[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 22
Bible Verses:
“For many are invited, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14)
“Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 19-21)
” 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30)
“ Jesus replied: “‘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.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew : 27-39)
THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET (vs. 1-22)
A King prepared a wedding banquet for his son and invited people to attend. Many were busy and did not attend. The king told his servants to invite anyone in the street. So the wedding hall was filled people. But when the king entered, he saw a man not wearing the wedding clothes. So, he was furious and told the attendants to throw him outside into darkness.
This parable projects the bridegroom as “the Son who wants everyone to come to Him. Unfortunately, Israel rejected his invitation resulting to the destruction of Jerusalem. The king turned to the Gentiles.
What does wearing of wedding garment symbolize? The guest must receive a covering from the king to be accepted. The king called “both bad and good” but provided a garment to make them acceptable.
Similarly, God had provided the gift of righteousness through Christ to all who believe in Him. This means that we have to respond to God’s invitation and receive the Lord inwardly.
PAYING TAXES TO CAESAR (vs. 15-22)
The Herodians was a religious group with political ambition. Together with the Pharisees, they laid plans to trap Jesus by asking him this question: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (v. 17). This question has two indications: If Jesus disapproved tribute to Rome, he would be arrested. But if he answered in the affirmative, he would be considered as a traitor and the hearts of the Jews who despised their Roman rulers. Jesus knew their evil intention. So he asked them to show him a coin and asked them: “What portrait is this? And whose inscription?” They replied “Caesar’s”. The he answered them: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s (vs. 20-21)
MARRIAGE AT THE RESURRECTION (vs. 23-33)
The Sadducees was a religious group that did not believe in resurrection. They came to Jesus and presented a hypothetical question about marriage in the next life based on Old Testament Law that a man must marry his brother’s widow to perpetuate the family. Jesus answered them: “At the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (vs. 30).
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT (vs. 34-40)
The doctors of the law divided the commandments into “Heaven” and “tight” and separated the “ritual law” and the “moral law”. The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus by forcing him to take sides on this controversial theological issue. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” and Leviticus 19:18: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord” Those two commandments sum up the entire law (Romans 13:8-10)
WHOSE SON IS THE CHRIST? (v.s 41-46)
Jesus asked the Pharisees this question: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?: (v. 42). They answered: “The Son of David”. But Jesus asked them: “How can he be David’s son when David called him Lord?” (v. 43). No one could reply.
APPLICATION:
- The parable of the Wedding Banquet emphasizes the fact that God has invited us by providing the gift of righteousness through Christ Jesus. We have to respond to His invitation by believing in Him in order to be accepted by the Father in heaven.
- Caesar had stamped his image on the coins. God has also stamped His image on man (Gen. 1:26-27). As Christians, we should obey God’s law and give what is due to God.
- Jesus teaches us that our soul exists after death and those who have faith in Him will go to be with the Lord. The continuation of life after death proves that there is future resurrection.
- The true heart of religion is to Love God and men. Those are the two greatest commandments required of a Christian. Are you following them?
- How can Jesus be “Son of David” and “Son of God” at the same time? As eternal God, Christ is David’s Lord, but as the God-man who came in flesh, he is David’s son. Therefore, Jesus is man while on earth and is now God in heaven.
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