
Matthew 22:1-22
22:1-5 | A wedding feast could go on for days with much food and merriment. An invitation from the king would be considered both an honor and a command, but the citizens of this country at first refused the invitation, even though the king had described the many pleasures of the feast.
22:6-7 | Some invited guests not only ignored or scorned the king’s invitation but also reacted violently against his messengers. The king reacted as ancient rulers often did; he sent his troops to destroy the city of the murderers. To treat the king’s messengers with contempt was to treat the king himself with contempt.
22:8-10 | The invitation to the wedding feast was given to everyone – both bad and good – because the original invitees had refused the invitation. This detail indicates that the Gentiles were now being offered salvation because the Jews had rejected the gospel.
22:11-13 | Even though the final invitation to the celebration was broadcast indiscriminately, guests still had to meet certain conditions to participate in the feast, including wearing a wedding garment, which was probably given to guests by the king himself (Esth. 6:8-9; Ezek. 16:10-13). When the king found a man without such clothing, the man was summarily tied up and thrown out of the palace.
22:14 | For the priests and scribes, the message is that the call of the gospel went out to the whole world, but to the Jewish people first. Relatively few accepted the Lord’s invitation to eternal life, so the invitation was extended to Gentiles as well. To participate in the great feast of God, one must not only be invited, but also put on the king’s wedding clothes – the righteousness of Christ, accepted by grace through faith. Those without such a garment although called, reveal that they are not chosen (Rom. 3:21-31; 4:22-25).
22:15 | The Pharisees, understanding that Jesus told the preceding parable with them in mind, began to plot against Him. Realizing His popularity with the public, they devised a verbal trap intended to destroy Jesus’ credibility regardless of how He answered.
22:16-17 | The Herodians were Jews who supported Herod’s dynasty and therefore tolerated their Roman overlords better than the common people in Israel did. Although they were on the opposite side of the political and religious spectrum, they joined forces with the Pharisees because both groups saw Jesus as a threat. They chose the question about paying taxes to Caesar – the infamous poll tax – because they believed that no matter how Jesus answered, He would alienate either the Jewish listeners, who hated the tax, or the Romans, who supported the tax.
22:18-22 | While their question was clever, Jesus recognized their wickedness and hypocrisy, for the Pharisees and the Herodians were not looking for the truth but were merely seeking a means to destroy Him. Render means “to give back” – implying that believers are responsible to respect and obey governments as well as God. All governments are in power by the authority of God and should be obeyed unless their edicts contradict the Word of God (Acts 4:18-20; 5:29; Rom. 13:1-8; 1 Pet. 2:13-17).