MATTHEW CHAPTER 22

New Testament

Matthew chapter 22

Scripture:

Today I will summarize Matthew chapter 22 where Jesus told the people what the kingdom of heaven can be compared to.  Where numerous people tried to trick Jesus and where Jesus confused the religious leaders.  Jesus spoke another parable.  He said the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who was giving a wedding feast for his son. 

He told his slaves to go and tell everyone who was invited that everything was ready.  The slaves went as instructed but many of the people did not want to go.  Most of the people ignored the slaves and continued with their farms and business.  Some of the guests however captured the slaves tortured them and killed them.  When word got back to the king about what had happened, he was enraged.  He sent his soldiers to destroy all those people who hurt their slaves and their city was burned.  The king told the other slaves the wedding is ready but those who were invited were not worthy of it. Go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find. So, the slaves went and invited everyone they could find good and bad alike. 

The wedding hall was filled with people.  When the king went in to look at the guests, he came across a man who was not wearing wedding clothes.  He asked the man friend how did you get in without wearing wedding clothes. But the man said nothing.  Then the king instructed the servants to tie the man’s hands and feet and throw him outside in the dark.  There he will cry and grind his teeth.  Jesus concluded many are invited only a few are chosen.

The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus with these questions.  Then they sent to Jesus some of their disciples and some members of Herod’s party.  They said teacher we know that you speak and teach the truth and the truth about God’s will for man.  You don’t care or worry what people think of you because you pay no attention to a man’s status.  They then tried to trap Jesus by asking him to tell them if it was against the law to pay taxes to the Roman emperor, or not. Jesus was aware of their evil plans and he replied, hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? He asked them for a coin.  He said whose face and name are these? They replied “The Emperor’s”. Jesus answered then pay to the emperor what belongs to him and pay God what belongs to God. 

When they heard how wisely Jesus answered them, they were astonished and left him and went away.  One day some Sadducees came to Jesus and claimed there is no resurrection.  They asked Jesus a question. They said Moses said if a man dies without having children his brother must marry the widow so that they can have children who will be considered the dead man’s children.  For example, seven brothers used to live here. The eldest got married and died without having children.  The same thing happened to the second brother, to the third, and finally to all seven.  Last of all the woman died.  Now, on the day when the dead rise to life, whose wife will she be? All seven of them had married her.  Jesus replied you are so wrong because you are not aware of the scripture and god’s power.  When the dead will rise to live, they will be like angels in heaven and will not marry. 

He continued haven’t you read what God has told you?  I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.  He is the God of the living and not of the dead. When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees.  They attempted to trap him one last time.  One of them a lawyer went up to Jesus and asked so what is the greatest Commandment in the law.  Jesus said the greatest commandment is that you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.  This is the greatest and most important of all commandments.   The second most important commandment is to love your neighbour as you love yourself.

The whole law of Moses and its teachings depend on these two commandments.  When some Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked them a question.  What do you think about the Messiah? whose descendant is he?  He is David’s descendant they replied.  Why then Jesus asks, did the spirit inspire David to call him Lord? David said the Lord said to my Lord sit here on my right until I put your enemies under your feet.  If then David called him Lord, how can the Messiah be David’s descendant? No one was able to answer Jesus and from that day onwards no one dared to ask him questions again.

Observation:

The thing I think the lord wants us to understand after reading this chapter is that many people are invited to come into the kingdom of heaven.  Many people ignored the invitation and some people persecute the messengers.  God wants us to know that he wants his heaven full of people so he extends an invitation to both Good and evil to repent and to come to him. God wants us to see that there are some beings that want to go to heaven but they are not invited. God wants us to see that all the spiritual and political leaders of the day tried to trap Jesus with what he said but Jesus perceived their trickery each and every time. 

God wants us to understand that the greatest two commandments revolve around love.  Loving our God and loving our fellow humans.  God wants us to see that people who go to heaven do not get married.  They are just like angels in that regard.  God wants us to know and believe the scriptures trust in him and rely on his power.  So, we do not err as the Sadducees did.  Jesus had wisdom that shocked the leader of his day.  It would be wise for us to learn what he said has been recorded in the bible If you have never read what Jesus said and taught you can start today.  Open your bible for yourself and start reading.  Let us all turn from our sins right now and repent.  Come and let’s place our trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.  Jesus humbled himself and died on the cross for you and me so that our sins could be forgiven and we could reunite once again with the heavenly father. 

Prayer:

My Heavenly Father, You, see all things and know all that there is.  Your understanding is beyond measure and your knowledge is perfect.  Teach me, Lord, that I may walk in your wisdom.  Guide my steps so that I do not end up in the wrong path, and direct my thoughts so that I do not make the wrong choices.  I ask this in the name of your beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ Amen.