Matthew 22:23-46 "The Examination of the King Part 4"

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Please turn in your Bibles to Matt 22. We are finishing Chapter 22 today, picking up in V23.

Starting in Matthew 21, Jesus entered Jerusalem for… not the typical Passover week. Jesus entered the city on the colt of a donkey (symbolic of peace), and the people shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David”… welcoming Him as royalty and as Messiah.

The religious leaders did not like this. John 11 stated they feared all the people would believe in Jesus and Rome would destroy their Temple and city. So, they plotted to put Jesus to death.

The Sadducees were further enraged when Jesus disrupted their business… overturning the tables of the money changers and driving everyone out of the Temple courts.

After these events in particular… the religious and political parties (Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians)… began questioning Jesus about His authority to do these things. Questions designed to entrap Jesus.

It was strange to see these Jewish groups allied, but they found themselves with a common enemy and goal… ‘Let’s get Jesus out of our lives.’ Very much a satanic mantra that still rings true for much of the world today.

Last week we closed with the disciples of the Pharisees, and the Herodians asking Jesus, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

If Jesus sided with taxes, the Pharisees would turn the people against Jesus, for they were oppressed by Roman taxes. If Jesus sided against taxes, the Herodians would turn Rome against Jesus for committing treason.

But, in divine wisdom, Jesus responded, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Money had Caesar’s image on it, so give it to him. But, you bear God’s image, so give your life to God.

And, sadly… instead of giving their life to God, we read, V22 “When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way...”

Today, we finish this four-part mini-series called, “The Examination of the King” as we observe the religious leaders continuing to question Jesus… examining Him… just as they would examine a Passover Lamb for spot or blemish, but they would find no “spot or blemish”… no error in His ways… they would be astonished… and left speechless.

Let’s Pray and then pick up in V23.

Matt 22:23-24 “The same day [The same day Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees and the Herodians about paying taxes to Caesar… quite a day] the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, [surface level respect, but less flattery then the last group] Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.” [Pause right there]

For background on the Sadducees… listen to our message from last week (on our website) where I talked in detail about the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians, and their origins during the Intertestamental period.

In VSS 23-24, two important notes to understand before we look at the question the Sadducees pose to Jesus and His response.

First, note Matthew’s commentary in V23 “…the Sadducees… say there is no resurrection...”, yet they will ask a hypothetical question about resurrection… even though they don’t believe in the resurrection.

I’m not sure what they did with Lazarus because he was hanging out… kind of bad theology for the Sadducees.

Second, in V24 the Sadducees referenced Moses… or Mosaic Law.

So, let’s look at these two notes.

V23… The Sadducees “say there is no resurrection”… an important note to help us understand the hypocrisy behind their question.

Another passage that confirms this belief of the Pharisees is found in Acts 23 [go ahead and turn to Acts 23]. In Acts 23… Paul addressed a Jewish mob…which went south, and the Sanhedrin was ordered to assemble by a Roman Commander to question Paul. This didn’t go well either… Paul begins to talk… the high priest Ananias strikes him in the mouth… Paul calls him a white-washed tomb…

...and then in Act 23:6-9 we read, “But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension [a heated dispute] arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. 8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. 9 Then there arose a loud outcry.”

Ultimately, the dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees is so great that the Roman Commander orders for Paul to be taken from them for fear that Paul would be “pulled to pieces by them.”

It’s a pretty humorous scene. The Roman Commander thinks he'll gain some insight on Paul and the riot, but only sees more Jewish arguing… a definite, “Well that didn’t go as planned” moment.

And, a big reason for the dissension is because the Pharisees and Sadducees were passionate about their beliefs… when it suited them. Because of their passion (or perhaps pride), they begin shouting at one another… v10 states ‘a great dissension.’

So, there the Sadducees drew a hard line in the sand against resurrection. But, in Matthew, they have no problem using resurrection in a hypothetical question. Their question is full of hypocrisy.

