Matthew (Written)

Tuesday, 25 August 2026

And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Matthew 22:16

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And they send to Him the ‘disciples, theirs’ with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we have known that true, You are, and the ‘way, the God’ in truth You teach, and not it concerns You about anyone. Not, also, You look to ‘appearance, men’.’” (CG)

The previous verse noted that the Pharisees left and took counsel on how they might ensnare Jesus in His words. That continues now, saying, “And they send to Him the ‘disciples, theirs’ with the Herodians.”

The Héródianoi, Herodians, are introduced at this point. Both Strong and the NAS Exhaustive Concordance say these are “partisans of Herod.” They are mentioned only three times between Matthew and Mark. Of them, Cambridge says –

“The Herodians are not named except in the first two Gospels; nor does Josephus include them in his account of Jewish sects. They were probably numerically insignificant, and may indeed have consisted merely of a few renegade Jews, who belonged to Herod’s court.”

Though nothing more is known about them, as other scholars admit, there are pages of speculation on them. Whatever their political and/or religious leanings, at this time, they were in cahoots with the Pharisees, having come with their disciples, “saying, ‘Teacher, we have known that true, You are, and the ‘way, the God’ in truth You teach.’”

You can see what they are up to. It just said in the previous verse concerning Jesus, “how, Him, they might ensnare in word.” In order to do that, they speak to Him with platitudes, buttering Him up so that He will be caught off guard concerning their true intent. It is a common ploy that is universal to mankind. Continuing on, they say, “and not it concerns You about anyone.”

A new word is seen here, meló, to concern. It deals especially with paying attention, giving thought to a matter, or taking an interest in it. In other words, their intent is that “the opinions of others don’t matter.” They are handing out platitudes before the words intended to trap Him are set forth. In confirmation of their words, they next say, “Not, also, You look to ‘appearance, men’.”

This is something expected by the law when dealing with people from a judicial standpoint –

“You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s.” Deuteronomy 1:17

“You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.” Deuteronomy 16:19

Thus, these men are essentially saying, “You certainly uphold the standards set forth by Moses.”

Life application: These people spoke to Jesus in a manner that buttered Him up based on standards set forth in Scripture. They figured that in this approach, Jesus would be caught off balance when they submit to Him a question intended to ensnare Him. However, they didn’t realize that Jesus is the ultimate Author of Scripture.

As this is so, He was fully aware of other verses that warned against people just like them –

“For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
¹⁰ Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.” Psalm 5:9, 10

“A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.” Proverbs 26:28

Jesus will be able to deal with these men in an appropriate way because He was aware of their tactics. And He was aware of them because He knew what Scripture says about such people. This is why it is important to read the word, contemplating what it says, and remembering the truths it conveys.

The more you read it, the more you will be able to do this. Jesus gave us Scripture, expecting us to follow Him in our understanding and right-application of it. Be sure to pay heed to what the word says!

Lord God, may we be diligent in our study of Your word. The more we read it and assimilate its truths into our lives, the more we will be molded in our thinking to what You have presented there. Give us the will, desire, time, and ability to grasp its many truths, applying them to our lives as we live in Your presence. Amen.

Monday, 24 August 2026

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. Matthew 22:15

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Then, having gone, the Pharisees, counsel, they took: how, Him, they might ensnare in word.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus summed up the parable of the wedding feast, saying, “Many, also, they are invitees, and few, elect.” Having said that, and fully understanding Jesus’ meaning as conveyed in the parable, it next says, “Then, having gone, the Pharisees, counsel, they took.”

The word tote, then, tells us this is chronological. Jesus has told them in parables what was to come upon them. This would have them completely riled up, understanding that Jesus’ intent was that they would not be included in the good things that lie ahead.

It would be like telling the pope the same type of thing today. He would be incredulous that anyone would dare say he was not fit for the position he held and that he would be swept away in his iniquity. Therefore, these Pharisees assembled to hold counsel “how, Him, they might ensnare in word.”

