34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husband men ? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 1 Gr. bond-servants. 2 Or, the fruits of it. 35 36 the husbandmen. and let it out to husbandmen, and went 34 into another country. And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his 1 servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other 1 servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner. 37 But afterward he sent unto them his son, 38 saying, They will reverence my son. But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inherit39 ance. And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those 41 husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, 42 43 The stone which the builders rejected, corner: This was from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth 44 the fruits thereof. 8 And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will 45 scatter him as dust. And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 3 Some ancient authorities omit verse 44. of the people. God's people were separated from others, and every help to a true, godly life given them, under the superintendence of à consecrated priesthood and Levitical pastorate. The husbandmen of the parable are, of course, the rulers of the people, who managed their affairs, and who were naturally the guides of public opinion and conduct. The very chief priests and elders, to whom Jesus was speaking, were those against whom the parable was directed. 34. The season of the fruits. The time when the nation should have yielded to God the mature godliness for which he had so graciously furnished them. Servants. The various prophets sent to Israel along its history, almost all of whom were maltreated. 36. Other servants. These may refer to John the Baptist, as being more than all the rest together, in the directness and importance of his message (see chap. 11:11). 37. His Son. Jesus himself. The verisimilitude of the parable requires them to kill the Son in order to seize the inheritance. In the interpretation, the Jewish rulers slay Christ, that they may continue their power over the people. 41. Other husbandmen. The Gentiles are here designated. 42. The stone, etc. This is a quotation from Ps. 118: 22. The rejected stone is (not the Gentiles, but) the Lord Jesus himself, who would be the under-foundation of the glorious church. The literal stone rejected by the builders was the rock of Moriah, on which the Jebusite builders would not build, preferring the more comely Zion. Yet on that rocky height, carefully prepared therefor, was God's temple built. Rosh pinnah (Hebrew), of which acrogoniæon or kephalé gonias is the Greek, means, not "the head of the corner," but "the beginning of the pinnah.” And "pinnah," in Isa. 28: 16, cannot mean "corner;" as its noun in apposition is "foundation," and the verb which expresses its placing is the verb "to found." The "rosh pinnah" is thus the "beginning of the foundation," the rock on which the foundation was laid. The Greek word is a mere servile copy of "rosh pinnah," and a word coined for the occasion. In Eph. 2: 20, we find the apostles and prophets are the foundation, and Jesus Christ is the rosh pinnah, or underlying rock. It is a beautiful thought, that, as Moriah was cut and scarped in order that the temple might be built thereon; so Christ, rejected by the Jews, was bruised and smitten in order that his church might be erected upon him- the saved church resting upon his sufferings as the solid rock of its support. We may add, in this connection, that a "corner-stone" is not that on which a building rests, and is, therefore, wholly inadequate to represent Christ's support of the church. 43. The kingdom of God. Matthew uses this expression only four times, but uses "kingdom of heaven" more than twenty times. The other evangelists prefer this phrase. The words are used at times for the church in its imperfect, worldly appearance, and at times for the church in its true spiritual character (see on chap. 3:2). A nation. As against the Jewish nation, but referring to the church as drawn from many nations, the ethnic or Gentile church. 44. The falling on the stone is taken from Isa. 8: 15, and represents the stumbling of the Jews in the matter of The parable of the ST. MATTHEW, XXII. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, | 46 they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. marriage feast. And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet. Christ. They were broken as a nation in consequence. The falling of the stone upon one represents the punishment which must be such by the rejecter of Christ through his holy judgment. This latter clause is taken from Dan. 2: 44, where, in Theodotion's version of the passage, the same peculiar Greek word is used which is translated here by, "It will scatter him as dust." The word literally signifies, "It will winnow him." In Dan. 2: 35, we read, “became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them." It is significant, moreover, in that passage in Daniel, that the stone became a great mountain. CHAPTER XXII. 1. The parable of the marriage of the king's son. 9. The vocation of the Gentiles. 12. The punishment of him that wanted the wedding garment. 15. Tribute ought to be paid to Cæsar. 23. Christ confuteth the Sadducees for the resurrection: 34. answereth the lawyer, which is the first and great commandment: 41. and poseth the Pharisees about the Messias. 1 AND Jesus answered and spake unto them' again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 1 AND Jesus answered and spake again 2 in parables unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, which made a marriage feast for 3 his son, and sent forth his I servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage 4 feast: and they would not come. Again he sent forth other 1 servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come 5 to the marriage feast. