Matthew 22:1

KJV

¶ And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} and spake {G2036} unto them {G846} again {G3825} by {G1722} parables {G3850}, and said {G3004},

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua again used parables in speaking to them:

Berean Standard Bible

Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables:

American Standard Version

And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 22:1 serves as a pivotal transitional verse, marking the commencement of Jesus' final series of parables in Jerusalem, delivered amidst escalating tension with the religious authorities. It highlights Jesus' unwavering commitment to revealing divine truth through allegorical stories, even as His opponents grew increasingly hostile, setting the stage for the impactful Parable of the Wedding Feast.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the intensely confrontational parables of the Two Sons and the Wicked Tenants in [Matthew 21](/matthew/21 "Matthew 21 - Jesus' Authority Challenged"). In those parables, Jesus directly indicted the chief priests and elders, who understood that He was speaking about their rejection of God's messengers and, ultimately, His Son (as seen in [Matthew 21:45](/matthew/21-45 "Matthew 21:45 - The Leaders Understand")). Despite their desire to seize Him, they were restrained by fear of the crowds, who regarded Jesus as a prophet. [Matthew 22:1](/matthew/22-1 "Matthew 22:1 - Jesus Continues Speaking in Parables") demonstrates Jesus' undeterred resolve; rather than retreating, He immediately continues His discourse, employing yet another parable to unveil spiritual truths and impending judgment, thus intensifying the dramatic conflict.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus' discourse takes place in the Temple precincts during the Passion Week, a period of heightened religious and political tension in Jerusalem. The city was bustling with pilgrims for Passover, making public confrontations highly visible. The religious leaders—the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees—represented the established Jewish authority, deeply invested in their traditions and power structures. Jesus' parables, particularly those that critiqued their spiritual leadership and anticipated a transfer of the Kingdom, were direct challenges to their authority. Speaking "by parables" was a common rabbinic teaching method, but Jesus' parables were often subversive, designed to expose hypocrisy and reveal truth to those with "ears to hear," while simultaneously veiling it from those who were spiritually hardened, as described in [Matthew 13:10-17](/matthew/13-10-17 "Matthew 13:10-17 - The Purpose of Parables").

* **Key Themes:** [Matthew 22:1](/matthew/22-1 "Matthew 22:1 - Jesus Continues Speaking in Parables") reinforces several prominent themes within Matthew's Gospel. Firstly, it underscores Jesus' **continued teaching by parables**, a method He frequently employed to convey complex truths about the Kingdom of Heaven, often serving to reveal truth to the receptive and conceal it from the resistant. Secondly, it highlights Jesus' direct **confrontation with religious opposition**, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to challenging the spiritual blindness and hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders, even in the face of their animosity and plots against Him. This ongoing conflict is a significant thread throughout [Matthew 21-23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21-23 - Confrontations in the Temple"). Lastly, Jesus' persistence in teaching and confronting, despite the clear danger, powerfully illustrates His **divine authority** and sovereign purpose, revealing Him as the ultimate interpreter of God's will and the one who holds the keys to the Kingdom, as foreshadowed in [Matthew 16:19](/matthew/16-19 "Matthew 16:19 - The Keys of the Kingdom").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **answered (Greek, _apokrínomai'_):** While no direct question is recorded immediately prior, this verb, often translated "answered," carries a broader meaning in biblical Greek. It signifies a response not merely to a verbal query but to an implicit situation, previous actions, or even unstated thoughts. Here, Jesus is "responding" to the religious leaders' hostile understanding and reaction to His preceding parables and their underlying intentions to seize Him. It indicates His authoritative counter-action to their spiritual resistance.
* **again (Greek, _pálin'_):** This adverb emphasizes repetition and continuity. Its inclusion here signals that Jesus is resuming a previous action or theme. In this context, it highlights His persistent use of parables as a teaching method and His continued engagement with the hostile religious leaders, undeterred by their opposition. It underscores His resolute determination to deliver His message.
* **parables (Greek, _parabolḗ'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to throw alongside," a parable is a similitude or comparison. It is a symbolic narrative, often drawn from common life, designed to convey a moral or spiritual truth. Jesus' use of parables serves multiple purposes: to illustrate the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven, to challenge listeners to deeper thought, and, as He explained in [Matthew 13:13](/matthew/13-13 "Matthew 13:13 - Why Jesus Speaks in Parables"), to reveal truth to those who are receptive while obscuring it from those whose hearts are hardened.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus answered and spake unto them":** This phrase establishes Jesus as the active speaker and the religious leaders (chief priests and elders from [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21:23 - Jesus' Authority Challenged")) as His audience. The term "answered" (as analyzed above) implies a response to their unstated hostility and rejection, rather than a direct question. Jesus is not merely talking; He is engaging them in a spiritual battle of wills and truths.
* **"again by parables":** The adverb "again" signifies that this is a continuation of Jesus' teaching method from the previous chapter. He is reiterating His message and challenge through this powerful, illustrative form. The phrase "by parables" indicates the specific medium of His communication, highlighting His pedagogical strategy and the nature of the ensuing discourse.
* **"and said":** This simple conjunction and verb introduce the direct speech of Jesus, signaling the imminent unfolding of the next parable. It acts as a formal introduction to the narrative that follows, maintaining the flow of the discourse.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily functions as a **Framing Device**, introducing the subsequent Parable of the Wedding Feast ([Matthew 22:2-14](/matthew/22-2-14 "Matthew 22:2-14 - The Parable of the Wedding Feast")). The use of "again" serves as **Repetition** and **Emphasis**, underscoring Jesus' consistent teaching method and His unwavering resolve in the face of opposition. The entire scene, set against the backdrop of escalating conflict with the religious leaders, creates a sense of **Dramatic Irony** and **Foreshadowing**. The leaders understand Jesus' previous parables were about them, yet He continues to speak in the same challenging manner, implicitly foreshadowing their ultimate rejection of Him and the divine judgment that will follow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 22:1 underscores the profound tension between divine revelation and human resistance. Jesus, as the ultimate revealer of God's truth, persistently offers insight into the Kingdom of Heaven, even to those who actively oppose Him. His continued use of parables, despite the leaders' understanding and hostility, highlights God's patience and persistent call, even in the face of hardening hearts. The verse sets the stage for a parable that will further expose the spiritual bankruptcy of those who reject God's invitation and messengers, ultimately leading to their exclusion from the divine banquet. It speaks to the critical importance of spiritual discernment and humble reception of God's word.

