independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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The wedding feast and the wedding garment 22:1–14
vv. 1–7 — the invitations refused and avenged
1
Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλινparticipial — Semitic 'answering' participle resuming 21:45–46 — leans on εἶπεν; πάλιν: a third temple parable
εἶπεν ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖςindependent — the speech-frame — αὐτοῖς: the chief priests and Pharisees of 21:45
λέγων·participial — pleonastic speech-participle — the whole parable hangs beneath it
2
Ὡμοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ,content — gnomic aorist comparison-formula — the parable narrative runs as a coordinate catena at this depth
ὅστις ἐποίησεν γάμους τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ.relative — qualitative ὅστις — the feast for the son: the messianic banquet
3
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦcontent — the first sending — ἀποστέλλω, the verb of prophetic mission (cf. 21:34)
καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους εἰς τοὺς γάμους,purpose — purpose infinitive — καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους: the standing invitation activated
καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν.content — durative imperfect ἤθελον — persistent unwillingness
4
πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλουςcontent — the second embassy — God's patient repetition
λέγων·participial — speech-participle — the king's instruction to his messengers
εἴπατε τοῖς κεκλημένοις·content — the commissioned message — speech within the speech, one level deeper
ἰδοὺ τὸ ἄριστόν μου ἡτοίμακα,content — intensive perfect ἡτοίμακα — the standing readiness
οἱ ταῦροί μου καὶ τὰ σιτιστὰ τεθυμένα,content — verbless — perfect participle with the copula implied
καὶ πάντα ἕτοιμα·content — verbless — ἕτοιμα echoes ἡτοίμακα: all is set
δεῦτε εἰς τοὺς γάμους.content — δεῦτε — the hortatory summons closing the message
5
οἱ δὲ ἀμελήσαντες ἀπῆλθον,content — ἀμελήσαντες — rejection by sheer indifference; the internal participle kept in line
ὃς μὲν εἰς τὸν ἴδιον ἀγρόν,phrase modifier — distributive ὃς μέν — the landowner's preoccupation; verbless
ὃς δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμπορίαν αὐτοῦ·phrase modifier — ὃς δέ — the merchant's; ἴδιον: private affairs absorbed over the royal call
6
οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ κρατήσαντες τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ὕβρισαν καὶ ἀπέκτειναν.content — beyond indifference to violence — the prophets' fate (21:35–36; 23:34–37)
7
ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ὠργίσθη,content — ingressive aorist — the just wrath answers the murders
καὶ πέμψας τὰ στρατεύματα αὐτοῦparticipial — preposed participle of means — leans on ἀπώλεσεν
ἀπώλεσεν τοὺς φονεῖς ἐκείνουςcontent — the verdict-word φονεῖς — the rejecters named for what they are
καὶ τὴν πόλιν αὐτῶν ἐνέπρησεν.content — widely heard of Jerusalem's fall (AD 70) — the parable's grimmest allegorical edge
vv. 8–10 — the streets thrown open
8
τότε λέγει τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ·content — historic present inside the parable — the turn to the open call
ὁ μὲν γάμος ἕτοιμός ἐστιν,content — μέν — the feast lacks nothing but guests
οἱ δὲ κεκλημένοι οὐκ ἦσαν ἄξιοι·content — δέ — the verdict on the first-called: οὐκ ἄξιοι
9
πορεύεσθε οὖν ἐπὶ τὰς διεξόδους τῶν ὁδῶν,content — διέξοδοι — where the streets run out into open country: the mission beyond the invited
καὶ ὅσους ἐὰν εὕρητεconditional — indefinite relative with ἐάν (typed cnd) — leaning forward on καλέσατε
καλέσατε εἰς τοὺς γάμους.content — καλέσατε — the same calling-verb, now indiscriminate
10
καὶ ἐξελθόντες οἱ δοῦλοι ἐκεῖνοι εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺςparticipial — preposed participle — leans on συνήγαγον
συνήγαγον πάντας οὓς εὗρον,content — the ingathering — the command of v. 9 executed to the letter
πονηρούς τε καὶ ἀγαθούς·phrase modifier — apposition to πάντας — the mixed company of the filled hall (cf. 13:47–48)
καὶ ἐπλήσθη ὁ γάμος ἀνακειμένων.content — γάμος by metonymy the hall — full at last
vv. 11–14 — the wedding garment and the maxim
11
εἰσελθὼν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺςparticipial — preposed participle — the inspection; leans on εἶδεν
θεάσασθαι τοὺς ἀνακειμένουςpurpose — purpose infinitive — θεάσασθαι, the deliberate viewing
εἶδεν ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἐνδεδυμένον ἔνδυμα γάμου·content — the perfect participle kept in line — a settled state of unfitness amid the called
12
καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ·content — historic present — the challenge
