AND JESUS ANSWERED AND SPAKE UNTO THEM AGAIN IN PARABLES - See the notes at Matthew 13:3. That is, he answered or made reply to the Pharisees, who had been enraged at him for what he had already spoken to them, Matthew 21:45. He made a still further statement, to show how the gospel would be receive... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN - See the notes at Matthew 3:2. The idea here is, “God deals with man in his kingdom, or in regard to the dispensation of the gospel, as a certain king did,” etc. This parable refers, undoubtedly, to the rejection of the Jews and to the calling of the Gentiles. The gospel, with... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SENT FORTH HIS SERVANTS - These represent the messengers that God has sent to invite people to his kingdom. TO CALL THEM THAT WERE BIDDEN - That is, to give notice to those who had before been invited that the feast was ready. It appears that there were two invitations - one considerably previo... [ Continue Reading ]
OTHER SERVANTS - Who might press it on their attention. So God repeats his message to sinners when they reject it. MY DINNER - This word literally denotes the meal taken about noon. It is also taken for a meal in general. As marriages were, among Eastern nations, in the evening, it refers here to a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY MADE LIGHT OF IT - Treated it with contempt, as a thing of no consequence - an exact representation of the conduct of sinners in regard to the gospel. ONE TO HIS FARM - So people are engaged so much in their worldly employment that they pretend they have no time to attend to religion. The... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE REMNANT ... - That is, a part made light of it; treated it with silent contempt, and coolly went about their business. The others were not satisfied with that, but showed positive malignity. Some sinners seem to be well satisfied by merely neglecting religion; others proceed against it with... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THE KING HEARD ... - This doubtless refers to the Jews and to Jerusalem. They were murderers, having slain the prophets; and God was about to send forth the armies of the Romans under his providential direction, and to burn up their city. See the notes at Matthew 24. WROTH - Angry; displea... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIGHWAYS - Literally, the “exit” or “going out” of the “paths or roads.” It means the square or principal street, into which a number of smaller streets enter; a place, therefore, of confluence, where many persons would be seen, and persons of all descriptions. By this is represented the offerin... [ Continue Reading ]
BAD AND GOOD - All descriptions of people. None are good by nature; if they were they would not need the gospel; but some are worse than others, and they have special need of it. None can be saved without it.... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN WHICH HAD NOT ON A WEDDING GARMENT - In ancient times, kings and princes were accustomed to make presents of changes of raiment to their friends and favourites, to refuse to receive which was an expression of highest contempt, Genesis 45:22; 2 Kings 10:22; Esther 6:8; Esther 8:15. It was, of c... [ Continue Reading ]
FRIEND - Rather, “companions.” The word does not imply friendship. HE WAS SPEECHLESS - He had no excuse. So it will be with all hypocrites.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST HIM INTO OUTER DARKNESS - See the notes at Matthew 8:12. This, without doubt, refers to the future punishment of the hypocrite, Matthew 23:23; Matthew 24:51.... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN - Our Saviour often uses this expression. It was probably proverbial. The Jews had been called, but few of them had been chosen to life. The great mass of the nation was wicked, and they showed by their lives that they were not chosen to salvation. The Gentiles al... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PHARISEES AND HERODIANS ENDEAVOR TO ENTANGLE JESUS - This narrative is also found in Mark 12:12; Luke 20:20. Matthew 22:15 THEN WENT THE PHARISEES - See the notes at Matthew 3:7. HOW THEY MIGHT ENTANGLE HIM - To entangle means to “ensnare,” as birds are taken by a net. This is done secretly, b... [ Continue Reading ]
CONVERSATION OF JESUS WITH THE SADDUCEES RESPECTING THE RESURRECTION - See also Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27. Matthew 22:23 THE SAME DAY CAME THE SADDUCEES - For an account of the Sadducees, see the notes at Matthew 3:7. NO RESURRECTION - The word “resurrection” usually means the raising up the “body” t... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS CONVERSES WITH A PHARISEE RESPECTING THE LAW - See also Mark 12:28. Matthew 22:34 THE PHARISEES ... WERE GATHERED TOGETHER - That is, either to rejoice that their great rivals, the Sadducees, had been so completely silenced, or to lay a new plan for ensnaring him, or perhaps both. They would... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS PROPOSES A QUESTION CONCERNING THE MESSIAH - See also Mark 12:35; Luke 20:41. Matthew 22:41 WHILE THE PHARISEES ... - Jesus, having confounded the great sects of the Jews, proceeds, in his turn, to propose to them a question for their solution. This was done, not for the purpose of vain par... [ Continue Reading ]