heaven we will not marry, because there it will not be necessary to continue the offspring through birth. This does not mean that a husband and his wife, who on earth were very close, can not remain united in heaven if they wish. In any case, both will have a new disposition and, surely, they will get there much better than when they were on earth!
In verse 1-14, those that Christ has called and wouldn't heed to His call are those that would miss it when the roll is called in Heaven. Christ called many but only few will inherit the kingdom of Heaven
What I learnt from this scripture is that we should always anticipate at the second coming of Jesus Christ, also we should love Christ because that is the first commandment then followed by our neighbours. Christ cannot love us if we don't have the habit of love in us. It is such the greatest commandment to us
The Kingdom of God doesn’t enrich its rulers at the expense of its subjects. Instead, it will accomplish God’s will, including the promise that those who love him will live forever on a paradise earth.
Many are called but few are chosen, we are the chosen generation and a royal priesthood
Jesus taught us a valuable lesson that we should be ready for the bridegroom and we should be prayerful .
All wisdom trace back to the word and the word is Him. Thanks for lessons you have taught me.
Love is the greatest commandment of all in the Bible. Without love,no one shall see the Lord,we must be ready to love Christ and others that surround us so we can also be part of His heavenly kingdom