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Verse-by-Verse Bible Study

Matthew 22:15–46

The Pharisees… vs. 15-22

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These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
  • Rejection of the King – Matthew 19-25
    • The Wedding…
      • Jesus gave the people the PARABLE of the WEDDING feast…
      • The King sent out SERVANTS to invite those who were CALLED [the Jews]
      • But they made EXCUSES and refused to come to the WEDDING – even killed the SERVANTS…
      • Therefore the King sent His army and killed the WICKED men and burnt their CITY!
    • Everyone is invited…
      • Then the Father sent His SERVANTS [δοῦλος] out into the streets to invite ANYONE…
      • The SERVANTS went out and invited both GOOD and BAD to the WEDDING…
      • Romans 10:13 – “Whomever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
      • But ONE man came in wearing the WRONG cloths [not white robes]
      • When the King questioned him – he was SILENT – and thrown into OUTER darkness [lake of fire]
      • Because many are CALLED [καλέω] – but few are CHOSEN [ἐκλεκτός]!
  • 1st – The Pharisees… vs. 15-22
    • 1st – The Trap… vs. 15-16
      • The plot… vs. 15
        • Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk!
        • Jesus KNEW the religious leaders were ready to KILL Him [3 days]
        • They hesitated only because FEARED the multitudes – Matthew 21:46
        • But through His PARABLES – Two sons – The vineyard – and Wedding feast…
        • Jesus had UPSET them – provoking them to want to REMOVE Him…
        • So THREE groups came to try and find a way to TRAP him with His words!
        • Luke 20:20 – “In order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.”
      • Enemy of my enemy… vs. 15
        • [The Pharisees] sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians!
        • Herodians – those who were loyal to King Herod the Tetrarch [King of Judea]
        • These were NOT moral or godly men – they were POLITICIANS…
        • ROMAN puppets who enforced the will of a PAGAN people on the Jews…
        • Strange company for Pharisees except they had something in common – they HATED Jesus!
      • The Truth… vs. 16
        • Saying: Teacher we know that You are true – and teach the way of God in truth!
        • They told Jesus they KNEW [εἴδω] He taught [no article] TRUTH [ἀλήθεια]
        • They were not saying Jesus was THE truth – or taught THE truth…
        • They were saying He was A truth – and taught A way to God [one of many]!
        • We live in a world that says there are MANY ways to heaven – MANY truths…
        • Like Pilate before Jesus – the world asks what is truth – John 18:37
        • But TRUTH is NOT open to interpretation [subjective] – it is NOT an opinion…
        • Jesus is NOT a truth – Jesus is the TRUTH defined – John 14:6
    • 2nd – The Setup… vs. 16-18
      • Paying Taxes… vs. 16-17
        • Nor do You care about anyone for You do not regard the person of men.
        • Tell us therefore what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar – or not?
        • Since Jesus CARED about others – and did NOT respect AUTHORITY…
        • He did NOT wanting to help out EVIL rulers [Rome] at the expense of the people of God…
        • They demanded [imperative] He say if it was BIBLICAL [ἔξεστιν] to pay TAXES to CAESAR!
      • Hypocrites… vs. 18
        • Jesus perceived their wickedness and said: Why do you test Me – you hypocrites?
        • Jesus KNEW [γινώσκω] their EVIL [πονηρία] intentions…
        • If He answered YES – then the people would HATE him…
        • Rome was a conquering nation – Jews HATED Rome – and HATED their taxes…
        • If Jesus answered NO – the leaders could turn Him over for treason…
        • He would be arrested for encouraging Jews NOT to pay their TAXES…
        • But Jesus was NOT deceived by their HYPOCRITICAL [ὑποκριτής] words…
        • And asked them if they really thought they could TEST [πειράζω] Him!
        • Those who pray: God give me a new car – and I will use it to bring people to church…
        • Not surprisingly will NOT get a car – because God knows it is a SELFISH prayer – James 4:3
        • It is amazing that people think they can TEST God…
        • God is NOT a man that we can convince with carefully crafted words
        • We are NOT going to outsmart the ONE who sees EVERYTHING – Hebrews 4:13
    • 3rd – The image… vs. 19-22
      • Image of men… vs. 19-21
        • Show Me the tax money. So they brought Him a denarius.
        • And He said to them: Whose image and inscription is this? They said to Him: Caesar.
        • And He said to them: [give] therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars.
