Matthew 22:23β46 β Resurrection Question, Greatest Commandment, David's Son
π Passage
Matthew 22:23β46
Read Matthew 22:23β46 (NKJV)
π§ Context & Background
This passage continues the confrontations in the temple during Jesus' final week before His crucifixion. After the Pharisees and Herodians failed to trap Him with the question about taxes, the Sadducees β a smaller but influential sect who denied the resurrection β approached with a hypothetical meant to ridicule belief in life after death. Jesus exposes their ignorance of both Scripture and the power of God.
The Pharisees then return, sending a lawyer to ask which is the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus' answer summarizes the entire moral law in two commandments: love for God and love for neighbor, echoing Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Finally, Jesus turns the tables, asking them about the Messiah's identity. Quoting Psalm 110:1, He shows that the Christ is not merely David's son but David's Lord, revealing His divine authority.
πΏ Key Themes
- Resurrection Reality β Life after death is grounded in God's power and covenant promises.
- Scriptural Authority β Misunderstanding Scripture leads to theological error.
- Great Commandment β Love for God and neighbor is the heart of God's moral law.
- Messiah's Identity β Jesus is both David's Son and David's Lord.
- Divine Wisdom β Jesus silences His opponents with irrefutable truth.
π Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Matthew 22:23β28 β The Sadducees' Question
"In the resurrection, whose wife will she be?"
- Sadducees' Denial β They reject resurrection, angels, and spirits (cf. Acts 23:8).
- Hypothetical Trap β Uses levirate marriage law (Deuteronomy 25:5β10) to mock resurrection hope.
- Worldly Assumptions β They project earthly relationships onto eternal life.
Matthew 22:29β33 β Power of God and Truth of Scripture
"You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God."
- Twofold Rebuke β Error stems from ignorance of both God's Word and His power.
- Resurrection Transformation β Life to come is qualitatively different; marriage is not its defining feature.
- God of the Living β Quoting Exodus 3:6, Jesus affirms that God's covenant implies the continued existence of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- Crowd Amazed β His authority and clarity silence the skeptics.
Matthew 22:34β40 β The Greatest Commandment
"'You shall love the Lord your Godβ¦' This is the great and first commandment."
- Heart of the Law β Love for God is the supreme duty.
- Love for Neighbor β Flows naturally from love for God.
- Law and Prophets β The whole Old Testament hangs on these two commands.
Matthew 22:41β46 β David's Son and Lord
"The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right handβ¦'"
- Messianic Puzzle β Jesus applies Psalm 110:1 to show Messiah's divine nature.
- Beyond Human Lineage β The Christ is not merely a political descendant but the eternal Son.
- Silencing Opposition β None dared question Him after this.
π Trusted Insight
"DA Carson comments that Jesus' use of Psalm 110:1 is a profound assertion of His deity. By identifying Himself as both the Son of David and the Lord of David, Jesus makes clear that the Messiah is more than a human deliverer β He is the eternal King who shares God's throne." This truth redefines the nature of the Kingdom and the hope of God's people.
Summary: Jesus affirms the resurrection, distills the law into love for God and neighbor, and reveals His divine identity as David's Lord.
𧩠Review Questions
- How does Jesus use Exodus 3:6 to prove the reality of the resurrection?
- Why does misunderstanding Scripture and God's power lead to theological error?
- How do love for God and love for neighbor summarize the moral law?
- What does Psalm 110:1 teach about the Messiah's identity?
- How should Jesus' answers in this passage shape our evangelism to skeptics?
π Definitions
- Sadducees β Jewish sect that denied the resurrection and accepted only the Torah as authoritative.
- Levirate Marriage β Law requiring a man to marry his deceased brother's widow to continue the family line.
- Great Commandment β Summary of the moral law in love for God and neighbor.
- Messiah β God's anointed King, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
π Application Questions
- Are you studying Scripture deeply enough to avoid theological error?
- How does the hope of resurrection shape your present obedience?
- In what practical ways can you grow in love for both God and neighbor?
- How does recognizing Jesus as both David's Son and Lord impact your worship?
π€ Greek Keywords
- Anastasis β "Resurrection"; denotes rising from the dead to new life.
- AgapaΕ β "To love"; used for wholehearted devotion to God and sacrificial love toward others.
- Kyrios β "Lord"; title of authority and deity, used for both God and Christ.
- EntolΔ β "Commandment"; a divine directive binding upon God's people.
π Cross References
- Exodus 3:6 β God's covenant name connected to the living patriarchs.
- Psalm 110:1 β David's Lord seated at God's right hand.
- Deuteronomy 6:5 β Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and might.
- Leviticus 19:18 β Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Mark 12:18β37 β Parallel account of these encounters.
- Acts 2:34β36 β Peter applies Psalm 110 to Jesus' exaltation.