Matthew 22:41

41 And when the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

Matthew 22:41 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 22:41

While the Pharisees were gathered together
Or rather, "when" they were gathered together, and while they continued so, before they left him: for this is to be understood not of their gathering together, to consult privately about him; this is expressed before in ( Matthew 22:34 ) but of their gathering together about Christ, to hear what answer he would return to the question their learned doctor would put to him: and he having given an answer to that, which the Scribe was obliged to allow was a good one; and he having no more to say, Christ directs his discourse not to him individually, but to all the Pharisees before he parted with them, and puts a question to them, in his turn; and which would lead on to another they could not answer, and they must therefore leave him once more with great shame and confusion.

Jesus asked them:
as the lawyer put a question to him suitable to his office and character, Christ puts another to the Pharisees suitable to his office and character, as a Gospel preacher; suggesting by it, that salvation was not by the law, and the works of it, which they set up for doctors and interpreters of, and advocates for, but by the Messiah, who was promised to their fathers, and they expected.

Matthew 22:41 In-Context

39 And the second is like to this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 In these two commandments hangeth all the law and the prophets.

41 And when the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42 and said [saying], What seemeth to you of Christ, whose son is he? They say to him, Of David.

43 He saith to them, How then David in spirit calleth him Lord, and saith [saying],