        • Jesus demanded [imperative] they show Him the MONEY they used to pay their TAXES…
        • He asked them whose IMAGE [εἰκών] and NAME [ἐπιγραφή] was on the MONEY – CAESAR…
        • So Jesus commanded them to GIVE [imperative] to CAESAR what was His [Καίσαρος]
        • The thought being the MONEY was already CAESARS – his face his writing!
        • Should we pay TAXES – look at a PESO – whose picture…
        • Give back to the government what is theirs – Roman 13:1-6
      • Image of God… vs. 21
        • [Give] to God the things that are Gods!
        • BUT – we must also give to GOD what is belongs to Him [θεοῦ]
        • We were created in the IMAGE of God – Genesis 1:27
        • Therefore we are to give our lives back to the Lord – they belong to Him!
        • We are NOT our own – our lives are NOT ours to live as we choose…
        • We were PURCHASED with the highest of prices – the life of Jesus…
        • Therefore – our lives belong to Him – we should live in a way that glorifies Him!
        • I Corinthians 6:20 – “You were bought at a price – therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit – which are Gods.”
      • Amazed… vs. 22
        • When they had heard these words they marveled – and left Him and went their way!
        • When the Pharisees and Herodians head His answer – they were AMAZED…
        • AMAZED [θαυμάζω] – to be in wonder and admire…
        • Jesus had answered their IMPOSSIBLE question – so they left Him alone!
  • 2nd – The Sadducees… vs. 23-33
    • 1st – No Resurrection… vs. 23
      • Liberal leaders…
        • The same day the Sadducees – came to Him and asked Him!
        • That same DAY – the Sadducees came to try and TRAP Jesus…
        • They were the LIBERAL religious group of the day…
        • More concerned with money and power [politics] – than God or Heaven!
      • Only the Law…
        • Who say there is no resurrection!
        • The Sadducees only believed in the LAW [תּוֹרָה] – Genesis through Deuteronomy…
        • Since there is no mention of the RESURRECTION in the Law of Moses…
        • Therefore – they rejected the idea of life after death and the resurrection!
        • Acts 23:8 – “Sadducees say that there is no resurrection – and no angel or spirit.”
        • We still have churches like this today – more POLITICAL than SPIRITUAL…
        • They are more interested in the POWER that comes with RELIGION!
    • 2nd – Seven husbands… vs. 24-29
      • Levirate marriage… vs. 24
        • Saying: Teacher – Moses said that if a man dies having no children.
        • His brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother!
        • Quoting from the Law of Moses – Deuteronomy 25:5-6
        • The LAW states a brother must MARRY his brothers widow if there is NO heir…
        • Their FIRST born son would then be considered the SON of the dead brother!
        • Deuteronomy 25:6 – “So that his name will not be forgotten in Israel.” [NLT]
      • Seven brothers… vs. 25-28
        • Now there were with us seven brothers.
        • The first died after he had married – and having no offspring – left his wife to his brother.
        • Likewise the second also – and the third – even to the seventh. Last of all the woman died also.
        • Therefore in the resurrection – whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her!
        • There were [imperfect] with us – feigning this was a fact…
        • But it was likely NOT a true story – instead a perceived moral dilemma…
        • Something the Sadducees had come up with to show a contradiction with the LAW…
        • The assumption being the woman could only have ONE husband in HEAVEN!
      • You are mistaken… vs. 29
        • Jesus answered and said to them: You are mistaken.
        • Not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God!
        • Jesus told them – you are [present] DECEIVED [passive]
        • DECEIVED [πλανάω] – where we get the word PLANET – the WORLD…
        • The Sadducees did NOT believe in their own argument – did NOT believe in the resurrection…
        • They saw the Bible as MORAL stories – NOT truth to taken literally…
        • And because they were caught up in the WORLD – they did missed TWO things…
        • FIRST – they did NOT know what the BIBLE [γραφὰς] says about MARRIAGE…
        • SECOND – they did NOT know about the POWER [δύναμις] of God!
        • There are many people who still say the same thing today – the Bible is NOT relevant…
        • It was written TWO thousand years ago – and has NOTHING to offer to us today…
        • Missing what the WORD [γραφὰς] says – and the POWER [δύναμις] of God…
        • Because God does NOT change – and His WORD is just as relevant today as then…
        • The POWER of God is just as able to change and transform our lives today!
    • 3rd – Word and Power… vs. 30-33
      • No Marriage… vs. 30
        • In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage – but are like angels of God.