In V24, the Sadducees give a nod to Mosaic Law… specifically Deut 25… what is called the “Leverate Marriage”… highlighted in Ruth 4, and origins in Gen 38 when Judah told his son Onan to marry his deceased brother’s wife, Tamar, and produce an heir.

The expression, “Wait a minute, what?!?” applies quite well to this account. Just read Gen 38 for further details… lot’s of weird stuff, an appearance of Jerry Springer, and several great applications…

What I love about Gen 38 is… it testifies of the truth of the Bible because powerful people don’t like to air out their dirty laundry… and there are several embarrassing things aired out in Judah’s family in Gen 38.

The Bible doesn’t shy away from the truth of the flaws of the Patriarchs, kings, the Apostles, and so forth. It’s an honest and impartial book. And, it’s a book of grace… since God used those people… with all their flaws… then He can use you and I as well.

God loves to use broken people and impossible situations and move through them… because then God gets all the glory… miracles testify of God.

Well, enough of that miracle stuff, let’s get back to something really encouraging… Leverate Law… turn to Deut 25… 5th book of the OT. Deut 25: 5-10… this is where the Leverate Law is spelled out… and I want to read this because I’m not sure if you would believe me if I just summarized it.

Deut 25:5-10 “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. [So, the brother and the deceased brother’s wife have a child… and any inheritance, including land, will go to the son to preserve the line of the deceased brother.] 7 But if the man does not want to take his brother’s wife, [And, here’s where things get wild...] then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate to the elders [where legal matters were discussed], and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to raise up a name to his brother in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother.’ 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. But if he stands firm and says, ‘I do not want to take her,’ 9 then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house.’ 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal removed.’”

You can’t make this stuff up. I understand how spitting in his face shows shame and disapproval, but why does she take his sandal? What’s that about? And, then the nickname… “whisper, whisper, whisper… gossip, gossip… look… that’s... “The Family of the Unsandaled.”

It’s all perspective though… our culture has plenty of weird customs as well… I’m not sure they quite compare with this, but still…

So, with those two things established, let’s look at the hypothetical question posed by the Sadducees…

Matt 22:25-28 “Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. [Ok, so at this point, I’m not sure if I should think “poor woman” having to be with all those guys; or “poor guys”… I mean, what is she putting in the soup? Poison? By the 4th or 5th brother, you would think they’d wise up. If I were one of the brothers, I’d say...“Just take my sandal, spit in my face…I don’t care! I’m don’t want anything to do with her!”] 27 Last of all the woman died also. [So, there’s some justice in the story.] 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

The hypothetical situation here is not only ridiculous because they don’t believe in the resurrection, but it’s also a highly unlikely, exaggerated situation.

Can you imagine the response of the seven brothers when they get to heaven and see the woman? “First, they’re going to question if they’re in heaven… and then argue about who’s wife she is… I don’t want her, you take her… no I don’t want her, you take her!”

Jesus had been speaking about resurrection quite a bit, so their question also seems to intentionally poke fun at the resurrection, but the situation is riddled with erroneous assumptions which Jesus points out...

Matt 22:29-33 “Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. [So, two errors] 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. [Sadducees didn’t believe in angels, so perhaps Jesus is giving them a jab right back] 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read [Exo 3:6… something they did believe] what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘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.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.”

First, Jesus addresses the power of God… God has power to resurrect the dead. After death there is life.

If God can breath life into dust, he can raise the dust of mortal bodies to life in glory.

And, God has the power to change our present relationships… for many of us, marriage is our closest relationship, but God will change this and we will still have tremendous joy in heaven.

If you have a great marriage, and you are both believers, you will still be with one another in heaven, but your relationship will not be marriage. You’ll be married to Jesus, but not your spouse… that relationship will change. And, that may seem sad right now, but God’s not going to give us such marvelous promises of contentment and joy in heaven, and then have us be bummed out for all eternity because we are no longer married to our spouse.

