Mateo 22

1 Tomando Jesús la palabra, les habló otra vez en parábolas, diciendo:

2 El reino de los cielos puede compararse a un rey que hizo un banquete de bodas para su hijo.

3 Y envió a sus siervos a llamar a los que habían sido invitados a las bodas, pero no quisieron venir.

4 De nuevo envió otros siervos, diciendo: Decid a los que han sido invitados: "Ved, ya he preparado mi banquete; he matado mis novillos y animales cebados, y todo está aparejado; venid a las bodas."

5 Pero ellos no hicieron caso y se fueron: uno a su campo, otro a sus negocios,

6 y los demás, echando mano a los siervos, los maltrataron y los mataron.

7 Entonces el rey se enfureció, y enviando sus ejércitos, destruyó a aquellos asesinos e incendió su ciudad.

8 Luego dijo<***> a sus siervos: "La boda está preparada, pero los que fueron invitados no eran dignos.

9 "Id, por tanto, a las salidas de los caminos, e invitad a las bodas a cuantos encontréis."

10 Y aquellos siervos salieron por los caminos, y reunieron a todos los que encontraron, tanto malos como buenos; y el salón de bodas se llenó de comensales.

11 Pero cuando el rey entró a ver a los comensales, vio allí a uno que no estaba vestido con traje de boda,

12 y le dijo<***>: "Amigo, ¿cómo entraste aquí sin traje de boda?" Y él enmudeció.

13 Entonces el rey dijo a los sirvientes: "Atadle las manos y los pies, y echadlo a las tinieblas de afuera; allí será el llanto y el crujir de dientes."

14 Porque muchos son llamados, pero pocos son escogidos.

15 Entonces se fueron los fariseos y deliberaron entre sí cómo atraparle, sorprendiéndole en alguna palabra.

16 Y le enviaron<***> sus discípulos junto con los herodianos, diciendo: Maestro, sabemos que eres veraz y que enseñas el camino de Dios con verdad, y no buscas el favor de nadie, porque eres imparcial.

17 Dinos, pues, qué te parece: ¿Es lícito pagar impuesto al César, o no?

18 Pero Jesús, conociendo su malicia, dijo: ¿Por qué me ponéis a prueba, hipócritas?

19 Mostradme la moneda que se usa para pagar ese impuesto. Y le trajeron un denario .

20 Y El les dijo<***>: ¿De quién es esta imagen y esta inscripción?

21 Ellos le dijeron<***>: Del César. Entonces El les dijo<***>: Pues dad al César lo que es del César, y a Dios lo que es de Dios.

22 Al oír esto, se maravillaron; y dejándole, se fueron.

23 Ese día se le acercaron algunos saduceos (los que dicen que no hay resurrección), y le preguntaron,

24 diciendo: Maestro, Moisés dijo: "SI ALGUNO MUERE SIN TENER HIJOS, SU HERMANO, COMO PARIENTE MAS CERCANO, SE CASARA CON SU MUJER Y LEVANTARA DESCENDENCIA A SU HERMANO."

25 Ahora bien, había entre nosotros siete hermanos; y el primero se casó, y murió; pero no teniendo descendencia, le dejó la mujer a su hermano;

26 de igual manera también el segundo, y el tercero, hasta el séptimo.

27 Y después de todos, murió la mujer.

28 Por tanto, en la resurrección, ¿de cuál de los siete será mujer? Porque todos ellos la tuvieron.

29 Pero Jesús respondió y les dijo: Estáis equivocados por no comprender las Escrituras ni el poder de Dios.

30 Porque en la resurrección, ni se casan ni son dados en matrimonio, sino que son como los ángeles de Dios en el cielo.

31 Y en cuanto a la resurrección de los muertos, ¿no habéis leído lo que os fue dicho por Dios, cuando dijo:

32 "YO SOY EL DIOS DE ABRAHAM, Y EL DIOS DE ISAAC, Y EL DIOS DE JACOB"? El no es Dios de muertos, sino de vivos.

33 Al oír esto, las multitudes se admiraban de su enseñanza.

34 Pero al oír los fariseos que Jesús había dejado callados a los saduceos, se agruparon;

35 y uno de ellos, intérprete de la ley, para ponerle a prueba le preguntó:

36 Maestro, ¿cuál es el gran mandamiento de la ley?

37 Y El le dijo: AMARAS AL SEÑOR TU DIOS CON TODO TU CORAZON, Y CON TODA TU ALMA, Y CON TODA TU MENTE.

38 Este es el grande y el primer mandamiento.

39 Y el segundo es semejante a éste: AMARAS A TU PROJIMO COMO A TI MISMO.

40 De estos dos mandamientos dependen toda la ley y los profetas.

41 Estando reunidos los fariseos, Jesús les hizo una pregunta,

42 diciendo: ¿Cuál es vuestra opinión sobre el Cristo? ¿De quién es hijo? Ellos le dijeron<***>: De David.

43 El les dijo<***>: Entonces, ¿cómo es que David en el Espíritu le llama "Señor", diciendo:

44 "DIJO EL SEÑOR A MI SEÑOR: "SIENTATE A MI DIESTRA, HASTA QUE PONGA A TUS ENEMIGOS DEBAJO DE TUS PIES'"?

45 Pues si David le llama "Señor", ¿cómo es El su hijo?

46 Y nadie pudo contestarle ni una palabra, ni ninguno desde ese día se atrevió a hacerle más preguntas.

Mateo 22 Commentary

Chapter 22

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)

Verses 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 Joh. 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.

Verses 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.

Verses 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!

Verses 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.

Verses 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 ( Psalms 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Un denario vala aprox. 4 gramos de plata, o el equivalente al salario de un da