Here is a word found only here in Scripture, pagideuó, to ensnare. It is from pagis, a snare. They will attempt to ensnare this great wordsmith who was so eloquent in speaking parables by the very words He seemed to have such mastery over.

The singular “word” signifies an utterance. It is like our question today, “What is the good word?” They are looking to take some thought expressed by Jesus and have Him ruin Himself. In a society ruled by Rome, words could lead to execution. In a society under the authority of the Law of Moses, words could lead to punishment, being cut off from the nation, or execution.

Therefore, if they could pit what Jesus said against one side or the other, they could have Him out of their way.

Life application: In today’s world of social media, it isn’t hard to know what a person is really thinking. Politicians come forward with platforms that appeal to the masses, but later, their old posts or tweets are brought forward that are completely contrary to the public statements they have recently made.

In such cases, it is clear that the words they should be identified with are those said when there was no public eye to watch over them. If they took a particular stand at an earlier time, it is to be accepted that this is their true stand.

Likewise, when undercover reporters talk to someone about their views in private, those views are to be trusted above what they would say in public. They will reveal the true substance of the person’s thoughts.

When a person is put into a spot where he is trapped between two seemingly conflicting ideologies, he will need to navigate clearly through the snare that has been set for him. In such cases. This type of situation is often only what is known as a false dilemma. A false dilemma is also known as an either-or situation or a black-and-white scenario.

Limited choices are presented as the only possible options. However, such a submission will often ignore other paths that are present. Unfortunately, when people are put in such a spot, they cannot mentally untie the knot they have been presented. And so, they feel they have to make a choice where they will look good in one way while looking bad in another.

Follow the words ahead and see how Jesus navigates through such a false dilemma. When you understand that what was presented was not the full scope of what He could do, you can and should learn from His response. Pay attention to such challenges you may face and take a moment to think through your response.

Also, be sure to be as consistent in your words when you are in a private setting as you would be in a public setting. In addition to that, if you truly have changed over the years, you might consider going back through your past social media posts to remove things you said when you were thinking in a manner that no longer reflects your values.

Lord God, help us to have proper words that are filled with grace, respect towards others, and that always honor You. It is easy to stray into unhealthy discourse with others if we don’t monitor ourselves. So remind us of who we are because of who we belong to and what we should be saying as we live our lives in Your presence. Amen.

Sunday, 23 August 2026

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Many, also, they are invitees, and few, elect.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus finished His words to the leaders of Israel concerning the parable of the wedding feast, where the king told his servants to bind the man without garments, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, where there is weeping and the gnash of the teeth. With that stated, He repeats words from Matthew 20:16, “Many, also, they are invitees.”

Most translations say “called.” But that is a past participle forming the passive verb phrase “are called.” That is not the intent. The word means invited (as in the state of being invited), but saying invited makes it a predicate adjective. To make the intent unmistakable, it should read “invitees.”

In other words, it is the state in which people are. The gospel is spoken. All who hear it are invitees. However, only those who respond become a part of the next category, where Jesus says, “and few, elect.”

The word elektos, elect, can carry some theological baggage in people’s minds, because of the debate of what it means, especially the wrongly considered idea of election claimed by Calvinists. The most literal way of saying this would be “and few, selectees.” But that sounds like people on a county commission.

The intent is the state in which the people exist. They are the elect because of what was done and what they accepted in relation to that. The call for the wedding went out, people responded (free will), and they became elect because of their assent to attend. Paul uses the word in Romans 8:33 –

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect [elektos]? It is God who justifies.” Romans 8:31-33

God sent His Son, delivering Him up for us. We heard the message, believed it, and became elect. The process is grace. One cannot merit grace. A banquet was prepared based on the completed work of God’s Son. After that, people were called to attend (invitees). Those who were called rejected the offer.

From there, others outside of the first group were called (invitees). They did nothing to merit the call. Instead, it was God’s grace being directed toward them. Those who heard and responded from the invitees became elect.

