Last modified: 2019-12-01 19:43:13 -- Page loaded at: 2024-12-30 09:56:38For each passage we'll note who Jesus encountered, whether he initiated the contact, what type of interaction he had with them, whether He took direct action to meet human needs (see Matthew 25:35-36 for examples), whether His "do-ing" was miraculous, and any commands He gave.
| Passage | Persons | Initiate? | Type | Direct? | Miraculous? | Commands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew 22:1-14 |
Chief priests, Pharisees | Y | Teaching | N | N | none |
| Matthew 22:15-22 Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:19-26 |
Pharisees, Herodians | N | Rebuke | N | N | give appropriately |
| Matthew 22:23-33 Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-40 |
Sadducees | N | Correction | N | N | none |
| Matthew 22:34-46 Mark 12:28-37, Luke 20:41-44 |
Pharisees | N | Teaching | N | N | none |
The parable of the wedding banquet continues the dialog with the Pharisees that began in the middle of the previous chapter, wherein Jesus told them that the Kingdom of Heaven - though planned and prepared for them - would be taken away from them "and given to a people who will produce its fruit". What do we learn about the Kingdom of Heaven from the wedding story? [8, 12, 14]
We're told that the Pharisees set out to trap Jesus [15], how does He respond? Is He lovingly inviting them into the Kingdom, or is He emphatically shutting them out?
Are the Sadducees sincerely seeking Truth, or are their motives similar to the Pharisees? Why does Jesus bother to explain details of the life to come, does it make any difference to us in this life? Is Jesus' argument in verses 31-32 logically sound? Is there another (possibly better) way to understand Exodus 3:6?
The Pharisees tried to trap Him, and then retreated to watch the Sadducees also fail. Now they're back; they've already seen Him demonstrate a deep knowledge of the law, yet they ask Him a question that seems to have a settled and well-known answer: which commandment is the greatest in the law? How does Jesus respond? What value does Jesus' discussion of the fine details of Jewish law have for us in living our daily lives? What was the problem from Psalm 110 that stumped the Pharisees? and why does it matter to us?
Now for the really hard questions: This chapter (and the previous one) have shown us several encounters with Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, scribes, and Jewish elders, all of whom seem to be portrayed as enemies of Christ. How well does Jesus demonstrate His teaching from Matthew 5:43-44? Is Jesus loving them into the kingdom? In what ways does He demonstrate love toward them?
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