And, here are some reasons why no marriage…

In the Garden, Gen 1:27, God created male and female and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply.” Procreation was an essential part of marriage. But, in the resurrection… it is not.

And, if you’re struggling with this idea… I encourage you… increase your faith. There are many things that we do not understand about life, death, eternity, and the why behind it all… and that’s ok. Trust the source. “God is love.” (1 Jn 4:8).

I appreciate that I don’t understand everything about life and eternity. If I did, why would I need to have faith? If God was so small that I could comprehend Him in my puny brain, what kind of God would He be?

The statement, in V30… we will be “like angels of God in heaven” mostly points to the eternal nature of of our glorified bodies…

The parallel account in Luke states… Luke 20:34-36 “The sons of this age [this present finite age] marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age [that future age… eternal life], and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.”

Angels don’t die… and believers will be like angels in that fashion. It doesn’t say we will be angels.

The daughter in the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life” said, “Teacher says, ‘Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.’” Cute saying, but it’s neither true… nor you! When you die, sorry to tell you, but you don’t grow angel wings… but you’ll be like angels… an eternal being… in the presence of God… beholding Him face to face.

The word “age” in that passage is an interesting word. Gk. aiōn (i-ohn) root word for aiōniŏs (i-o´-nee-os)… translated as “age” in Luke 20, but elsewhere as “eternal,” “everlasting,” “forever and ever”… context in king… sometimes this word simply means “age” as in a “space of time.”

In the Luke 20, “those who are counted worthy to attain that age” points to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

This reminds me of Matt 22 verse 8… there were guests in the Parable of the Marriage Feast who were not worthy because they rejected the invitation to the wedding. There was another group of ‘bad and good’ people found on the highway, who did accept the invitation and came to the wedding. Worth was not based on merit, but simply upon acceptance of the invitation.

It’s the same today. Entrance into heaven is not based upon personal merit, but upon acceptance of the gospel message… the good news that Jesus died to satisfy God’s wrath on sin, and by having faith in Jesus, we are saved.

And then in VSS 31-32, Jesus takes the Sadducees to scripture, all the way back to Exo 3:6 to highlight that believers are immortal spiritual beings... how the resurrection is a biblical concept. The Sadducees did not believe in life after death, and Jesus corrects them.

In Exo 3, God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, and told Moses to go to Egypt to bring a message and promises of deliverance to the children of Israel, and a message to Pharaoh… “Let My people go…”

But, this whole conversation started with God calling Moses from the midst of the burning bush and God identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The significance of this, as it pertains to the Sadducees and the resurrection, is that God said, “I am the God of Abraham” NOT “I was the God of Abraham.” The Patriarchs were alive, and with God. They were not dead… they were eternally alive because of the hope of resurrection.

At the Mount of Transfiguration, Matt 17, Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus, and appeared to Peter, James, and John. Moses died over 1200 years prior, but there he was… alive. Talking with Jesus. The hope of the resurrection.

2 Cor 5:8 “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

We will die, but then live… in the presence of the Lord… in glory.

Many believers are not shaken by the trials of life, because of the hope of this promise in death.

The crowds of people, when they heard Jesus’ teachings… they were astonished / overwhelmed. And, then one final question to Jesus by the Religious Leaders...

Matt 22:34-36 “But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. [I imagine they had mixed feelings… both delighted and concerned that the Sadducees were silenced]. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer [an expert of the experts. His expertise was in the Jewish Mosaic Law… not Roman civil law. Mark 12 titles this man a scribe, and these titles were somewhat interchangeable. This lawyer...], asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Mark 12:28 states the question is “Which is the first commandment of all?” Not first in order, but first in importance… the greatest…

Not just the 10 Commandments, but all 613 OT Commandments. I have a slide of these 613 commandments and their OT cross references. I’ll give you a minute to copy these down... Got it? 248 in the positive as in “do this”… and 365 in the negative- “don’t do this.”