ἑταῖρε,phrase modifier — vocative ἑταῖρε — Matthew's ominous address (20:13; 26:50)
πῶς εἰσῆλθες ὧδεcontent — πῶς — challenge, not inquiry
μὴ ἔχων ἔνδυμα γάμου;participial — conditional-force participle — the garment: the fitting response the call demands, left undecoded
ὁ δὲ ἐφιμώθη.content — φιμόω — muzzled, without excuse; the verb returns on the Sadducees (v. 34)
13
τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν τοῖς διακόνοις·content — the sentence-frame — διάκονοι, the executors, distinct from the inviting δοῦλοι
δήσαντες αὐτοῦ πόδας καὶ χεῖραςparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἐκβάλετε; wholly bound (word-order varies among witnesses)
ἐκβάλετε αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον·content — Matthew's formula of final exclusion (8:12; 25:30) — outside the lighted hall
ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων.content — the stereotyped judgment-close
14
πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσιν κλητοὶcontent — the clinching maxim — κλητοί answers the parable's whole καλέω-chain
ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί.content — verbless antithesis — ἐκλεκτοί: both the refusers and the garmentless fall outside the few
Caesar's coin — the tribute question 22:15–22
vv. 15–17 — the snare set: flattery, then the dilemma
15
Τότε πορευθέντες οἱ Φαρισαῖοιparticipial — preposed participle — they withdraw to plot; leans on ἔλαβον
συμβούλιον ἔλαβονindependent — Matthew's idiom συμβούλιον λαμβάνειν — the formal resolve (cf. 12:14)
ὅπως αὐτὸν παγιδεύσωσιν ἐν λόγῳ.purpose — παγιδεύω — the fowler's snare; ἐν λόγῳ: by his own speech
16
καὶ ἀποστέλλουσιν αὐτῷ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτῶν μετὰ τῶν Ἡρῳδιανῶνindependent — historic present — proxies plus the pro-Roman Herodians: the coalition covers both horns of the dilemma
λέγοντες·participial — speech-participle — the flattery-frame
διδάσκαλε,phrase modifier — vocative of address — the respectful mask
οἴδαμενcontent — the flattery begins — every word of it, ironically, true
ὅτι ἀληθὴς εἶcontent — the first compliment — truthfulness
καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ διδάσκεις,content — ἡ ὁδὸς τοῦ θεοῦ — the manner of life God requires, taught without trimming
καὶ οὐ μέλει σοι περὶ οὐδενός·content — impersonal μέλει — impartial, courting no one's favor
οὐ γὰρ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων.cause — the Semitism — 'look at the face' = show partiality
17
εἰπὲ οὖν ἡμῖνcontent — the demand for a verdict — οὖν springs the trap the flattery built
τί σοι δοκεῖ·content — indirect question — the opinion pressed
ἔξεστιν δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι ἢ οὔ;content — the dilemma — κῆνσος, Rome's census-tax: 'yes' offends the patriots, 'no' is sedition
vv. 18–22 — the coin and the verdict
18
γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶνparticipial — preposed causal participle — πονηρία seen beneath the flattery; leans on εἶπεν
εἶπεν·independent — the counter begins
τί με πειράζετε, ὑποκριταί;content — the intent named — πειράζω, the tempter's verb; ὑποκριταί unmasks the play-acting
19
ἐπιδείξατέ μοι τὸ νόμισμα τοῦ κήνσου.content — the counter-move — the coin summoned from their own purses
οἱ δὲ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δηνάριον.independent — they produce Caesar's coin — complicity in hand
20
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς·independent — historic present — the examination
τίνος ἡ εἰκὼν αὕτη καὶ ἡ ἐπιγραφή;content — verbless question — εἰκών and ἐπιγραφή, the argument's two hinges
21
λέγουσιν αὐτῷ·independent — historic present — the answer extracted
Καίσαρος.content — one word — their own mouths concede his sphere
τότε λέγει αὐτοῖς·independent — historic present — the verdict-frame
ἀπόδοτε οὖν τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαριcontent — ἀπόδοτε — give back what is owed; the coin bears his image and returns to him
καὶ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τῷ θεῷ.content — elliptical — the verb carried over; the suppressed premise: what bears God's image is owed to God
22
καὶ ἀκούσαντεςparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἐθαύμασαν
ἐθαύμασαν,independent — the snare closes on no one
καὶ ἀφέντες αὐτὸνparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἀπῆλθαν
ἀπῆλθαν.independent — the first delegation withdraws defeated
The Sadducees and the resurrection — the God of the living 22:23–33
vv. 23–28 — the levirate riddle: seven brothers, one wife
23
Ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ Σαδδουκαῖοι,independent — the second delegation, same day — the priestly party's one Matthean challenge
λέγοντες μὴ εἶναι ἀνάστασιν,participial — characterizing participle — the party defined by its denial
καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτὸνindependent — the interrogation opens
