1The parable of the marriage of the king's son: the unworthiness of those that were first bidden: others called in their place: the punishment of one that came without a wedding garment. 15The question calculated to entangle proposed concerning paying tribute to Caesar, and Christ's answer. 23He refuteth conclusively the Sadducees who questioned him concerning the resurrection. 34He showeth which are the chief commandments of the law. 41He proposeth to the Pharisees a knotty question concerning Christ.
1AND Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2Thea kingdom of heaven 1is like unto 2a certain king, which made a 3marriage for his son,
a Luke 14:16; Rev. 19:7.
1 By this parable is set before our eyes the great ingratitude of the Jews, who, being called by God through the preaching of the Gospel to the communion of His Son and to salvation, despised the same, and therefore would be grievously punished and cast off; and that afterwards the Gentiles would be called in their stead.
2 Gr. a man who was a king, that is, God the Father.
3 That is, the gracious and spiritual fellowship with Christ and eternal salvation.
3And sent forth his 4servants 5to call them 6that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Namely, the prophets and faithful priests.
5 That is, to bring in.
6 Namely, the Jews.
4Again, he sent forth 7other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlingsbare killed, and all things are 8ready: come unto the marriage.
7 Namely, the apostles, evangelists and other teachers of the Holy Gospel.
b young animals fattened for slaughter*
8 Seeing Christ was now come in the flesh to accomplish actually the work of salvation.
5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his 9armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
9 Which were the Romans, whom God made use off to bring this judgment upon them, although they intended no such matter, as Isa. 10:7.
8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were 10not worthy.
10 See Acts 13:46.
9Go ye therefore into the 11highways, and 12as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
11 Or, crossways, that is, into all parts and countries of the world, Rom. 10:18.
12 That is, of all sorts, without distinction.
10So 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.
11¶And when the king came in to 13see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a 14wedding garment:
13 Namely, when the last judgment day shall be held; see verse 13.
14 This wedding garment is Christ with His righteousness, received by a true faith, which is effectual, and shown forth by the works of charity, Rom. 13:14; Gal. 3:26, 27; Rev. 19:8.
12And he saith unto him, 15Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was 16speechless.
15 Gr. fellow, or companion.
16 Namely, as one who is muzzled.
13Then said the king to the 17servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into 18outer darkness; therec shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
17 Namely, who served at the table, whereby are understood the angels. See Mat. 13:41, 42.
18 See hereof Mat. 8:12.
c Mat. 8:12; 13:42; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28.
1419For manyd are called, but few are chosen.
19 This conclusion refers not only to this single person, who is as an example of all hypocrites, but likewise the multitude of those who, being invited earlier, despised the same.
d Mat. 20:16.
15¶Thene went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him 20in his talk.
e Mark 12:13; Luke 20:20.
20 Or, with their talk. See Mark 12:13.
16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the 21Herodians, 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 22person of men.
21 Some ancient teachers think that these Herodians were a peculiar sect, which consented and followed a mixture of the Jewish and pagan religion brought in by Herod the Great, which agrees with Mark 8:15. Others think that they were courtiers or servants of Herod Antipas, who gathered these tributes for their Emperor, and laid hands on those who would refuse such tribute, or denied that it was lawful; which is gathered from the words, Luke 20:20.
22 Gr. face, that is, the outward state or condition of men, as power, riches, kindred or the like.
17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give 23tribute unto Caesar, or not?
23 Or, taxes.
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19Shew me the 24tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
24 This was a piece of money of the Romans called by the name denarius, as is expressed at the end of this verse, whereon the Roman Emperors’ image and name was stamped; which, and no other coin, was to be given for tribute, that thereby it would appear that they were under the dominion of the Roman Empire; as they also before used to pay tribute of the temple with half a shekel of the sanctuary, on which stood on the one side the shekel of Israel, and on the other side the holy Jerusalem. Of the denarius see Mat. 18:28.
20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Renderf therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
f Mat. 17:25; Rom. 13:7.
22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
23¶Theg same day came to him the 25Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
g Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27; Acts 23:8.
25 Of the sect of the Sadducees see in more detail in Acts 23:8.
24Saying, Master, Mosesh said, If a man die, having no 26children, his brother shall 27marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
h Deut. 25:5.
26 That is, sons; who was to raise up seed unto his deceased brother, who would bear his brother’s name and be his heir, Deut. 25:5, 6.
27 Gr. by right of affinity take to wife.
25Now 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:
26Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the 28seventh.
28 Gr. unto the seven.
27And last of all the woman died also.
28Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30For in the resurrection 29they neither marry, nor 30are given in marriage, buti are 31as the angels of God in heaven.
29 Namely, men.
30 Namely, women.
i 1 John 3:2.
31 Not in respect of essence, but as concerning marriage, and the natural properties of this transitory life. See 1 Cor. 15:44; Philip. 3:21.
31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 Ij am 32the 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.
j Exod. 3:6.
32 To be someone’s God, is willing to give someone eternal salvation, both of body and soul. See Psalm 33:12 and 144:15, From which follows that these patriarchs lived with God in respect of their souls (which these Sadducees also denied, Acts 23:8) and would also arise in respect of their bodies and live eternally, seeing He is called a God, not only of one part of them, but of their entire persons.
33And when the multitude heard this, they werek astonished at his doctrine.
k Mat. 7:28.
34¶Butl when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
l Mark 12:28.
35Thenm one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
m Luke 10:25.
36Master, which is the 33great commandment in the law?
33 That is, the greatest.
37Jesus said unto him, Thoun shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy 34mind.
n Deut. 6:5; 10:12; 30:6; Luke 10:27.
34 Or, reasoning, that is, weighing, pondering in the understanding.
38This is the first and great commandment.
39And the second is like unto it, Thouo shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
o Lev. 19:18; Mark 12:31; Rom. 13:9; Gal. 5:14; Eph. 5:2; 1 Thes. 4:9; James 2:8.
40On these two commandments hang 35all the law and the prophets.
35 That is, herein, as in the sum total, are contained all the commandments of the law, and upon the same the expositions of the prophets. See Rom. 13:10; 1 Tim. 1:5.
41¶Whilep the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
p Mark 12:35; Luke 20:41.
42Saying, What think ye of 36Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
36 That is, of the promised Messiah or Anointed.
43He saith unto them, How then doth David 37in spirit call him Lord, saying,
37 That is, being moved by the Holy Ghost. See 2 Peter 1:21.
44Theq LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my 38right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
q Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34; 1 Cor. 15:25; Heb. 1:13; 10:13.
38 Of the right hand see Mat. 20:21.
4539If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
39 See hereof the explanation in Luke 20:44.
46And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.