        • When we are RESURRECTED – there is NO marriage…
        • Instead we will be LIKE [ὡς] the ANGELS – in that we will not DIE anymore – Luke 20:36
        • One of the primary reasons for marriage is procreation [children] – Genesis 1:28
        • But since people will NOT die – there is NO reason to make more!
        • My wife often asks if we will still be FRIENDS in heaven – to which I answer – YES…
        • I am sure we can request the get MANSIONS next to each other – John 14:1
        • But we will NOT have the same relationship there as we have now…
        • Rather than being married to each other – we are MARRIED to Jesus – Revelation 19:7
        • The ONLY way to know what HEAVEN will be like – it to KNOW the WORD [γραφὰς]
        • That is why we want to make sure we are reading our Bibles…
        • Because only then will we get the ANSWERS – and know the TRUTH!
      • God of the living… vs. 31-32
        • Concerning the resurrection of the dead – have you not read what was spoken to you by God.
        • I am the God of Abraham – the God of Isaac – and the God of Jacob?
        • God is not the God of the dead – but of the living!
        • As for the RESURRECTION – they also were WRONG…
        • They did NOT understand [ἀναγινώσκω] what God had said though Moses – Exodus 3:6
        • God did NOT say He WAS [past tense] – He is [present] the God of Abraham – Isaac – Jacob…
        • Because God is NOT the God of the DEAD – He is the God of the LIVING…
        • Meaning they are still alive – proving the idea of the Resurrection from the Law!
        • I Corinthians 15:16-19 – “If the dead do not rise… we are of all men the most pitiable.”
        • The RESURRECTION is the foundation of our FAITH…
        • If all we believe is that Jesus DIED – then we have NO hope [everyone dies]
        • It is the TRUTH that this life is NOT the end that gives us HOPE…
        • Because we know that God has the POWER [δύναμις] to overcome SIN and DEATH!
        • I Corinthians 15:55 – “O Death where is your sting? But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
      • Amazed… vs. 33
        • When the multitudes heard this they were astonished at His teaching!
        • When the MULTITUDES head His answer – they were ASTONISHED…
        • ASTONISHED [ἐκπλήσσω] – like someone slapping [passive] you in the face…
        • In a moment Jesus had managed to DISPROVE everything the Sadducees stood upon…
        • Because He went back to the WORD – and knew the POWER of God!
  • 3rd – The Lawyer… vs. 34-40
    • 1st – Greatest Commandment… vs. 34-36
      • The Lawyer… vs. 34-35
        • When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees – they gathered together.
        • Then one of them – a lawyer – asked Him a question testing Him!
        • PHARISEES and SADDUCEES did NOT get along – Acts 23:7
        • So when they heard Jesus had MUZZLED [φιμόω] the SADDUCEES…
        • They came back to Jesus – and a LAWYER tried to TEST [πειράζω] Him again…
        • LAWYER [νομικός] – someone highly educated [PHD] in the LAW of Moses!
      • The Law… vs. 36
        • Teacher – which is the great commandment in the law?
        • TEACHER [διδάσκαλος] – using the same title of respect the TWO previous groups has used…
        • Which of the COMMANDS was the GREATEST [μέγας]
        • Leave it to a LAWYER to look for ANSWERS from the LAW!
        • The TALMUD teaches there are 613 COMMANDS [מִצְוָה] found in the LAW [תּוֹרָה] of Moses…
        • But it does NOT give a complete LIST – so to this day there are different views…
        • Because God NEVER intended for the LAW to be the ANSWER!
        • The purpose of the LAW was to show us it is IMPOSSIBLE to be GOOD…
        • It set a standard that was so IMPOSSIBLE – we would see our need for God to HELP us!
        • Galatians 3:24 – “The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ!”
    • 2nd – Two commands… vs. 37-40
      • Love the Lord… vs. 37-38
        • Jesus said to him: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart.
        • With all your soul – and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment!
        • The FIRST [πρῶτος] and GREAT [μέγας] command…
        • Is that we will [future] unconditionally [ἀγαπάω] LOVE [indicative] the Lord [κύριος]
        • With ALL [ὅλος] of our HEART – our SOUL – and our MIND – Deuteronomy 6:5
        • This is the COMMAND that the Jews put on their doors [mezuzah]
        • This is what the COMMAND that they tie to their hands [phylactery]
        • It is the COMMAND that every Jew reads every SABBATH all around the world!