24
λέγοντες·participial — pleonastic speech-participle — the frame for the riddle
διδάσκαλε,phrase modifier — vocative — the testers' address, a third time in the chapter
Μωϋσῆς εἶπεν·content — Deut 25:5 — cited from the Torah, the only Scripture they fully grant
ἐάν τις ἀποθάνῃ μὴ ἔχων τέκνα,conditional — protasis inside the citation — leaning forward on the apodosis
ἐπιγαμβρεύσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦcontent — imperatival future — ἐπιγαμβρεύω, the levirate term
καὶ ἀναστήσει σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ.content — ἀναστήσει — ironically a raising-verb inside an anti-resurrection argument
25
ἦσαν δὲ παρ' ἡμῖν ἑπτὰ ἀδελφοί·content — the constructed case opens — παρ' ἡμῖν feigns eyewitness reality
καὶ ὁ πρῶτος γήμας ἐτελεύτησεν,content — the first childless death — the internal participle kept in line
καὶ μὴ ἔχων σπέρμαparticipial — preposed causal participle — leans on ἀφῆκεν
ἀφῆκεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ·content — the levirate duty enacted
26
ὁμοίως καὶ ὁ δεύτερος καὶ ὁ τρίτος ἕως τῶν ἑπτά.content — verbless — ὁμοίως elides the repetitions through all seven
27
ὕστερον δὲ πάντων ἀπέθανεν ἡ γυνή.content — the stage cleared for the punch
28
ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει οὖν τίνος τῶν ἑπτὰ ἔσται γυνή;content — the punch — resurrection presumed to mean resumed marriage
πάντες γὰρ ἔσχον αὐτήν.cause — the γάρ pressing the supposed absurdity
vv. 29–33 — the double ignorance answered
29
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦςparticipial — the Semitic answer-participle — leans on εἶπεν
εἶπεν αὐτοῖς·independent — the diagnosis begins
πλανᾶσθεcontent — the blunt verdict — πλανᾶσθε, you go astray
μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ θεοῦ·participial — causal participle — the two failures the answer takes in reverse order
30
ἐν γὰρ τῇ ἀναστάσει οὔτε γαμοῦσιν οὔτε γαμίζονται,content — the power of God answered first — risen life is not resumed marriage; the riddle dissolves
ἀλλ' ὡς ἄγγελοι ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ εἰσιν.content — ὡς ἄγγελοι — deathless, transformed existence ('angels of God' in some witnesses); not disembodiment
31
περὶ δὲ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τῶν νεκρῶνphrase modifier — fronted topic — leans on ἀνέγνωτε below
οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑμῖν ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ λέγοντος·content — the Scriptures answered second — ὑμῖν: spoken to YOU, the word at the bush still addressing its readers
32
ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ θεὸς Ἀβραὰμ καὶ ὁ θεὸς Ἰσαὰκ καὶ ὁ θεὸς Ἰακώβ;content — Exod 3:6 — the present-tense self-naming carries the whole argument
οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ θεὸς νεκρῶν ἀλλὰ ζώντων.content — the inference clinched — the patriarchs live to him, resurrection-bound
33
καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ ὄχλοιparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἐξεπλήσσοντο
ἐξεπλήσσοντο ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ.independent — durative imperfect — the echo of 7:28: teaching with authority
The great commandment — the Shema and the neighbor 22:34–40
34
Οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἀκούσαντεςparticipial — preposed participle — leans on συνήχθησαν
ὅτι ἐφίμωσεν τοὺς Σαδδουκαίουςcontent — ἐφίμωσεν — muzzled, the garmentless guest's verb (v. 12) now on the rival party
συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό.independent — συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό — echoing Ps 2:2 LXX: the rulers gathered against the Lord's anointed
35
καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν νομικὸςindependent — νομικός — the law-expert put forward (omitted by a few witnesses); Mark's sincere scribe is here a tester
πειράζων αὐτόν·participial — purpose-tinged participle — πειράζων, the same tempting verb as v. 18
36
διδάσκαλε,phrase modifier — vocative — the address of every tester in this chapter
ποία ἐντολὴ μεγάλη ἐν τῷ νόμῳ;content — verbless question — μεγάλη, positive for superlative: the rabbinic ranking-debate
37
ὁ δὲ ἔφη αὐτῷ·independent — the answer-frame — φημί of solemn declaration
ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ καρδίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ψυχῇ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ διανοίᾳ σου.content — Deut 6:5 — imperatival future; Matthew's third member διάνοια where the LXX and the parallels vary (ἰσχύς/δύναμις)
38
αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ μεγάλη καὶ πρώτη ἐντολή.content — the ranking accepted — μεγάλη answers the lawyer's word, πρώτη adds rank
39
