1 And Iesus answered, and spake vnto them againe by parables, and said,
2 The Kingdome of heauen is like vnto a certaine King, which made a marriage for his sonne,
3 And sent forth his seruants to call them that were bidden to the wedding, and they would not come.
4 Againe, hee sent foorth other seruants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Beholde, I haue prepared my dinner; my oxen, and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come vnto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their wayes, one to his farme, another to his merchandize:
6 And the remnant tooke his seruants, and intreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth, and hee sent foorth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burnt vp their citie.
8 Then saith hee to his seruants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden, were not worthy.
9 Goe yee therefore into the high wayes, and as many as yee shall finde, bid to the marriage.
10 So those seruants went out into the high wayes, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with ghests.
11 ¶ And when the King came in to see the guests, hee sawe there a man, which had not on a wedding garment,
12 And hee sayth vnto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not hauing a wedding garment? And hee was speechlesse.
13 Then said the king to the seruants, Binde him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkenesse, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
15 ¶ Then went the Pharises, and tooke counsell, how they might intangle him in his talke.
16 And they sent out vnto him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Master, wee know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in trueth, neither carest thou for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men.
17 Tell vs therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawfull to giue tribute vnto Cesar, or not?
18 But Iesus perceiued their wickednesse, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought vnto him a peny.
20 And he sayth vnto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21 They say vnto him, Cesars. Then sayth he vnto them, Render therefore vnto Cesar, the things which are Cesars: and vnto God, the things that are Gods.
22 When they had heard these wordes, they marueiled, and left him, and went their way.
23 ¶ The same day came to him the Sadduces, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, hauing no children, his brother shall marrie his wife, and raise vp seed vnto his brother.
25 Now there were with vs seuen brethren, and the first when he had maried a wife, deceased, and hauing no issue, left his wife vnto his brother.
26 Likewise the second also, and the third, vnto the seuenth.
27 And last of al the woman died also.
28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seuen? for they all had her.
29 Iesus answered, and said vnto them, Yee doe erre, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are giuen in marriage, but are as the Angels of God in heauen.
31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, haue ye not read that which was spoken vnto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the liuing.
33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
34 ¶ But when the Pharises had heard that he had put the Sadduces to silence, they were gathered together.
35 Then one of them, which was a Lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great Commandement in the Law?
37 Iesus sayd vnto him, Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soule, and with all thy minde.
38 This is the first and great Commandement.
39 And the second is like vnto it, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe.
40 On these two Commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets.
41 ¶ While the Pharises were gathered together, Iesus asked them,
42 Saying, What thinke yee of Christ? whose sonne is hee? They say vnto him, The sonne of Dauid.
43 He saith vnto them, How then doth Dauid in spirit call him Lord, saying,
44 The Lord said vnto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstoole?
45 If Dauid then call him Lord, how is he his sonne?
46 And no man was able to answere him a word, neither durst any man (from that day foorth) aske him any moe questions.
The parable of the marriage feast. (1-14) The Pharisees question Jesus as to the tribute. (15-22) The question of the Sadducees as to the resurrection. (23-33) The substance of the commandments. (34-40) Jesus questions the Pharisees. (41-46)1-14 The provision made for perishing souls in the gospel, is represented by a royal feast made by a king, with eastern liberality, on the marriage of his son. Our merciful God has not only provided food, but a royal feast, for the perishing souls of his rebellious creatures. There is enough and to spare, of every thing that can add to our present comfort and everlasting happiness, in the salvation of his Son Jesus Christ. The guests first invited were the Jews. When the prophets of the Old Testament prevailed not, nor John the Baptist, nor Christ himself, who told them the kingdom of God was at hand, the apostles and ministers of the gospel were sent, after Christ's resurrection, to tell them it was come, and to persuade them to accept the offer. The reason why sinners come not to Christ and salvation by him, is, not because they cannot, but because they will not. Making light of Christ, and of the great salvation wrought out by him, is the damning sin of the world. They were careless. Multitudes perish for ever through mere carelessness, who show no direct aversion, but are careless as to their souls. Also the business and profit of worldly employments hinder many in closing with the Saviour. Both farmers and merchants must be diligent; but whatever we have of the world in our hands, our care must be to keep it out of our hearts, lest it come between us and Christ. The utter ruin coming upon the Jewish church and nation, is here represented. Persecution of Christ's faithful ministers fills up the measure of guilt of any people. The offer of Christ and salvation to the Gentiles was not expected; it was such a surprise as it would be to wayfaring men, to be invited to a royal wedding-feast. The design of the gospel is to gather souls to Christ; all the children of God scattered abroad, #Joh 10:16; 11:52|. The case of hypocrites is represented by the guest that had not on a wedding-garment. It concerns all to prepare for the scrutiny; and those, and those only, who put on the Lord Jesus, who have a Christian temper of mind, who live by faith in Christ, and to whom he is all in all, have the wedding-garment. The imputed righteousness of Christ, and the sanctification of the Spirit, are both alike necessary. No man has the wedding-garment by nature, or can form it for himself. The day is coming, when hypocrites will be called to account for all their presumptuous intruding into gospel ordinances, and usurpation of gospel privileges. Take him away. Those that walk unworthy of Christianity, forfeit all the happiness they presumptuously claimed. Our Saviour here passes out of the parable into that which it teaches. Hypocrites go by the light of the gospel itself down to utter darkness. Many are called to the wedding-feast, that is, to salvation, but few have the wedding-garment, the righteousness of Christ, the sanctification of the Spirit. Then let us examine ourselves whether we are in the faith, and seek to be approved by the King.