Of all those, which is the great commandment?

V37 “Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Take notice that Jesus does not call this lawyer a hypocrite or say, “Have you never read?” There’s no major rebuke from Jesus to this lawyer. It seems this lawyer may have a sincere question… though V35 did note the lawyer was “testing him,” so there is a bit of Pharisee in him.

In Mark’s Gospel, after Jesus answers, the lawyer also responds, and Mark 12:34 records, “Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” So, this interaction seems mostly honest on the part of the lawyer.

I imagine without hesitation, Jesus took what seemed a complex question… ‘Which of the 613 laws is primary?’… and simplifies it… Jesus sums up the entirety OT law in one word… love.

Rom 13:8-10 reads, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Paul, the writer of Romans, would learn this lesson. Though, to Jesus, love was not something being extended by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians during His earthly ministry.

In VSS 37-38 of Matthew, Jesus answers the lawyer by quoting two OT scriptures. Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18.

Deut 6:4-9 is called “The Great Shema.” The word shâmaʿ in Hebrew means “to hear intelligently or attentively.”

Deut 6:4-5 reads, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

You can individually define Heart, soul, strength… but the main point is “ALL.” Love God with all internally and externally… ALL of you… your whole being. Give God all your love… not just by affection, but by demonstration as well.

Loving God is listed first, because if we get that relationship right… all our other relationships fall into place.

Leviticus 19 is a chapter on moral and ceremonial laws. Lev 19:18 reads, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”

Inherently, we are selfish beings, so God did not command “Love yourself”… as many self-help books declare. We already love ourselves too much.

Jesus declared we must ‘take up our cross… and lose our life for his sake’ Matt 16:24-25.

Paul declared, in Rom 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

In John 3:3, Jesus told Nicodemus, “… unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Spiritual life begins when we put to death the old man of sin (Rom 6:6).

If you love yourself with all your heart, soul, mind and strength… will there still be room to love God and others?

So, Jesus instructs Love God and Love others. It’s assumed that we already love ourselves.

And, by quoting these two scriptures, Jesus summarizes the first table of the Ten Commandments… love God; and then second table… love others.

And then Jesus states, V40 “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Interesting Jesus said… “all the Law and the Prophets…” hang on these two commandments. The entirety of the OT hangs on love, and in just a few days, after Jesus spoke these words… He would hang on a cross in love for you, me, and all humanity… so that we can love God and love others.

Jesus said to believers, John 15:12-13 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

And, Jesus did just that… Rom 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Love is an essential piece of our Christian journey. Before we move on, I want to share one passage that captures this nicely.

In 1 Cor 12 and 14, Paul lists and discusses many spiritual gifts, but right in the middle of those two chapters in 1 Cor 13, known as the Love Chapter… often read at weddings because the nature of the marriage union is also love.

1 Cor 13:1-3… the chapter begins this way, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

The greatest spiritual gifts and even faith, without love is nothing. Good works… even martyrdom… without love has no profit. A person without love is nothing.... and profits nothing. Love is an essential piece of our christian walk and service.

Well, let’s wrap up our teaching today, and this mini-series on “The Examination of the King”… this time with a question from Jesus to the Religious leaders.

Jesus silenced them in all the previous encounters when He answered their questions, and now He silences them again with a question of His own… not to win the argument, but to help them understand who He is…

Matt 22:41-42 “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.”

So, in V42, Jesus’ question begins asking about “the Christ” meaning “the Anointed One” or “Messiah.” The Jews believe, even to this day, that Messiah will return.

What they failed to understand is Messiah would come first to bring peace between man and God… redeeming mankind… allowing relationship with God for anyone who looks to Messiah in faith.

But, the Jews were expecting the Messiah we expect in the second coming… the conquering King… reclaiming earth.

Jesus’ question asks about the identity of the Christ… “Whose Son is He?”