δευτέρα δὲ ὁμοία αὐτῇ·content — verbless — the unasked-for second, volunteered; ὁμοία: like in kind and weight
ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.content — Lev 19:18 — neighbor-love bound inseparably to the Shema
40
ἐν ταύταις ταῖς δυσὶν ἐντολαῖς ὅλος ὁ νόμος κρέμαται καὶ οἱ προφῆται.content — κρέμαται — all Scripture suspended from the double love; cf. 7:12
David's son and David's Lord 22:41–46
vv. 41–45 — the counter-riddle from Psalm 110
41
Συνηγμένων δὲ τῶν Φαρισαίωνparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning; the συνάγω of v. 34 still in force
ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦςindependent — the roles reverse — the tested becomes the questioner
42
λέγων·participial — speech-participle — the counter-riddle
τί ὑμῖν δοκεῖ περὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ;content — τί ὑμῖν δοκεῖ — their own formula (v. 17) turned back on them
τίνος υἱός ἐστιν;content — the sonship question — the hinge of messianic identity
λέγουσιν αὐτῷ·independent — historic present — the confident reply
τοῦ Δαυίδ.content — verbless — the standard royal-messianic answer, true but not whole
43
λέγει αὐτοῖς·independent — historic present — the counter
πῶς οὖν Δαυὶδ ἐν πνεύματι καλεῖ αὐτὸν κύριονcontent — ἐν πνεύματι — inspiration grounds the argument's premise
λέγων·participial — the citation-frame
44
εἶπεν κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου·content — Ps 110:1 (109:1 LXX) — the two κύριοι set the riddle: YHWH addresses David's Lord
κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μουcontent — the enthronement at the right hand — the seat of honor and power
ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν σου;conditional — temporal ἕως ἄν (typed cnd) — ὑποκάτω ('under your feet,' assimilated toward Ps 8:7) where the psalm's LXX reads ὑποπόδιον, 'a footstool'
45
εἰ οὖν Δαυὶδ καλεῖ αὐτὸν κύριον,conditional — protasis — leaning forward on the πῶς-question
πῶς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἐστιν;content — Mark's πόθεν is Matthew's πῶς — more than David's descendant; the riddle left standing
v. 46 — the questioners silenced
46
καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο ἀποκριθῆναι αὐτῷ λόγον,independent — durative imperfect — total silence answers the counter-question (cf. the guest, v. 12; the Sadducees, v. 34)
οὐδὲ ἐτόλμησέν τις ἀπ' ἐκείνης τῆς ἡμέρας ἐπερωτῆσαι αὐτὸν οὐκέτι.independent — the temple controversies close — the questioners are done; the woes of ch. 23 follow
Analysis. Matthew 22 closes the temple controversies: one parable and four duels, and the layout shows the same man first telling and then out-asking. The wedding-feast parable (vv. 1–14) hangs as a single blue cnt catena under the λέγων of v. 1 — sendings, refusals, the burnt city, the opened streets, one clause per line at the speech's depth — with speech-within-the-speech stepping deeper each time a parable-character talks: the king's message to the invited under εἴπατε (itself under the second embassy's λέγων), his historic-present λέγει turning to the streets, his sentence on the garmentless guest under εἶπεν. Then four exchanges alternate flush-left narrative frames (historic presents flagged as they land: ἀποστέλλουσιν, λέγει, λέγουσιν) with blue answers: the tribute question, where the flattery hangs in a catena under οἴδαμεν and the verdict's second colon (καὶ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τῷ θεῷ) stands verbless with its suppressed premise named in the tag — what bears God's image is owed to God; the Sadducees' case-narrative, all of it speech under λέγοντες, its levirate protasis (ἐάν τις ἀποθάνῃ) leaning forward inside the Deut 25:5 citation, answered by the Exod 3:6 self-naming hung under λέγοντος with the present-tense inference clinched beneath εἶπεν; the great commandment, Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18 under ἔφη — Matthew's Shema reads heart, soul, and διάνοια where the LXX and the Synoptic parallels vary the third member; and the counter-riddle, Ps 110:1 stepping down under the double citation-frame (λέγει → λέγων → εἶπεν) to the chapter's deepest line, the ἕως-ἄν subjugation under κάθου — ὑποκάτω printed ('under your feet,' assimilated toward Ps 8:7) where the psalm's LXX reads ὑποπόδιον, 'a footstool.' Cruxes the tags name rather than resolve: the burnt city of v. 7 heard as the fall of Jerusalem; the wedding garment left undecoded (the fitting response the call demands, not an admission-ticket allegory); πολλοὶ κλητοί, ὀλίγοι ἐκλεκτοί closing both halves of the parable; νομικός in v. 35 read though a few witnesses omit it; and the Davidic riddle left standing — πῶς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἐστιν; — answered inside the chapter only by silence: from that day no one dared question him.