[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 22
“For many are invited but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14)
“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21)
“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. And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-38)
THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET (vs. 1-14)
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to invite people to come but many have their excuses, so they did not attend. Others seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them (v. 6). So the king was enraged and he sent his army to destroy the murderers.
Then he told his servants to go to everywhere to invite everyone for the wedding banquet. Many guests came but there was one who was not wearing the wedding clothes. So the king told his attendants to tie him and throw him outside.
PAYING TAXES TO CAESAR (vs. 5-22)
The Pharisees and Herodians sent their disciples to ask Jesus this question: “Is it right to pay to Caesar or not?” (v. 17). Jesus told them to get a coin and asked them: “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” (v. 20). Then they replied: “Caesar”. Jesus said to them: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (v. 21)
MARRIAGE AT THE RESURRECTION (vs. 23-33)
The Sadducees came to Jesus and asked a question about marriage at the resurrection. They cited that there were 7 brothers. each got married and died without children, so he left his wife to his brother. That happened from the first to the last. Then they asked: “At the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven since all of them were married to her?” (v. 28). Jesus said: “At the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. They will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead — have you not read what God said to you, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (vs. 30-32)
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT (vs. 34-37)
The greatest commandment is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. The second is: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (vs. 37, 39)
WHOSE SON IS THE CHRIST? (vs. 41-46)
Jesus asked the Pharisees a question about Himself. “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? (v. 42). They replied: “The son of David”. Then Jesus said to them. Then why did David call me Lord? The Pharisees could not answer because they would not accept Him as the Messiah.
SUMMARY:
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet is a reflection of the Father and the Israel. The Father invited Israel to enjoy the blessings of His Son. But Israel rejected the invitation that brought them national judgment. So, the king turned to the Gentiles. The Gentiles went to the banquet. However, in order to make them acceptable, they have to wear a wedding garment (righteousness of Christ). This righteousness of Christ is available to all who believe in Him.
The Herodian is a religious group with political ambitions who cooperated with King Herod. They opposed the Pharisees who hated the Roman rule. But now these two groups got together to oppose Christ. They asked Jesus a hard question: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?” (v. 7). If Jesus was against paying tribute to Rome, He could be arrested as a traitor. But if he favored tribute to Caesar, the Jews would not be happy because they hated Roman’s rule. Jesus replied them with a perfect answer: “Give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”. As Caesar had stamped his image on the coin, God had also stamped His image on man. (Gen. 1:26-27) Since sin had marred that image, it can only be restored through Christ. Jesus was teaching every Christian to obey the law and honor their leaders.
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. They came to Jesus and asked a hypothetical question about marriage at the Resurrection. Based on Old Testament Law, if a man died without a son, his brother must marry his brother’s widow to perpetuate the name of the family (Gen. 38:8, Deut. 25:5-10). But Jesus said that there will be no marriage in the next life because people will be spiritual like angels.
Jesus summed up the 10 commandments with only two. The first commandment comprises the first four of the 10 commandments, while the second commandment comprises the last six of the 10 commandments. A true Christian loves the Lord and shares his love with others.
As man, Jesus is called the Son of David because He was a descendant of David. He is called Lord, because He is the eternal God.[:]