Notice Jesus did ask, “What do you think of me?” Because, the Pharisees did not believe Jesus was the Christ.

They respond the Christ will be “The Son of David” which is an appropriate response (appropriate yet too simple as we will see in a moment), but it was true that according to the covenant God made with David… Messiah would come from his lineage.

2 Sam 7:13-14 is when the David Covenant was enacted… “I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.”

Isa 11:1 also speaks about Messiah… “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse [David’s father], And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.”

Jer 23:5 states, “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.”

There were plenty of OT verses to substantiate that Christ would come from the line of David, so the Pharisee’s answer is accurate. And, Jesus was from the line of David… Jesus’ legal lineage through Joseph (Matt 1) traces to king David. And, Jesus’ blood lineage through Mary (Luke 3) also traces to David.

He was born of the virgin Mary… by the power of the Holy Spirit… testifying of His humanity.

But, Jesus’ true Father is God… Jesus is the Son of God… which points to His divinity.

We observe this in Matt 3:17 at Jesus’ baptism, “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

And, this is what is lacking in the response of the Pharisees… they don’t mention the divinity of Messiah… only the humanity, so Jesus presses them… presses for spiritual sight… for a deeper response… and asks V43...

Matt 22:43-46 “He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying [And, Jesus quotes Ps 110:1… written by David, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, which is what Jesus meant by “David is the Spirit.” So, Ps 110:1 states… ]: 44 ‘The LORD [all caps… Yahweh] said to my Lord [David here is referring to a descendant greater than himself, and by calling Him ‘Lord,’ this is a messianic reference], “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’? [Clearly a reference to Jesus who is seated at the right hand of God in glory. Heb 8:1 states, “We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens...”] 45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”

In Jewish rendering… a patriarch of a family was always greater or more significant than an ancestor. A father had greater authority than his son. So, a son greater than an ancestor went against their thinking… so they cannot answer more than to say that Messiah is the Son of David.

They were so close to the truth, yet so far away.

David was able to call his descendant Lord, because his descendant was more than a descendant… more than a man… He was the God man… fully God and fully man. The LORD… Yahweh in heaven would give David’s descendant the honored position of the right hand, and would put this descendant over all His enemies… over all humanity.

Jesus is the Son of God… and if the Pharisees would have just grasped this. But, they couldn’t accept Jesus because He didn’t meet their expectations.

And, we need to be careful, because sometimes Jesus is not what we expect either. When trials arise… when life is hard… people blame God and even denounce Him.

But, the problem is not God… He never said that life is going to be a bed of roses when you get saved…

But, He did say, Matt 28:20 “…lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

And, He did promise inner peace and joy despite our circumstances. Phil 4:7 “...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Many and vast promises… God’s going to do things differently than you and I would, and life will look different than we expect at times, but God is still working and with us always.

Don’t make the same mistake the Pharisees made… rejecting Jesus because He did not meet their expectations.

The series of questions to Jesus… examining the King during Passover… concludes with these words… V46…

Matt 22:46 “And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.” 

The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians did not give Jesus the praise He deserved, but their silence stood in testimony of His deity regardless.

The greatest theologians in the land were silenced by Jesus who never studied in their schools.

And perhaps a young Pharisee named ‘Saul’ was present… witnessing all of this and also silenced… but in due time Paul would understood who Jesus is. Paul opened his epistle to the Romans demonstrating he finally understood the question Jesus asked, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”

Rom 1:1-4 (and we’ll close here) “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

Fully God, and fully Man. Quite the appropriate verses to wrap up this teaching today.

Let’s pray!

If you are here today, and you’ve wrestled with understanding how Jesus fits into your life… keep Paul in mind. A Pharisee who wanted nothing to do with Jesus except to persecute Him. If Jesus could love Paul and Paul could be transformed so radically by God… there’s hope for all.

No one is out of the reach God’s love.

Be richly blessed this week… loving God, and others as yourself. Go share God’s love this week.