HELPS Word Studies says, “Typically, eklektós (‘select, chosen’) describes people who choose to follow the Lord, i.e. become God’s choice by freely receiving faith (pístis) from Him. Accordingly, these two terms are directly connected (see Tit 1:1; Lk 18:7,8).”

Life application: Entering the kingdom only comes through faith, and it only comes apart from the law, even if those under the law have faith. For those of Israel who were invitees, it was based not on what they did, but on what Jesus did. However, most rejected the premise, feeling that because of the law, they merited God’s favor already.

Gentiles, never having the law, hear the message and become elect by believing it. Where was law (other than Jesus’ fulfillment of it) ever a part of the process? It was not to be found! And yet, as soon as people hear that Christ died for their sins and they believe, someone comes along and tells them they must observe the law!

How can we be so dull as to believe such an unscriptural thing? The gospel of our salvation does not say a word about law –

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

That is it. That is the gospel. Once one believes, Paul then says –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14

How can we take such a simple message and muddy it up so badly? Trust the plan that God has given. Don’t add to it. Just believe and then stand fast in what you were told! Jesus did it all. We can rest in that.

Lord God, may we confidently put our faith in Christ alone for our salvation and for all future promises related to that. Keep us from getting misdirected by those who look to gain from our freedom, placing us again in the chains of law observance. We are free in Christ. Help us to always remember that and praise You for it. Amen.

Saturday, 22 August 2026

Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 22:13

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Then, the king, he said to the servants, ‘Having bound his feet and hands, you take him, and you cast into the ‘darkness, the outer’. There, it will be the weeping and the ‘gnash, the teeth’.’” (CG)

In the previous verse, the king asked the man how he came into the nuptial without a wedding garment. When asked, he was speechless. It next says, “Then, the king, he said to the servants.”

A different word is used here. In verse 3, it was doulos, a bondservant. Here it is diakonos, an attendant, such as a waiter at a table.  It would be best not to read too much into this. Paul calls himself both in his epistles. However, the distinction may be that because the wedding ceremony is readied, the designation of the attendant is in line with voluntary service rather than that of compulsion. Of these servants, the king says, “Having bound his feet and hands.”

Things are not looking good for this fellow. As he is representative of anyone who is not properly attired, meaning covered by the righteousness of Christ, there will be many who will find out what it means to reject Him and His offer of peace with God.

As suggested in previous commentaries, the man is being used as a representative of not having Christ’s righteousness. It is not that any will somehow creep into the gathering of the saints who are not worthy, but that this is what those who are not worthy can expect. Of them, the command continues, “you take him, and you cast into the ‘darkness, the outer’.”

Some manuscripts leave off the words “you take him.” So either a scribe missed that in the original (something that is very easy to do), or maybe it was added to relieve the abrupt nature of the command without that inclusion.

Either way, the ultimate end of the man remains unchanged. He is cast into outer darkness, a thought repeated from Matthew 8:13, which followed the thought, “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:12).

In both, the idea of Israel not getting a free pass is seen. They must come to God in the same manner that is set for all people. There is one way to be deemed right before God, and it centers on the Person and Work of Jesus. Understanding that, the parable continues with, “There, it will be the weeping and the ‘gnash, the teeth’.”

Again, the words follow what is said in Matthew 8:13. There will be joy and blessing for those who receive the gospel. There will be sadness and misery for those who do not. The parable details this fact. Faith in Jesus is the difference between the two.

Life application: The account of Matthew 8 detailed the faith of the centurion, a gentile who understood Jesus’ authority and capabilities. His faith exceeded that of all others in Israel (Matthew 8:10). This is what prompted Jesus’ words concerning those who would sit and dine with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom.

The parable of the wedding feast parallels that thought. Though it doesn’t mention faith, it does note the unworthiness of some and the worthiness of others. Determining what makes one worthy, faith, makes the parable understandable.

It is not uncommon to hear people say that they have lost their faith because of a calamity, difficulty, or major trial in their lives. Is that a reason to lose faith? If so, it means that we are conditioning our faith on our circumstances, not on the object of proper faith, meaning Jesus.