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise: 6 and the rest laid hold on his 1 servants, and entreated them shamefully, and killed 7 them. But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those 8 murderers, and burned their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were 9 not worthy. Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast. 10 And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man which had not 12 on a wedding-garment: and he saith unto 1 Gr. bond-servants. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. $ Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So 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 see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 1 1. Answered the chief-priests, elders, and Pharisees, who were constantly plying him with questions (see chap. 21: 23, and 22: 15). 2. The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king. A loose, Oriental way of saying, administration of the kingdom of heaven is illustrated in the following parable: A king," etc. "The 3. To call them that were bidden. Literally, "to call them that had been called." They had been called or invited before, according to Oriental custom. This second call is when "all things are ready." The Jews were first called to the gospel feast by Moses and the prophets. The second call was by John the Baptist, Jesus himself, and the apostles, when the Messiah had come, and "all things were ready." 5,6. The conduct of the Jews toward Jesus and the apostles is here proleptically treated. A low, earthly selfishness led them to reject and slay the messengers of God's grace. 7. The ruin of the Jewish nation, and destruction of Jerusalem, with the sacrificial ceremonial, are here denoted. 9. The servants going out to the partings of the highways represents the visits of apostles and apostolic men to Gentile lands. 10. Bad and good. The Gentile church was never pure. It has always had within it the bad as well as the good. 11. A wedding-garment. This represents the true heart, the sincere faith, the honest holiness, without which no man can see the Lord (Heb. 12: 14). It is true that this holiness is God's gift to the seeking heart, but that feature of the truth is not brought out in the parable. The punishment of him that ST. MATTHEW, XXII. 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen. 15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, 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 person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites ? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. 23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now 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: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 1 wanted the wedding garment. him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he 13 was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and gnashing 14 of teeth. For many are called, but few chosen. 15 17 18 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in 16 his talk. And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, 2 Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why 19 tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a 8 penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's. And when they heard it, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. 20 21 22 23 24 On that day there came to him Sadducees, 4 which say that there is no resurrection: and they asked him, saying, 2 Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his 26 brother; in like manner the second also, 27 and the third, unto the seventh. And 28 after them all the woman died. In the resurrection therefore whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor 30 the power of God. For in the resurrec Or, ministers. 2 Or, Teacher. 3 See marginal note on chap. 18: 28.4 Gr. saying. 5 Gr. shall perform the duty of a husband's brother to his wife. Compare Deut. 25: 5. 6 Gr. seven. 13. See on chap. 8: 12. 14. Many are called to the gospel feast, but few are chosen by God (not arbitrarily, but in conformity to character) to enjoy its delights. 16. Herodians. Partisans of the Herodian family. They desired to see a member of the Herodian family on the throne of Judæa, under the suzerainty of Rome, and so formed a party half-way between the ultra-Jewish and the ultra-Roman parties. These Herodians, therefore, had some interests akin to those of the Pharisees, and would have been glad to have Jesus, in answering their question, and desiring to conform to their anti-Roman views, commit himself against the Roman government. They then would not have hesitated to inform against him. Master. The Greek word didáσκaλos means "teacher;" and "master," here and elsewhere, as the translation of that word, must be so understood. Regardest not the person of men. Literally, "Lookest not at the countenance of men," to form a judgment by the external appearance. These hypocrites pretended to regard Christ as true, and yet sought to ensnare him. They thus opposed acknowledged truth ("thou teachest the way of God in truth "). 17. Tribute. Gr., xvoos, the Latin census, including land-tax and poll-tax. 19. Penny. Literally, "denarius " (see on chap. 20: 2). 21. The servant of God is to be also a true and obedient servant to the state, where the duties do not conflict. "The powers that be are ordained of God" (Rom. 13: 1). 22. They marvelled at a solution that was new to them, and yet convincing. There was no 23. Sadducees. See on chap. 3: 7. There is no resurrection. The word is not used simply of the body's resurrection, but of the living of the man beyond the grave. The Sadducees denied any future state. anastasis, or "standing up," of the man once laid low by death. Hence, in verse 28, "in the resurrection in the new life beyond the grave. 24. See Deut. 25: 5. means 29. Not knowing the scriptures, even the Pentateuch, which the Sadducees accepted, nor the power of God to continue life after the body decays. |