200 Matthew 22 B Attempting to Corner the Messiah regarding Taxes, Resurrection and the Commandments

In this 22nd Chapter of Matthew the Pharisees try to corner Jesus regarding taxes, the Resurrection and then the Commandments. It was a challenge for Jesus to always be on the lookout for the traps they would set for Him. Jesus was quick with His responses that left them with nothing to say. Yet He wants us to follow his example of loving as he loved is more important than being quick witted.

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Taxes for Caesar

15 Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for

which he could be arrested. 16 They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters

of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You

teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. 17 Now tell us

what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to

trap me? 19 Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman

coin, 20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

“Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what

belongs to God.” 22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.

Jesus’ reply is simple, straight forward sense. It escaped the Pharisees because they were fixated on trapping Jesus so they could have the Romans execute him. Hatred blinds one to other positive options.

Discussion about Resurrection

23 That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say

there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: 24 “Teacher, Moses said,

‘If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who

will carry on the brother’s name.’ (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) 25 Well, suppose there were

seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother

married the widow. 26 But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her.

This continued with all seven of them. 27 Last of all, the woman also died. 28 So tell us,

whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”

29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know

the power of God. 30 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in

marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.

31 “But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read

about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said ‘I

am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. (Exodus 3:6) So he is

the God of the living, not the dead.”33 When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching.

Jesus can think on his feet. His logic is impressive. His presence is commanding. He has

unbelievable insight into human beings. He has in one day had to deal with Herodians, Pharisees and Sadducees who are trying to trap him. But this is a minor part of Jesus’s visit to us. Above all these conflicts the unconditional, unreserved love he has for each one of us shines unmistakably. In his commandment (John 13:34) we are not commanded to improve our debating skills but to love each other.

The Most Important Commandment

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they

met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to

trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the

law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18) 40 ‘The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’

Jesus is using the understanding of both the Pharisees and the Sadducees of the law of Moses. His own teaching is far superior. Jesus teaches that we must love our enemies not just our neighbours (Matthew 5:39). He teaches that our standard of love is to be his love for us not our self-love which is often deficient (John 13:34) “Love each other as I have loved you.”

In Luke 10 the parable about a good Samaritan comes directly after the discussion of the most important commandment. Matthew omits this parable entirely. It could be that Matthew’s prejudice against the Samaritans prevented him from including it in his account. Luke is also the only gospel writer who includes the parable of the Prodigal Son. Mark makes no mention of Samaritans. John only mentions the Samaritan Women in chapter 4. Sexism and racism are Siamese twins joined at the heart. Later, the early church will have to deal with the neglect of Greek widows (Acts 6:1).

Luke’s Parable of the Good Samaritan

30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to

Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up,

and left him half dead beside the road.

31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to

the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and

looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion

for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine

and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn,

where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver

coins, [e] telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you

the next time I’m here.’ 36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

The Jewish man cannot bring himself to say the word “Samaritan.” He does manage to say “mercy” and it is this emotion that Jesus will advocate for in chapter 25.

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” “Doing the same” means having mercy on the people you meet. It is not restricted to a Jew who has been robbed and beaten. It includes Jews, Samaritans, tax collectors and prostitutes.

Whose Son Is the Messiah?

Matthew 22:41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a

question: 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They replied, “He is the son of David.” 43 Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said,

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit in the place of honor at my right hand

until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’ (Psalm 110:1) 45 Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”

46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

The reason David could call one of his sons “my Lord” means that this son, the Messiah, is

divine. The Pharisees understood the implication and would not answer because in their

understanding the Messiah was a superhuman like king David and king Solomon (John 12:34) but certainly not divine.

It is astonishing that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day hounded him until they finally executed him. They rejected Jesus in every way they could. It was a bitter pill for Jesus to swallow. The very leaders who represented God to the nation were totally opposed to the picture the only eye witness of God brought (John 1:18).

Ian Hartley, March 2025