If anything, our hope in Christ should strengthen when we face such catastrophes. If this world (not God) is weighing us down, we should want to be out of here and with God all the more, not less. Take time to evaluate why you believe what you believe. God does not promise us easy lives, freedom from pain or trial, wealth, or any such thing during this life.

He does, however, promise us a new and far better existence in His presence someday. That is what we should be focusing on. Be sure to fix your eyes on Jesus. Anything else will lead to unhappiness as you walk through this fallen, troubling world.

Lord God, it is certain that difficulties, trials, and tribulations can be expected in this life. Help us to navigate through them with our faith only increasing as we await the day when we are forever in Your presence. Give us the wisdom to stand fast on Your promises which lie ahead. Amen.

Friday, 21 August 2026

So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Matthew 22:12

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And he says to him, ‘Shammer! How – you entered here, not having ‘apparel, nuptial’?’ The ‘also’, he muzzled.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus, still relaying the details of the parable, said that when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man who did not have on a wedding garment. Seeing him, Jesus notes, “And he says to him, ‘Shammer!’”

This is the second of three uses of the word hetairos. HELPS Word Studies defines it, saying, “properly, a companion (normally an imposter), posing to be a comrade but in reality only has his own interests in mind.” They also note he is acting for self-gain.

The man is seen to be unqualified to be at the wedding. Therefore, the king continues, “How – you entered here, not having ‘apparel, nuptial’?”

As noted in the previous commentary, this is an example of the care that will be given to the matter of the feast. It’s not that a person who is not qualified to be there will be mistakenly taken at the rapture. Rather, it is a way of demonstrating limitation. Only those who are properly attired will be able to attend.

God knows, in advance, who is His and who is not. In a good church with good doctrine and a right heart for the Lord, there may be some who are only there for a selfish reason. They will be excluded.

In a bad church with few who care about the Lord, there may be some who still hold to the truth and have faith in the Lord and His word. They will be included while the others are excluded. As it says in 2 Timothy 2:19, “The Lord knows those who are His.” Finishing up the thought, Jesus says, “The ‘also’, he muzzled.”

Considering that Jesus’ parable points to those of the law who have rejected the grace of God in Christ, Paul’s words of Romans 3 fit these words well –

“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19, 20

Life application: For those who insist on law observance, it is good to be reminded for whom the law is designed. Is this how you want to be perceived by God? Paul says –

“But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, ¹⁰ for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” 1 Timothy 1:8-11

Is that how you want to be considered in God’s eyes? If so, keep up with your law observance! When you are evaluated in accord with the standard you have chosen, you will find yourself removed from God’s presence because of your unfaithful stand.

You have willingly continued to place yourself at enmity with God, because it is by law that we have the knowledge of sin. When sin is committed under the law, judgment must be meted out. However, in Christ, because of trusting in His fulfillment of the law, Paul says we are not under law but grace.

As we are not under law, there is no judgment leading to condemnation. Sin cannot be imputed where law does not exist. This is what it means to be “in Christ.” As Jesus has met God’s standard, and because we have trusted in the imputation of His righteousness to us by faith, we are a part of Him, set aside from any chance of condemnation.

Why would anyone want to set that aside and live under law? And yet, it is as common as mosquitoes in Florida in the summertime. People need to think clearly about the consequences of their prideful actions. By placing oneself under law, he is bound to the consequences of violating that law.

People understand this in other areas of life. In the US, there is an enormous exodus of people from liberal states where laws are passed to punish the people with high taxes, removal of personal freedoms, and the imposition of nutty restrictions. They want to be freed from those things, understanding that the move will take them to a place where those laws don’t exist.

Law is the problem! And yet, in our spiritual lives, so many keep going back to the source of penalties instead of the freedom in Christ. Think things through. Trust in God’s grace. Rest contentedly in the full, final, finished, and forever work of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord God Almighty, help us to think clearly about where we will hang our proverbial hat in matters related to salvation. May we never consider hanging it anywhere but on Jesus’ completed work. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.