Matthew 22
Geneva Study Bible
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
And {1} Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

(1) Not all of the whole company of those that are called by the voice of the gospel are the true Church before God: for the most part of them would rather follow the conveniences of this life: and some persecute very cruelly those that call them: but they are the true Church who obey when they are called, such as for the most part are those whom the world despises.

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Again, 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.
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are {a} killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

(a) The word used here is commonly used in sacrifices, and is by translation used for other feasts also: For feasts and banquets usually began with sacrifices.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
{2} But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

(2) A dreadful destruction of those that condemn Christ.

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

(b) The marriage feast.

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

(3) God first calls us when we think nothing of it.

So 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.
So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both {c} bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

(c) The general calling offers the gospel to all men: but those who enter in have their life examined.

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

(4) In the small number which come at the calling, there are some castaways who do not confirm their faith with newness of life.

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

(d) Literally, haltered, that is to say, he held his peace, as though he had a bridle or a halter around his neck.

Then 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.
Then said the king to the {e} servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(e) To those that served the guests.

For many are called, but few are chosen.
For many are called, but few are chosen.
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
{f} Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

(f) Snare him in his words or talk. The Greek word is derived from snares which hunters lay.

And 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.
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the {g} Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God {h} in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the {i} person of men.

(g) Those who with Herod made a new religion, composed of both heathen and Jewish religion.

(h) Truly and sincerely.

(i) You are not moved with any appearance and outward show.

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
{5} Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give {k} tribute unto Caesar, or not?

(5) The Christians must obey their magistrates, even though they are wicked and extortioners, but only in as much as is in agreement with the commandments of God, and only in as much as his honour is not diminished.

(k) The word that is used here signifies a valuing and rating of men's substance, according to the proportion of which they payed tribute in those provinces which were subject to tribute, and it is here taken for the tribute itself.

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a {l} penny.

(l) Before Mt 17:24 there is mention made of a didrachma, and here of a penny, whereas a didrachma is more by the seventh part then a penny: so that there seems to be an inconsistency in these two places: but they may easily be reconciled in this way: The penny was paid to the Romans for tribute, according to the proportion they were rated at, and the drachma was payed by everyone to the Temple, which also the Romans took to themselves when they had subdued India.

And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
They 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.
They 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.
When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
{6} The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

(6) Christ affirms the resurrection of the flesh, as opposed to the Sadducees.

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

(m) Daughters are also included by this word children, but even though they were part of his family and bore his name, the man who had only daughters was in the same position as the man who had no children at all; this is because daughters were not at this time able to carry on the family name. Therefore, by children here, we should understand it to be referring to sons.

Now 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:
Now 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:
Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
And last of all the woman died also.
And last of all the woman died also.
Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the {n} angels of God in heaven.

(n) He does not say that they will be without bodies, for then they would not be men any more; but, they will be as angels, for they will neither marry nor be married.

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
I 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.
I 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.
And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
{7} But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

(7) The gospel does not abolish the precepts of the law, but rather it confirms them.

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
Then {o} one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

(o) A scribe, so it says in Mr 12:28. To understand what a scribe is, see Geneva Mt 2:4

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy {p} soul, and with all thy mind.

(p) The Hebrew text in De 6:5 reads, with thine heart, soul, and strength; and in Mr 12:30 and Lu 10:27 we read, with soul, heart, strength and thought.

This is the first and great commandment.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy {q} neighbour as thyself.

(q) Another man.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
{8} While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

(8) Christ manifestly proves that he is David's son, according to the flesh, but otherwise David's Lord, and very God.

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

(r) Of whose stock or family: for the Hebrews call a man's posterity sons.

He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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