AGAIN IN PARABLES (παλιν εν παραβολαις). Matthew has already given two on this occasion (The Two Sons, The Wicked Husbandmen). He alone gives this Parable of the Marriage Feast of the King's Son. It is somewhat similar to that of The Supper in Luke 14:16-23 given on another occasion. Hence some s... [ Continue Reading ]
A MARRIAGE FEAST (γαμους). The plural, as here (Matthew 22:2; Matthew 22:3; Matthew 22:4; Matthew 22:9), is very common in the papyri for the wedding festivities (the several acts of feasting) which lasted for days, seven in Judges 14:17. The very phrase here, γαμους ποιειν, occurs in the Doric of... [ Continue Reading ]
TO CALL THEM THAT WERE BIDDEN (καλεσα τους κεκλημενους). "Perhaps an unconscious play on the words, lost in both A.V. and Rev.,TO CALL THE CALLED " (Vincent). It was a Jewish custom to invite a second time the already invited (Esther 5:8; Esther 6:14). The prophets of old had given God's invita... [ Continue Reading ]
MY DINNER (το αριστον μου). It is breakfast, not dinner. In Luke 14:12 both αριστον (breakfast) and δειπνον (dinner) are used. This noon or midday meal, like the French breakfast at noon, was sometimes called δειπνον μεσημβρινον (midday dinner or luncheon). The regular dinner (δειπνον) came in th... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE LIGHT OF IT (αμελησαντες). Literally, neglecting, not caring for. They may even have ridiculed the invitation, but the verb does not say so. However, to neglect an invitation to a wedding feast is a gross discourtesy.ONE TO HIS OWN FARM (ος μεν εις τον ιδιον αγρον) or field,ANOTHER TO HIS... [ Continue Reading ]
ARMIES (στρατευματα). Bands of soldiers, not grand armies.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PARTINGS OF THE HIGHWAYS (τας διεξοδους των οδων). Vulgate, _exitus viarum_. Διοδο are cross-streets, while διεξοδο (double compound) seem to be main streets leading out of the city where also side-streets may branch off, "by-ways.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WEDDING (ο γαμος). But Westcott and Hort rightly read here ο νυμφων, marriage dining hall. The same word in Matthew 9:15 means the bridechamber.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT HAVING A WEDDING-GARMENT (μη εχων ενδυμα γαμου). Μη is in the _Koine_ the usual negative with participles unless special emphasis on the negative is desired as in ουκ ενδεδυμενον. There is a subtle distinction between μη and ου like our subjective and objective notions. Some hold that the wed... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS SPEECHLESS (εψιμωθη). Was muzzled, dumb from confusion and embarrassment. It is used of the ox (1 Timothy 5:18).THE OUTER DARKNESS (το σκοτος το εξωτερον). See Matthew 8:12. All the blacker from the standpoint of the brilliantly lighted banquet hall.THERE SHALL BE (εκε εστα). Out there in... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW CHOSEN (πολλο γαρ εισιν κλητο ολιγο δε εκλεκτο). This crisp saying of Christ occurs in various connections. He evidently repeated many of his sayings many times as every teacher does. There is a distinction between the called (κλητο) and the chosen (εκλεκτο) called ou... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT (πορευθεντες). So-called deponent passive and redundant use of the verb as in Matthew 9:13: "Go and learn."TOOK COUNSEL (συμβουλιον ελαβον). Like the Latin _consilium capere_ as in Matthew 12:14.ENSNARE IN HIS TALK (παγιδευσωσιν εν λογω). From παγις, a snare or trap. Here only in the N.T... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR DISCIPLES (τους μαθητας αυτων). Students, pupils, of the Pharisees as in Mark 2:18. There were two Pharisaic theological seminaries in Jerusalem (Hillel, Shammai).THE HERODIANS (των Hερωιδιανων). Not members of Herod's family or Herod's soldiers, but partisans or followers of Herod. The f... [ Continue Reading ]
TRIBUTE MONEY (το νομισμα του κηνσου). Κηνσος, Latin _census_, was a capitation tax or head-money, _tributum capitis_, for which silver denaria were struck, with the figure of Caesar and a superscription, e.g. "Tiberiou Kaisaros" (McNeile). Νομισμα is the Latin _numisma_ and occurs here only in t... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IMAGE AND SUPERSCRIPTION (η εικων αυτη κα η επιγραφη). Probably a Roman coin because of the image (picture) on it. The earlier Herods avoided this practice because of Jewish prejudice, but the Tetrarch Philip introduced it on Jewish coins and he was followed by Herod Agrippa I. This coin was... [ Continue Reading ]
RENDER (αποδοτε). "Give back" to Caesar what is already Caesar's.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL MARRY (επιγαμβρευσε). The Sadducees were "aiming at amusement rather than deadly mischief" (Bruce). It was probably an old conundrum that they had used to the discomfiture of the Pharisees. This passage is quoted from Deuteronomy 25:5; Deuteronomy 25:6. The word appears here only in the N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE ASTONISHED (εξεπλησσοντο). Descriptive imperfect passive showing the continued amazement of the crowds. They were struck out (literally).... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HAD PUT THE SADDUCEES TO SILENCE (εφιμωσεν τους Σαδδουκαιους). Muzzled the Sadducees. The Pharisees could not restrain their glee though they were joining with the Sadducees in trying to entrap Jesus.GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER (συνηχθησαν επ το αυτο). First aorist passive, were gathered to... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW (εντολη μεγαλη εν τω νομω). The positive adjective is sometimes as high in rank as the superlative. See μεγας in Matthew 5:19 in contrast with ελαχιστος. The superlative μεγιστος occurs in the N.T. only in 2 Peter 1:4. Possibly this scribe wishes to know which com... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHRIST (του Χριστου). The Messiah, of course, not Christ as a proper name of Jesus. Jesus here assumes that Matthew 22:110 refers to the Messiah. By his pungent question about the Messiah as David's son and Lord he really touches the problem of his Person (his Deity and his Humanity). Probabl... [ Continue Reading ]