* [Matthew 13:10-17](/matthew/13-10-17 "Matthew 13:10-17 - The Purpose of Parables")
* [Luke 20:19-20](/luke/20-19-20 "Luke 20:19-20 - The Leaders Seek to Arrest Jesus")
* [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9-10 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - Hearts Hardened to God's Word")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jesus' decision to speak "again by parables" immediately after the religious leaders understood His previous parables were about them, and they sought to seize Him, offers a profound lesson in courage, truth-telling, and divine persistence. He does not shy away from exposing hypocrisy and unbelief, even in the face of immediate danger and animosity. This challenges us to consider our own willingness to speak truth, even when it is unpopular or confronts powerful systems. Furthermore, Jesus' continued use of parables invites us, as listeners, to look beyond the surface story to grasp deeper spiritual realities concerning the Kingdom of Heaven, accountability before God, and the nature of divine invitation and judgment. Are we truly listening with open hearts, or are we, like the leaders, hardening ourselves to the challenging truths of God's Word? This verse calls us to humility and responsiveness, urging us to examine our own spiritual posture in light of God's persistent revelation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' persistence in teaching, despite opposition, challenge my own willingness to share truth in difficult circumstances?**
* **In what ways might I be hardening my heart to God's word, similar to the religious leaders in this passage?**
* **What "parables" or truths is God speaking to me today, and how am I responding to them?**

### FAQ
**Why does the Bible say Jesus "answered" when no question was asked?**

Answer: In biblical Greek, the verb translated "answered" (ἀποκρίνω, _apokrínomai_) has a broader meaning than simply responding to a direct verbal question. It can signify a response to a situation, an action, or even unstated thoughts and intentions. In [Matthew 22:1](/matthew/22-1 "Matthew 22:1 - Jesus Continues Speaking in Parables"), Jesus is "answering" the implied hostility, the plotting, and the spiritual resistance of the chief priests and elders, who had just understood that His previous parables were directed at them ([Matthew 21:45](/matthew/21-45 "Matthew 21:45 - The Leaders Understand")). His "answer" is not a verbal reply but a continued, authoritative declaration of truth in the form of another parable, directly confronting their spiritual state and impending judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 22:1, though seemingly a simple transitional verse, profoundly points to Christ as the ultimate divine communicator and the very embodiment of the Kingdom He proclaims. Jesus' persistent teaching "by parables" in the face of hostility foreshadows His ultimate mission: to reveal God's truth to a world often resistant to it, culminating in His self-revelation on the cross. His "answering" the leaders' unspoken animosity with another parable demonstrates His sovereign authority over all human opposition, a prelude to His triumph over sin and death. The parables themselves, particularly the ensuing Parable of the Wedding Feast ([Matthew 22:2-14](/matthew/22-2-14 "Matthew 22:2-14 - The Parable of the Wedding Feast")), implicitly point to the grand eschatological banquet of God, to which all are invited through Christ's atoning work. He is the host, the one who provides the wedding garment of righteousness ([Isaiah 61:10](/isaiah/61-10 "Isaiah 61:10 - Garments of Salvation")), and the very means by which humanity can enter into fellowship with God. Thus, this verse, by highlighting Jesus' unwavering commitment to revealing truth and confronting spiritual blindness, sets the stage for the full unveiling of His redemptive purpose and the establishment of His Kingdom, ultimately fulfilled in His death, resurrection, and the ongoing invitation of the Gospel ([2 Corinthians 5:19-20](/2_corinthians/5-19-20 "2 Corinthians 5:19-20 - Ambassadors for Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 12:43

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Matthew 12:45

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Matthew 20:1

¶ For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:16

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Luke 14:16

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

Mark 4:33

And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear [it].

Mark 4:34

But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.