15-22 The Pharisees sent their disciples with the Herodians, a party among the Jews, who were for full subjection to the Roman emperor. Though opposed to each other, they joined against Christ. What they said of Christ was right; whether they knew it or not, blessed be God we know it. Jesus Christ was a faithful Teacher, and a bold reprover. Christ saw their wickedness. Whatever mask the hypocrite puts on, our Lord Jesus sees through it. Christ did not interpose as a judge in matters of this nature, for his kingdom is not of this world, but he enjoins peaceable subjection to the powers that be. His adversaries were reproved, and his disciples were taught that the Christian religion is no enemy to civil government. Christ is, and will be, the wonder, not only of his friends, but of his enemies. They admire his wisdom, but will not be guided by it; his power, but will not submit to it.
23-33 The doctrines of Christ displeased the infidel Sadducees, as well as the Pharisees and Herodians. He carried the great truths of the resurrection and a future state, further than they had yet been reveled. There is no arguing from the state of things in this world, as to what will take place hereafter. Let truth be set in a clear light, and it appears in full strength. Having thus silenced them, our Lord proceeded to show the truth of the doctrine of the resurrection from the books of Moses. God declared to Moses that he was the God of the patriarchs, who had died long before; this shows that they were then in a state of being, capable of enjoying his favour, and proves that the doctrine of the resurrection is clearly taught in the Old Testament as well as in the New. But this doctrine was kept for a more full revelation, after the resurrection of Christ, who was the first-fruits of them that slept. All errors arise from not knowing the Scriptures and the power of God. In this world death takes away one after another, and so ends all earthly hopes, joys, sorrows, and connexions. How wretched are those who look for nothing better beyond the grave!
34-40 An interpreter of the law asked our Lord a question, to try, not so much his knowledge, as his judgment. The love of God is the first and great commandment, and the sum of all the commands of the first table. Our love of God must be sincere, not in word and tongue only. All our love is too little to bestow upon him, therefore all the powers of the soul must be engaged for him, and carried out toward him. To love our neighbour as ourselves, is the second great commandment. There is a self-love which is corrupt, and the root of the greatest sins, and it must be put off and mortified; but there is a self-love which is the rule of the greatest duty: we must have a due concern for the welfare of our own souls and bodies. And we must love our neighbour as truly and sincerely as we love ourselves; in many cases we must deny ourselves for the good of others. By these two commandments let our hearts be formed as by a mould.
41-46 When Christ baffled his enemies, he asked what thoughts they had of the promised Messiah? How he could be the Son of David and yet his Lord? He quotes #Ps 110:1|. If the Christ was to be a mere man, who would not exist till many ages after David's death, how could his forefather call him Lord? The Pharisees could not answer it. Nor can any solve the difficulty except he allows the Messiah to be the Son of God, and David's Lord equally with the Father. He took upon him human nature, and so became God manifested in the flesh; in this sense he is the Son of man and the Son of David. It behoves us above all things seriously to inquire, "What think we of Christ?" Is he altogether glorious in our eyes, and precious to our hearts? May Christ be our joy, our confidence, our all. May we daily be made more like to him, and more devoted to his service.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.