        • We are made up of THREE parts – heart [καρδία] – soul [ψυχή] – and strength [δύναμις] – LXX
        • We live in a BODY [δύναμις] – have conscious MIND [καρδία] – and an eternal SPIRIT [ψυχή]
        • And we will [future] use [indicative] EVERY part of who we are to LOVE [ἀγαπάω] God!
      • Love others… vs. 39
        • The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself!
        • The SECOND command is like [ὅμοιος] the FIRST…
        • We will [future] unconditionally [ἀγαπάω] LOVE [indicative] our neighbor as ourselves!
        • The FIRST thing we think when we get up in the morning – bathroom [or food]
        • The LAST thing we think before we go to bed at night – was about OUR day…
        • We constantly think about OURSELVES – because that is who we LOVE!
        • And we will [future] LOVE [ἀγαπάω] others [indicative] with that same kind of LOVE…
        • But do NOT miss – that is NOT what we MUST do – it is NOT a law we have to KEEP…
        • It is what happens when God gets a hold of our lives!
        • Jeremiah 31:33 – “I will put My law in their minds – and write it on their hearts.”
      • Law and Prophets… vs. 40
        • On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets!
        • On these TWO commands – the WHOLE [ὅλος] Old Testament hangs…
        • Because ONCE [future] we LOVE [ἀγαπάω] God…
        • It will be [future] natural for us to also LOVE [ἀγαπάω] others!
        • I John 4:7-8 – “Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God… for God is love!”
        • Jesus is NOT telling us what we have to do to be GOOD…
        • He is telling us what He will do to us once we put our FAITH in Him…
        • The mark of a believer in Christ – is the LOVE of God!
        • John 13:35 – “All will know that you are My disciples – if you have love for one another.”
  • 4th – Final Question… vs. 41-46
    • 1st – Son of David… vs. 41-42
      • While the Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked them:
      • What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He? They said to Him: The Son of David!
      • Jesus took the opportunity to ask the PHARISEES one question…
      • Whose SON was the CHRIST [Χριστός] – the promised MESSIAH [מָשִׁיחַ]
      • The PHARISEES did NOT hesitate – He is the SON of David!
      • When David desired to build a HOUSE for the LORD – God told him NO [man of war]
      • But because of his HEART – the Lord would instead build Him a house…
      • God would set his SON [Messiah] on the throne FOREVER – II Samuel 7:13
    • 2nd – Son of God… vs. 43-46
      • My Lord… vs. 43-44
        • [Jesus] said to them: How then does David in the Spirit call Him Lord – saying:
        • The LORD said to my Lord: Sit at My right hand – till I make Your enemies Your footstool!
        • The trap had been set – and the PHARISEES had walked right in…
        • Jesus noting David was in the SPIRIT [ἐν πνεύματι] said – Psalm 110:1
        • The LORD [יְהוָה] – the FATHER – said to the Lord [אֲדֹנָי] of David – the SON…
        • [Jesus] sit on my RIGHT hand – Mark 16:19 – Acts 2:33 – I Peter 3:22
        • Until I put ALL Your enemies – are underneath Your FEET [conquered]!
      • The Son… vs. 45
        • If David then calls Him Lord – how is He his Son?
        • Since [indicative] David called the Messiah Lord [κύριος] – HOW could he be his SON…
        • No FATHER would ever call his son LORD – it is backwards…
        • Because the FATHER came first – the SON came from the FATHER…
        • But although the MESSIAH came from David – David also came from the MESSIAH…
        • Because the Christ is not just a MAN – He is the God who created all!
        • Colossians 1:16 – “By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth.”
        • Talk about a way to end a DEBATE – Jesus finishes with I am God…
        • Which makes all the attempts to TRAP Him early seem FOOLISH…
        • Is it no wonder every time He finished speaking the people were AMAZED…
        • As He was giving them these powerful TRUTHS…
        • That we are NOT our own – we belong to God – and should live for Him…
        • The way we understand that is as we come to His WORD [γραφὰς]
        • And are given NEW life [resurrection] by His POWER [δύναμαι]
        • Because then God will change our hearts – so that we can LOVE Him and LOVE others!
      • No more questions… vs. 46
        • No one was able to answer Him a word.
        • Nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore!
        • None of PHARISEES had the POWER [δύναμαι] to answer Him…
        • And NO one DARED to ask Him any more questions – they were BEATEN…
        • But Jesus was NOT done – He had one final WORD to give to the religious leaders!
        • Matthew 23:13 – “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites!”